ISHK Home > Early
Education > Hoopoe Books: Teaching-Stories for children
Multicultural Teaching-Storiestm help
children develop flexible thinking
In
1998 ISHK's Hoopoe
Books began publishing a series of illustrated children's books
featuring traditional Teaching-Stories from Afghanistan, Central Asia,
and the Middle East, collected and written for children by Idries Shah.
Many of the stories have been in circulation for more than a thousand
years, entertaining and helping people of all ages in many cultures.
Teaching-Stories
foster new ways of thinking
The tales feature many levels of meaning and unexpected twists and turns
from the usual fairy tales and storylines. They are designed to help
children and adults see things in new ways — to develop tolerance,
non-violent approaches to problem solving, negotiation skills, self-confidence,
and awareness of the pitfalls and short-sightedness in our usual ways
of thinking and acting.
In
Neem
the Half-Boy, for example, a young boy must confront a dragon.
Instead of the usual slaying, the dragon and Neem learn to understand
each other's positions and so find a mutually satisfying solution to
their problems. In The
Clever Boy and the Terrible Dangerous Animal, a child recognizes
the mistaken thinking gripping an entire village. He helps the people
conquer their unreasonable fear and turn a chaotic situation to a productive
one. In The
Boy Without a Name, a child learns that though he doesn't control
the circumstances into which he is born, he does have a hand in his
own destiny.
Illustrations
feature authentic cultural details
The rich and colorful illustrations of these books feature authentic
details of traditional Afghan and Middle Eastern village life, architecture
and dress, making them an especially important resource in these difficult
times.
Books garner awards
and honors
The series has garnered awards and accolades from educational, literary,
and parenting organizations as well as the national media — including
NPR's “All Things Considered,” The Washington Post,
School Library Journal, and NEA Today.
Hoopoe titles have been selected for many literacy,
early education, and teacher training programs, including programs operated
by the state of Michigan, the National Urban Alliance, Head Start, First
Book, and others. Thousands of children have received Hoopoe books through
these programs and ISHK's Share Literacy
Project is working to secure co-funding for donations to thousands
more.
Free teacher's
manuals
ISHK's educational consultants have developed a series of free manuals
for parents and teachers with many helpful suggestions, questions, exercises,
games, and activities to help children get the most from these remarkable
stories. Video versions of the manuals are in production.
To preview the illustrations, read reviews,
download the free teacher's manuals, and purchase the books at a special
discount, visit our Hoopoe
Books website.
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