Fatima the Spinner and the Tent
by Idries Shah
Illustrated by Natasha Delmar
Ages: 5 & up
Fatima’s life is beset with what seem to be disasters. Her journey leads her from Morocco to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Turkey and, finally, to China. It is in China that she realizes that what seemed at the time to be really unfortunate events became an integral part of her eventual fulfillment.
This Teaching-Story™ is well known in Greek folklore, but this version is attributed to the Sheikh Mohamed Jamaludin of Adrianople (modern-day Edirne) in Turkey, who died in 1750.
Natasha Delmar was born in Hong Kong and raised in Argentina. Now she lives and works in the Bay Area. Natasha learned to paint from her father, the celebrated classic Chinese painter Ng Yi-Ching. This is her second Hoopoe book in the series.
“Natasha
Delmar’s
eye-catching color illustrations add
a special
touch to
this wonderful story
about learning to be
open to new sights
and things.”
—Midwest Book Review
on The Old Woman and the Eagle
“This fascinating tale will captivate young readers with its suspenseful
plot. Older readers can make connections with their own lives and explore the
deeper meanings of the concepts of misfortune, opportunity, and ultimate
happiness. The detailed, colorful artwork of Natasha Delmar adds depth and richness
to the story. With each reading, children and adults will find new details
in the illustrations to appreciate and discuss. In addition, reading the book
to and with children provides an excellent opportunity to build their
vocabulary and literacy skills while developing their appreciation for good
literature.”
—Denise Nessel, Ph.D., Education Consultant for the National Urban Alliance
for Effective Education (NUA)
