Stories of peace and kindess

Illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

Published by Otter-Barry Books 2022

ISBN 9781913074296

Folktales are ancient wonders of the world. There’s great wisdom in them, which we badly need today. Our world can seem like a sad place sometimes, divided between rich and poor, where too many have had to flee from the cruel wars which have torn apart the countries represented in this book, and from which millions have had to flee to lead uncertain lives as refugees in foreign lands.

In these stories we find the true heart and character of the people of those lands.

Allah Karim, the Sudanese story, holds a tender message of compassion towards the homeless. True Kindness, from Palestine, celebrates the golden rule of hospitality, which I discovered for myself in the refugee camps of Gaza and the West Bank. In the Yemeni and Afghan stories we find people yearning for just and fair leaders. The Woodcutter and the Lion shows the value Syrians place on kindness in words an deeds. The Dog Fight,

  from Ethiopia, was narrated to me by Mohammed Kuyu, a wonderful storyteller as we sat by the golden fields of Bale.  The last story, The Nine Princesses of Kashgar, is especially poignant. It tells of the courage of the Uighur people, defending themselves as best they can from the domination of invading enemies.