''Neem the Half Boy'', first published in 1998, is the first of eleven children's books written by
Idries Shah
Idries Shah (; hi, इदरीस शाह, ps, ادريس شاه, ur, ; 16 June 1924 – 23 November 1996), also known as Idris Shah, né Sayed Idries el- Hashimi (Arabic: سيد إدريس هاشمي) and by the pen name Ark ...
and published by
Hoopoe Books.
Summary
''Neem the Half Boy'' is a
fable
Fable is a literary genre: a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse (poetry), verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphized, and that illustrat ...
about a queen who longs for a son. She asks the fairies for help and they consult a wise man, who gives certain instructions. Because the queen follows the instructions only halfway, she gives birth to a half-boy, whom she names Neem. To help Neem become whole, the fairies again consult the wise man, who says that Neem must obtain a special medicine from a dragon’s cave. Neem overcomes his fears and obtains the medicine by making a bargain with the dragon that, besides helping himself, also helps the dragon and the people it has been frightening.
Editions
''Neem the Half Boy'' comes in several different versions: hardcover, softcover, and hardcover with a CD. The book is published in several different languages including English and Spanish as well as several bilingual editions including English and Pashto and English and Dari.
Reception
Hazel Rochman reviewed ''Neem the Half Boy'' and the "''Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water''" for the October 1998 issue of ''
Booklist
''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...
''. Rochman said that "The brightly colored, cheerful illustrations of both books express their upbeat peaceful messages."
In 2003, Noorullah Babrakzai reviewed Shah's entire Children's Book Series which includes "Neem the Half Boy" for ''Multicultural Perspectives''. Babrakzai notes that "it would be a mistake to view these tales as merely 'primitive' substitutes for more 'sophisticated' forms of entertainment. There lasting appeal is due, I think, to the fact that they not only entertain, but can be understood on many different levels and provide a form of "nourishment for the brain" that can help develop thinking abilities and perceptions."
References
External links
Hoopoe Books - Read Together Manuals (in English and Spanish)The Idries Shah FoundationNeem the Half Boy Free Online Read
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neem the Half Boy
Books by Idries Shah
1998 children's books
Children's books about fairies and sprites
Children's books about queens