Ghaddar the Ghoul and other Palestinian Stories
by Sonia Nimr
Illustrated by Hannah Shaw
This is an enchanting collection of Palestinian folk tales, collected and retold by Sonia Nimr. "Why do Snakes eat Frogs?" "How does a woman make a bored Prince smile?" are just some of the questions answered by the magical folklore in these stories. Ghada Karmi?'s introduction exemplifies the art of storytelling as a part of life in Arab countries and the importance of introducing new readers to this rich and diverse cultural heritage.
A wry sense of humour and sense of magic runs through each story, in particular in How Swallow Tricked a Snake, an ingenious tale, perfect for bed-time storytelling. It tells of Snake, who has been promised by the Devil that if she helps him return to Paradise, human meat - the most delicious kind - can be hers forever and ever. Overhearing this conversation, Swallow tries to convince Snake not to eat her friends, Adam and Eve. She asks Mosquito to fly around the world tasting all sorts of meat to prove that humans aren't the tastiest - although the results don'?t please Swallow and she must use her wits to protect her friends. The surprising results explain why snakes eat frogs, why a swallow has a fork in its tail and why mosquitoes can't sing.
To appreciate these stories at their best they need to be read aloud, which only heightens the experience and pleasure of storytelling. Full of magic, mystery and humour, these folk tales will engage and entertain readers and most importantly feed their imaginations.
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