Fatima the Spinner and the Tent

Urdu-English Edition

By Idries Shah
Illustrated by: Natasha Delmar
Translated by Hafeez Diwan
Ages: 8–14

ISBN: 978-1-942698-75-3 (paperback) Rs. 200
36 pages

This is the ninth book in the series of traditional stories for children retold by the author Idries Shah.  In this tale 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 were an integral part of her eventual fulfillment.

Young readers can make connections with their own lives and explore the deeper meanings of the concepts of misfortune, opportunity, and ultimate happiness. The story also provides an excellent opportunity to build children’s vocabulary and literacy skills while developing their appreciation for good literature.