The Stranger's Farewell is a very old story which has entertained people all over the world for hundreds of years. When an ancient traveler stops at the home of a young couple to ask for a glass of water and a place to rest, they invite him to share their meal. As we all know, small actions sometimes have large consequences: as the stranger leaves to go on his way, he says, "May the next thing you do last until you say, 'Enough'." These parting words reward their generosity in an amazing way.

News of the young couple's changed status travels fast and prompts a greedy merchant to seek out the stranger in the hope of gaining a similar reward for himself. But, of course, the result for him is very different. This story can teach us ? in a very assessable way ? something about the nature of giving and receiving.

This tale is set in Afghanistan where it is known by many people. This setting effectively introduces children to a culture and people who may be unfamiliar to them. The story is retold here for young people by the Afghan storyteller and teacher Palwasha Bazger Salam and beautifully illustrated by Marie Lafrance.

Idries Shah spent much of his life collecting Sufi classical narratives and teaching stories from oral and written sources in the Middle East and Central Asia and publishing them in book form. The eleven tales he wrote especially for children are published by Hoopoe as beautifully illustrated books, all of which have been commended by Western educators and psychologists, the Library of Congress, National Public Radio and other media for their unique ability to foster social-emotional development, thinking skills and perception in children and adults alike. Told for centuries, these stories express universal themes and a positive representation of important but often misunderstood cultures, showing how much we have in common and what we can learn from each other. They acknowledge a child's individuality and uniqueness and encourage a sense of confidence, responsibility and purpose.