"Beautifully illustrated traditional tales from Palestine, brought alive in a modern context that all families and children can relate to and empathise with."
This extraordinary and beautiful book arose from a connection the best-selling author of the Little People, Big Dreams series made at the grassroots organization @coffeesforgaza, which sends funds directly to families in Gaza.
Nour Ferwana and her family live in a tent in the Gaza strip, where life is unsettling and difficult. When Maria Isabel began exchanging messages with Nour, she learned how she kept her daughters' spirits alive at bedtime with the stories she and her husband told them.
Ten of these traditional fables are gathered here. What makes this a completely unique collection is that each story is preceded by Nour recounting why and how she came to tell this story, so we get a real insight into life in the tents; for example, washing faces with the little water available prefaces ‘The Well That Never Runs Dry’. But what we also joyously get through the gorgeous digital illustrations that, in blues, golds, and greens, portray the star-studded skies and lush olive and pomegranate trees heavy with fruit, is a real sense of the beauty of their beloved landscape, that hopefully will be restored to them.
Each of these fables carries a supportive message of community, courage, kindness, resilience and patience and show how stories can offer children hope in the darkest of times. Setting the fables in a modern context will generate a lot of discussion and empathy in the classroom or at home.
From the desk of Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, creator of the best-selling Little People, Big Dreams series, comes a beautifully illustrated collection of Palestinian fables, which she has co-authored with Nour Ferwana, a mum from Gaza.
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From the desk of Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, creator of the best-selling Little People, Big Dreams series, comes a beautifully illustrated collection of Palestinian fables, which she has co-authored with Nour Ferwana, a mum from Gaza.When Maria Isabel began exchanging messages with Nour, she learned how she kept her daughters' spirits alive at bedtime from her tent in Gaza."My name is Nour, and the stories in this book are the ones that my husband Majed and I tell to our little girls - Malak and Joud - from our tent in Gaza. Some are old fables that have been told for many years.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Under the Olive Moon and determined it is suitable for children aged 5-8 years old
Under the Olive Moon features in the following genres: Featured Books for 5+ readers, Featured Books for 7+ readers, Recommendations, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Short Stories, Traditional Tales, PSHE: Multiculturalism, Diversity and Inclusion, Gift Books, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage poetry, anthologies, annuals, Children’s / Teenage stationery and miscellaneous items, Children’s / Teenage social topics: Migration / refugees, Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE)
Hardback. £15.29, down from the £16.99 cover price. Pre-order. 15th October 2026.
Under the Olive Moon was written by Ma Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Nour Ferwana and published by Magic Cat Publishing
Under the Olive Moon has 64 pages
£15.29, reduced from £16.99. Pre-order. 15th October 2026.
