Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad

Written by: James Rumford

Elementary Grades

"When bombs begin to fall, Ali drowns out the sound of war with a pen. Like other children living in Baghdad, Ali loves soccer, music and dancing, but most of all, he loves the ancient art of calligraphy. When bombs begin to fall on his city, Ali turns to his pen, writing sweeping and gliding words to the silent music that drowns out the war all around him. Gorgeously illustrated with collage, pencil and charcoal drawings and, of course, exquisite calligraphy, this timely and yet universal story celebrates art and history but also offers young children a way to understand all they see and hear on the news."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/iraq/0,8805,424876,00.html
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/think-pair-share

Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq

Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq

Written and Illustrated by: Mark Alan Stamaty

Junior High and High School Grades

"The story of Iraqi librarian Alia Muhammed Baker, who, fearing looting and bombs, hid more than 30,000 books prior to the invasion of Iraq, is so compelling that two author-illustrators have retold it: Jeanette Winter, in her parable-like picture book The Librarian of Basra, and Stamaty, in this graphic novel. Sequential panels concisely depict complex sequences of actions and emotions, allowing Stamaty to pack more detail into 32 pages than is possible in a traditional picture book."

Booklist Review

http://www.teachablemoment.org/elementary/iraqstudyguides.html

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq

Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Elementary Grades

"When war seemed imminent, Alia Muhammad Baker, chief librarian of Basra's Central Library, was determined to protect the library's holdings. In spite of the government's refusal to help, she moved the books into a nearby restaurant only nine days before the library burned to the ground. When the fighting moved on, this courageous woman transferred the 30,000 volumes to her and her friends' homes to await peace and the rebuilding of a new library. In telling this story, first reported in the New York Timeson July 27, 2003, by Shaila K. Dewan, Winter artfully achieves a fine balance between honestly describing the casualties of war and not making the story too frightening for young children. Although the invading country is never mentioned, this is an important story that puts a human face on the victims of war and demonstrates that a love of books and learning is a value that unites people everywhere."

School Library Journal Review

http://www.teachablemoment.org/elementary/iraqstudyguides.html