CCBC-Net Archives

[CCBC-Net] Books on the Middle East

From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 08:40:12 -0500

In addition to the fine books in the "Breadwinner" trilogoy by Deborah Ellis, which have already been mentioned, as well as others a few of you have shared, I can think of a number of other novels and other books for older children and teens set in the Middle East. Among those we've recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices, our annual best-of-the-year list, are

A Stone in My Hand by Catherine Clinton Samir & Yonatan by Daniella Carmi Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye Light Years by Tammar Stein A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird Anahita's Woven Riddle by Megan Nuttall Sayers The Flag of Childhood: Poems from the Middle East compiled by Naomi Shihab Nye Mosque by David Macaulay When I Was a Soldier: A Memoir by Valerie Zenatti Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak by Deborah Ellis

Those of you who were either able to attend the Arbuthnot Lecture by David Macaulay on April 17 here in Madison, or who watched the video live or after the fact, may have been struck as I was that he decided to do the book "Mosque" after the attacks of September 11, 2001. He shelved another project (which turned out to be his new book coming out this year) because he felt the need to do something in the days following September 11 that would help children and teens better understand a religion that was suddenly at the forefront of what they were seeing and hearing about.

Younger children are most apt to be exposed to books about this part of the world by adults. I'm curious to hear if anyone can speak to seeing older children and teens seeking out books or expressing interest in finding out more on their own. Or, at the least, if you've had opportunities to share and talk with them about these and other books and what you've observed in their responses.

Megan


-- 
Megan Schliesman, Librarian
Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
608/262-9503
schliesman at education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Thu 15 May 2008 08:40:12 AM CDT