Rollercoasters are popular because of the wide selection of fiction, appealing to girls, boys and mixed-ability classes. This Reading Guide will help to enhance students' appreciation of the novel.
Who would have thought that the emperor Charlemagne would make friends with an albino elephant, a gift from the caliph of Baghdad? Told from the fictionalized point of view of a monk who set down the actual story in 883–884 CE, the book follows the elephant’s journey through Egypt, across the Mediterranean to Italy and across the Alps to Germany. When the elephant finally reaches his destination, Charlemagne is so delighted with his exotic new pet that he introduces him to his many children and...
"A young Lebanese boy must learn to cope with loss and hope for a peaceful future after losing one of his beloved cats because of The July War. Based on the month-long conflict between Lebanon and Israel during the summer of 2006. Includes Author's Note"--
Suleiman the Magnificent and the Story of Istanbul (Treasures from the East S.)
by Julia Marshall
Nine-year-old Samira is driven from her village, along with her family, when the Turkish army invades Persia in 1918, and after only she and her older brother survive the treacherous journey into the mountains, they are conveyed from one orphanage to another and eventually returned to their homes with help from Susan Shedd. Nine-year-old Samira and her Assyrian family are driven from their village when the Turkish army invades Persia in 1918. After only she and her brother survive, they are mov...
Inspired by a retelling of a traditional Muslim hadith, or account of the words or actions of the Prophet, which the author first heard in Sri Lanka, this is the story of a camel whose cruel owner only realizes what suffering he has caused when the Prophet appears and shows love to the animal. The camel has worked its entire life for a man called Halim, carrying bundles of spices, dates, incense, silver and wool on long journeys across the desert east of the Red Sea. It often has to clim...
Saoussan tells the true story of her family’s flight from war-ridden Lebanon. She wrote a letter to Robert Munsch, and together they made her letter into this book.
Sixteen-year-old Tomas Wanninger persuades his mother to let him leave Germany to volunteer at a kibbutz in Israel, where he experiences a violent political attack and finds answers about his own past.
In Pakistan, Amal holds onto her dream of being a teacher even after becoming an indentured servant to pay off her family's debt to the wealthy and corrupt Khan family.
When clouds fill the sky and rain starts to fall Ruby and Harry are not sad at all. They know that when puddles appear on the ground a magical puppy will soon be around! When Muddle the magic puppy jumps into a puddle he and his friends Ruby and Harry are taken on an amazing magic carpet ride. Can they help a new friend to win a race and impress the princess?
White Needle (Shadow Squadron, #5) (Shadow Squadrom)
by Carl Bowen
Ryan Cross and the Shadow Squadron have been assigned to recover a chemical weapon that has been stolen by an extremist wing of the Syrian rebels before it can be launched against an unknown target.
The Leopard Poachers (Collins Big Cat Arabic Reading Programme)
by Kathy Hoopman
Collins Arabic Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 3 to 11. The series is structured with reference to the learning progression of Arabic at nursery and primary schools researched especially for Collins. This carefully graded approach allows children to build up their reading knowledge of Arabic step by step. Level 16 books offer more complex, underlying themes that give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view. A wide range of language structures is u...
It all starts when Karen and Yasmine trade lunch boxes. Such an act would hardly raise eyebrows anywhere else, but Karen lives on an Israeli kibbutz and Yasmine in a nearby Palestinian village, and distrust between the two cultures runs deep. Karen's father was killed several years ago in the war in Lebanon, and her family still hasn't fully accepted the loss. Karen focuses on running as a way to heal, and her place on the Arab-Israeli track team is something she holds dear. Yasmine's family dis...
New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book! A gorgeously written, hopeful middle grade novel in verse about a young girl who must leave Syria to move to the United States, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Aisha Saeed. Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in...
Celebrate the beauty and diversity of life in the Arab diaspora throughout the year. Wrapping grape leaves, playing doumbek, drawing henna tattoos, we’re Arab, Arab, Arab, the whole year through! Yallah! From January to December, join some busy kids as they partake in traditions old and new. There’s so much to do, whether it’s learning to write Arabic or looking at hijab fashion sites while planning costumes for a local comic convention. With details as vivid as the scent of jasmine and honeys...
