Ruler of the Courtyard
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A picture book by Rukhsana Khan
Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
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Published by Viking Children's Books
32 pg, Hardcover
$15.99 USD / $24.00 CDN
ISBN 0-670-03583-1
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AR Quiz No. 69630 EN
IL: LG - BL: 2.6 - AR Pts:
0.5
AR Quiz Types: RP
Rating: 
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Saba is terrified of the chickens in the courtyard, but one day, after
running her daily gauntlet to get to the bathhouse, she faces something
much more terrifying!
- Nick Jr. Magazine (Dec. 2003) Chose Ruler of the
Courtyard as the Most Suspenseful Story of the Year
"Suspense, a positive message, and illustrations that show up across
the room, make this a winner for reading aloud." and "The Pakistani
setting provides an additional and timely dimension to this perfectly
paced story."
-Kirkus Starred Review, December 15th, 2002-
"The illustrations are vigorous and slightly naive, featuring hot
bright backgrounds and scratchily malevolent chickens. Saba is a real
girl; Nani is her concerned grandmother, and the attentive detail to
their expressions- fear, surprise, and confidence- brings life to their
portraits."
-School Library
Journal Starred Review-
"Khan imagines Saba's quick thinking as she
comes up with a strategy to deal with the perceived menace... Noteworthy
for its portrayal of the accoutrements of another culture, this work
also redirects easily recognizable feelings into a readily shared
message about self-reliance and courage."
-Publisher's
Weekly, January 6th, 2003-
"This spare tale set in Pakistan has
wonderful energy and use of language: short, staccato sentences that
capture Saba's fear give way to smooth soaring language signaling her
jubilant victory. Illustrator Christie gives us vibrant
Picasso-esque chickens done as if in fingerpaints. He matches
their vitality with an equally powerful landscape of oranges and yellows
that frames Saba's pink house. But his greatest triumph is the
character of black-haired, bright turquoise-garbed Saba: close-ups of
her cowering in terror and apprehension give way to her raucous blitz of
the outdoors and the offensive chickens. This place-specific story
has a universal heart."
-The Horn Book
Magazine, March/April 2003-
"Saba's story, ostensibly
set in Pakistan, will resonate with children who must stand up to their
own particular dread."
-Booklist,
February 15th, 2003-
Jacqueline Golding says:
"I'm writing to let you know how much I like Ruler of the Courtyard. As
a psychologist who works extensively with children, I think it could be
of real help to kids in coping with fearfulness. That's why I've
included a summary of Ruler of the Courtyard in my forthcoming book for
parents, Healing Stories: Picture Books for the Big and Small Changes in
a Child's Life, which is scheduled for publication in September 2006 by
M. Evans and Company." For more information on Ms. Golding's valuable
reference, please see her website:
www.healing-stories.com