Palestine
(Arabic)
245
Muhammad, Zakariya (text)
‘Abuši,
Samih (illus.)
Nammulah : hikaya ša ‘biya bi-tasruf (Little anty)
Ram-Allah : Mu´assasa Tamar lit-ta ‘lim
al-Mugtama‘i , 2003. – [24] p.
no ISBN
Folk tale – Desire to have a child – Ant – Metamorphosis
This Oriental folk tale, different versions of which are popular in Arab
countries and Iran, plays with a motif that is reminiscent of Hans Christian
Andersen’s folk tale Thumbelina and the Grimm Brothers’ Tom
Thumb. A woman is desperately longing to have a child, even if it were
only as small as an ant. Her heart’s desire is fulfilled. She indeed gives
birth to an ant. Although tiny, the ‘daughter’ helps her mother with
household chores and, as promised, the woman loves her tenderly. In the end,
her love and affection are rewarded: When the mother washes her ant-daughter
with oil, she turns into a real girl. The colourful illustrations are created
in a simple and folkloristic style that perfectly matches that of the folk
tale. (5+)