The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal - (Teaching Stories) by Idries Shah (Paperback)

About the Book

In this teaching story, a boy seeks and eventually finds his own name - and also gives away an old dream that he doesn't want, for a wonderful new dream.

Book Synopsis

(Bilingual English-Dari edition) When a boy visits another village, he is amazed to find the people terrified of something that - just because they have not seen it before - they mistake for a terrible, dangerous animal. Using his own knowledge and by demonstration, the boy helps the villagers overcome their fears. This story is part of an oral tradition from the Middle East and Central Asia that is more than a thousand years old. In an entertaining way, it introduces children to an interesting aspect of human behavior and so enables them to recognize it in their daily lives. One of many tales from the body of Sufi literature collected by Idries Shah, this one is presented here as part of his series of books for young readers. This is the series' second book to be illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago, following the award-winning bestseller The Farmer's Wife.

Review Quotes

"This entertaining folktale is part of an oral tradition from the Middle East and Central Asia. ... A great choice for anyone looking for a fun folktale with a positive message." - School Library Journal (U.S.)

"Beautiful, bold, full-color illustrations and a strong, clear moral lesson dominate the story about a boy who teaches a village not to fear something simply because they haven't seen it before. ... The story allows children to laugh at how incredibly silly we all can be and think through whether it is wise to act out of fear or whether using your head and a little bit of courage is the right course." - Wisconsin (U.S.) Muslim Journal

"These teaching stories can be experienced on many levels. A child may simply enjoy hearing them; an adult may analyze them in a more sophisticated way. Both may eventually benefit from the lessons within." - "All Things Considered," National Public Radio (U.S.)

"They [teaching stories] suggest ways of looking at difficulties that can help children solve problems calmly while, at the same time, giving them fresh perspectives on these difficulties that help them develop their cognitive abilities" - psychologist Robert Ornstein, Ph.D., in his lecture "Teaching Stories and the Brain" given at the U.S. Library of Congress

"Through repeated readings, these stories provoke fresh insight and more flexible thought in children. Beautifully illustrated." - NEA Today: The Magazine of the National Education Association (U.S.)

"Shah's versatile and multilayered tales provoke fresh insight and more flexible thought in children." - Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature

"These stories ... are not moralistic fables or parables, which aim to indoctrinate, nor are they written only to amuse. Rather, they are carefully designed to show effective ways of defining and responding to common life experiences." - Denise Nessel, Ph.D., Senior Consultant with the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (U.S.), writing in Library Media Connection: The Professional Magazine for School Library Media Specialists (U.S.)

"These enchanting stories Shah has collected have a richness and depth not often encountered in children's literature, and their effect on minds young and old can be almost magical." - Multicultural Perspectives: An Official Journal of the National Association for Multicultural Education (U.S.)

"Shah has collected hundreds of Sufi tales, many of which are teaching tales or instructional stories. In this tradition, the line between stories for children and those for adults is not as clear as it seems to be in Western cultures, and the lessons are important for all generations." - School Library Journal (U.S.)

"... these are vibrant, engaging, universal stories...." - Multicultural Perspectives: An Official Journal of the National Association for Multicultural Education (U.S.)

"... a series of children's books that have captivated the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life. The books are tales from a rich tradition of story telling from Central Asia and the Middle East. Stories told and retold to children, by campfire and candlelight, for more than a thousand years." - NEA Today: The Magazine of the National Education Association (U.S.)