Arabic

Fofo the bunny refuses to sleep and sneaks out to see the forest at night. A wise owl reminds him that bunnies need rest to play tomorrow. Fofo decides his cozy bed is best and falls asleep.

On a hot day, a thirsty crow finds a pot with only a little water at the bottom. Unable to reach it, he drops pebbles in one by one until the water rises, then drinks happily. A classic tale about cleverness and persistence.

Juha and his son take their donkey to market. Whether Juha rides, the son rides, both ride or neither rides, passers-by always find something to criticize. Juha smiles and tells his son that people will always talk, so they should simply do what is right and kind. A classic Middle Eastern Juha tale.

A lion catches a mouse who wakes him but lets him go when the mouse promises to help someday. Later the lion is trapped in a hunter’s net, and the mouse gnaws through the ropes to free him. No one is too small to help.

When Ramadan begins, Salma gets a little blue lantern (fanous) and sings with friends after iftar. Noticing that her elderly neighbor Umm Hassan, who lives alone, has a dark house, Salma brings her the lantern and a plate of kunafa. Umm Hassan feels less lonely, and Salma’s heart glows brighter than any lantern.

A proud rabbit races a slow tortoise and dashes ahead, then naps under a tree. The tortoise keeps going steadily without stopping and crosses the finish line while the rabbit sleeps. Slow and steady wins the race.

Layla finds a golden pencil that brings her drawings to life. After drawing treats for herself, she sees her friend Omar crying over a torn school bag and draws him a new one. The pencil glows brighter — the best magic is making others happy.

Najm, a young camel, walks with a long caravan across the hot desert and keeps complaining. His mother tells him patience is the key to relief. They wait out a sandstorm together, and by evening they reach an oasis with palm trees and clear water. Najm learns the wait was worth it.

Noura, a baby owl, is afraid of the dark. Her father takes her on a night flight to hear crickets and frogs, smell night-blooming jasmine and see the stars. Finding no monsters, she flies a little on her own and discovers the night is full of wonders.