The Middle East & North Africa
Jordan
The Little Green Drum
By Taghrīd ʻĀrif Najjār, Lucy Coats (Adapted by), Hassan Manasrah (Illustrator)
The Little Green Drum (Early Reader). Taghrīd ʻĀrif Najjār. Adapted by Lucy Coats. Illustrated by Hassan Manasrah. Orion Children’s Books, 2015. Originally published as ما المانع in Arabic by Al Salwa Publishers, in Amman, in 2013. ISBN 1444014358. 73 p. (Ages 6-9). Early chapter book.
This year young Samia must take over for her father in waking up the village for suhoor (breakfast) before their daily Ramadan fast. Braving her father’s worries and the dangers of the pre-dawn night, Samia ends up bringing the children of the town together in a Ramadan celebration. Shortlisted for the Etisalat Award for Children's Literature, this book is a good option for children looking to get excited about Ramadan or to learn about something new. The book does include musical scenes, which some Muslims may object to. Coats worked with the author to retell her story in English. Najjār has written a large number of well received and acclaimed books translated from Arabic to English including The Ghoul and Watermelon Madness. [ea]