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From: Elsa Marston <elsa.marston_at_gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:13:53 -0500
For several years I've been maintaining an up-to-date, comprehensive list of recommended children's and YA literature (novels, picture books) about the Arab world. I include only contemporary or very recent-historical stories, because I feel that awareness of real-life, present-day society in that part of the world is what Americans need. (Arabian Nights, fairy and folk tale picture books certainly have their place, but not on my list. I think it's too easy to use them as a "safe" substitute for accurate and fair presentation of contemporary life.)
The list is now four pages long, and divided in several sections: Arab countries in general, Palestinians and Israelis, Arabs living in other countries, some books about Afghanistan, and just a few nonfiction ones by authors such as Deborah Ellis. I think this is about as complete a list of recent (e.g. since the early 1990s) publishing about the Arab world as anyone could find, and I think most people would be surprised to find how many good books there are on this sub ject!
If anyone would like me to send the list electronically, I'd be glad to do so--and would welcome other suggestions for disseminating the list. Just contact me by email. I'd also like to know about any books I may have missed (that meet the criteria of my list--fiction, contemporary, published for young people--that is, not adult literature that could be used for teenagers).
Or, if you think it would be appropriate just to send it to the whole CCBC list as an attachment, I could do that, too.
Elsa Marston
Received on Mon 20 Jun 2011 12:13:53 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:13:53 -0500
For several years I've been maintaining an up-to-date, comprehensive list of recommended children's and YA literature (novels, picture books) about the Arab world. I include only contemporary or very recent-historical stories, because I feel that awareness of real-life, present-day society in that part of the world is what Americans need. (Arabian Nights, fairy and folk tale picture books certainly have their place, but not on my list. I think it's too easy to use them as a "safe" substitute for accurate and fair presentation of contemporary life.)
The list is now four pages long, and divided in several sections: Arab countries in general, Palestinians and Israelis, Arabs living in other countries, some books about Afghanistan, and just a few nonfiction ones by authors such as Deborah Ellis. I think this is about as complete a list of recent (e.g. since the early 1990s) publishing about the Arab world as anyone could find, and I think most people would be surprised to find how many good books there are on this sub ject!
If anyone would like me to send the list electronically, I'd be glad to do so--and would welcome other suggestions for disseminating the list. Just contact me by email. I'd also like to know about any books I may have missed (that meet the criteria of my list--fiction, contemporary, published for young people--that is, not adult literature that could be used for teenagers).
Or, if you think it would be appropriate just to send it to the whole CCBC list as an attachment, I could do that, too.
Elsa Marston
Received on Mon 20 Jun 2011 12:13:53 PM CDT
