Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal

When a boy visits another village, he is surprised to find people terrified of something that - just because they have not seen it before - they mistake for a terrible, dangerous animal. With his own knowledge and by demonstration, the boy helps them overcome their fears.

This story is part of an oral tradition from the Middle East and Central Asia that is more than  a thousand years old. In an entertaining way, it introduces children to an interesting aspect of human behavior and so enables them to recognize it in their daily lives.

One of the many tales from the body Sufi literature collected by Idries Shah, the tale is presented here as part of his series of books for young readers. This is the second book in the series illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago, following the award-winning bestseller, The Farmer's Wife.