The Man with Bad Manners

By Idries Shah

Book Overview

This is the story of a very badly behaved man, how a young boy in the village hatches a plan to change the man's behavior - and how, with the help of the other villagers, the plan succeeds, to everyone's benefit. Children, of course, love the idea of an adult behaving badly. At the same time, the story helps them learn valuable lessons about initiative, negotiation, conflict resolution and cooperation. Rose Mary Santiago's illustrations provide delightful and amusing counterpoint to the tale. The Man with Bad Manners is one of an illustrated series of Sufi teaching stories from the Middle East and Central Asia that were collected and adapted for children by Idries Shah, and that have captivated hearts and minds for more than a thousand years. The stories are designed to help children learn to examine their assumptions and to think for themselves. In the Sufi tradition, there is a continuum between the children's story, the entertainment or folklore story and the instructional or instrumental story. A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold on to, but it can also stimulate a deeper understanding in adults.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1942698224
• ISBN13: 9781942698227
• Release Date: September 2015
• Publisher: Hoopoe Books
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 3 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

A young boy decides to reform an ill-mannered neighbor

Rose Mary Santiago illustrates this first Hoopoe Books title by Idries Shah to be set in the West, for kids 3-8. A young boy decides to reform an ill-mannered neighbor and finds in himself a newfound skill for resolving conflicts in this warm, inviting story of resolution.