The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water: English-Arabic Edition - Paperback

Bilingual English-Arabic Children's Book: The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water

This bilingual English-Arabic edition presents a timeless Sufi teaching story originally told by 13th-century poet Jalaluddin Rumi. The narrative follows a good-natured lion, king of all animals, who encounters his reflection in a pool of water for the first time and mistakes it for a fierce creature, becoming too frightened to drink until he overcomes his fear.

Educational Value and Teaching Purpose

The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water serves as an educational instrument to help children ages 4-8 understand how to deal positively with fears and inhibitions that arise from unfamiliar situations. These teaching stories, collected by Idries Shah, have been used in the East for hundreds of years to help children understand life's complexities through accessible narratives.

Story and Illustrations

Ingrid Rodriguez's illustrations bring warmth, humor, and distinctive richness of detail to this children's version. The artwork complements the story's gentle approach to addressing childhood fears and self-perception, making abstract concepts tangible for young readers.

About Idries Shah's Teaching Stories

Idries Shah spent much of his life collecting Sufi classical narratives and teaching stories from oral and written sources in the Middle East and Central Asia and publishing them in book form. The eleven tales he wrote especially for children are published by Hoopoe as beautifully illustrated books, all of which have been commended by Western educators and psychologists, the Library of Congress, National Public Radio and other media for their unique ability to foster social-emotional development, thinking skills and perception in children and adults alike. Told for centuries, these stories express universal themes and a positive representation of important but often misunderstood cultures, showing how much we have in common and what we can learn from each other. They acknowledge a child's individuality and uniqueness and encourage a sense of confidence, responsibility and purpose.

Book Specifications

This paperback edition features bilingual text in English and Arabic, making it suitable for language learning, cultural education, and bilingual households. The book is designed for children ages 4-8 and falls within the juvenile fiction category, specifically fairy tales and folklore.