(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shahar Kober. When Engineer Ari's train breaks down, he ends up in Modi'in ("The ancient home of the Maccabees...Where the miracle of Hanukkah began"). There he celebrates Hanukkah with Kalil, a Bedouin who offers to help. The text, while wordy, provides a fresh take on the story. Illustrations emphasize the lush greenery of a Middle Eastern winter. An author's note is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Horse Diaries series. Illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. Yatimah, an Arabian filly with a ninth-century Bedouin tribe, learns to be a good war mare; however, her owner hasn't forgiven her for the fact that his favorite horse died foaling her. This well-constructed tale, illustrated with textured black-and-white drawings, effectively incorporates cultural and historical details. An appendix provides more information about Arabian horses and Bedouins.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 First Peoples series. Historically, Bedouins were nomadic Arab desert dwellers; the Kurds were early inhabitants of parts of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Each of these series books gives a cursory introduction to one of these ethnic groups, discussing culture, traditions, history, and life today. The sketchy text is enhanced with color photographs and sidebars in a busy design. A list of additional resources, including websites, is appended. Glos., ind. [Review covers these First Peoples titles: The Kurds of Asia and The Bedouin of the Middle East.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg