(2) K-3 Illustrated by Carol Liddiment. The shah decides to test a poor Jewish shoemaker who is rich in faith. First he outlaws shoe repair, then prohibits water peddling (the resourceful man's second employ), and finally forces him to act as palace executioner. The shah gains wise council from the man, whose faith and ingenuity remain steadfast. Rich-hued paintings highlight the characters' goodheartedness while incorporating culture-specific details. Source note appended.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2012

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carol Liddiment. In this story starring an Arabic folk character, Jouha the wise fool is always losing one of ten donkeys (the one that he's riding!). Numbers in Arabic from wahid (one) to ashara (ten) run along the bottom of the pages, allowing readers to chime in as Jouha searches for his animals. Desert-hued illustrations show details of traditional Middle Eastern life.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt