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Somali
Bilingual Book Project
For a printable version of the fact sheets, click here. About
the Somali Bilingual Book Project The Humanities Center will work with literacy professionals to distribute half of the books free to Somali families in literacy and school readiness programs throughout Minnesota. Learn more about how to apply for a book grant. One-time celebrations in libraries and bookstores, highlighting Somali traditions and culture, will introduce the books to a broader audience as the books are released. About
the Somali Bilingual Book Project | About
the books About
the books The Lion's
Share -- NOW AVAILABLE! The hungry animals of the Somali forest have worked together to kill a big fat camel. Now they must decide how to divide it. Will the portions be equal? Not with the lion in charge! Read this popular Somali fable and see why, as the other animals come to understand, "the lion's share is not fair!" Dhegdheer
-- NOW AVAILABLE! Wiil Waal
-- NOW AVAILABLE! The heart? The leg? The ribs? What part of the sheep is the answer to the Sultan's riddle? When wise Somali leader Wiil Waal asks the men in his province to bring him the part of a sheep that best symbolizes "what can divide men or unite them as one," most present him with prime cuts of meat. But one very poor man's daughter has a different idea. In this clever folktale, a father reluctantly follows his daughter's advice and has astonishing results. The Travels
of Igal Shidad -- Available in 2008 Igal Shidad walks the drought-stricken Somali landscape, searching for a better home for his family and animals, asking for Allah's guidance and protection along the way. As he confronts obstacles, both real and imagined, this well-known figure in Somali folklore discovers that his prayers can be answered without him even realizing it. Order The Lion's Share, Dhegdheer, Wiil Waal, and the dual-language CD of all four titles now! About
the Somali Bilingual Book Project | About
the books Author
and illustrator bios Amin Amir is an artist. Born in Somalia, he currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. An established political cartoonist, Amir has also illustrated several books including two collections of Somali folktales: Sheekoyinka Dadqalatadii Dhegdheer and Sheekoginkii Cigaal Shidad. Wiil Waal is his first bilingual children's book. Betsy Bowen is the author-illustrator of several titles including Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year. She has illustrated Shingebiss, an Ojibwe Legend, and The Troll with No Heart in His Body and Other Tales of Trolls. Her interest in folktales extends into puppetmaking and theater. She lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Kelly Dupre is an artist and writer. The natural environment and the art of indigenous cultures are her greatest influences. A former special education teacher, she lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota with her husband. She is the author/illustrator of The Raven's Gift, A True Story from Greenland. Marian (Ubah) A. Hassan is a writer, journalist and an educator. Marian's love for literature started at an early age listening to relatives tell Somali tales. She lives with her family in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is the author of a bilingual children's book Bright Star, Blue Sky. Kathleen
Moriarty has worked with a variety of language and literacy
programs in the U.S. and overseas. She lives in Minneapolis with
her son and serves as Director of Bilingual and Heritage Language
Programs at the Minnesota Humanities Center. Wiil Waal is
her first picture book for children. About
the Somali Bilingual Book Project | About
the books Somali
Populations in the United States Columbus, Ohio has the second largest Somali population in the United States. Significant Somali populations (outside of Minnesota) exist in the following cities/states: |
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San Diego, CA |
Columbus,
Ohio Rochester, and Buffalo, NY Arlington and Fairfax, VI Seattle, WA |
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Smaller populations can be found in a number of other states including: |
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Arizona |
New
Hampshire North Carolina North Dakota Oregon Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Washington, D.C. Wisconsin |
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In addition, the largest Somali communities outside of Somalia are found in London, England, and Toronto, Canada. About
the Somali Bilingual Book Project | About
the books If you'd like to provide financial support for the Somali Bilingual Book Project, donate online now. Support
for this project was provided by the Mardag Foundation, The Jay
and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation,
The Sheltering Arms Foundation, Harlan Boss Foundation for the
Arts, TRL/West Community Partnership Program, and Marbrook Foundation.
Additional support, through the Humanities Commission's work in
family literacy, was provided by The McKnight Foundation, H. B.
Fuller Company Foundation, Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation,
St. Paul Travelers Foundation, Star Tribune Foundation, The Jostens
Foundation, Hugh J. Andersen Foundation, Metris Companies Foundation,
and The Nash Foundation. About
the Somali Bilingual Book Project | About
the books |
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