Fables of Bah Ya Bah

With growing interest in the Islamic faith, many new book and video resources have found their way to market to fill this need--most, however, are geared toward adults. Fables of Bah Ya Bah, a collection of six traditional tales that teach important values, such as humility, tolerance, and faith in God, through animated story and song, is an Arabic production available in either its original language or dubbed into English. Tales include "The Old Man and the Pirate," "The Ooh and the Aye," "Mind Over Matter," "The Cage" and "The Young Boy of the Tribe," with my favorite being "The Lofty Palm." When an arrogant palm tree decides to withhold her dates from the farmer who has always loved her and treated her well--calling her "princess" and always making sure she is watered and fed--her selfishness turns her into a scraggly, bitter tree, which the farmer is eventually forced to chop down for wood to build a new house for his growing family. The lesson is that a self-centered person will only hurt his or herself in the long run, and that we should share our God-given gifts with others, repaying kindness with kindness. A fine resource for teaching children more about the Islamic faith, this is recommended. Aud: E, P. (J. Asala)