I recently took a quick trip down to Egypt, mainly for personal reasons, but also as an opportunity to build up my Arabic library for the center.  It’s a constant struggle to find children’s books in Arabic in Israel, but in Egypt EVERYTHING is in Arabic!  I found writing workbooks to practice writing the letters and an variety of children’s books…I wanted it all

I think the coolest thing I found though, was a series of small books all about different places in Egypt.  Each book gives a short history of why that area is important (in kids terms) and at the end of each book is a map of Egypt and where that area is located.  The books were crazy cheap, about the equivalent of $1.50, so I got all of them (12, I think)  Here is a quick look at the books, the Arabic even having the vowels and all!  (Like in Hebrew, Modern Arabic does not use any vowels.  Children learn to read in the beginning with the vowels, but then they are taken out as soon as the concept is mastered.)  I’m super excited!!!