A Lion Called Audee
Audee the lion needs new shoes, but he says no to every colour, until he has an idea in time for Eid. A picture book in Arabic for ages 4 to 9.
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What is A Lion Called Audee about?
A Lion Called Audee is a picture book in Arabic for children aged 4 to 9 about a lion who needs brand new shoes and is very picky about their colour.
How about red shoes? No, no, Audee doesn't want those. White shoes? Yellow, green, black or blue? No, no, no. Audee turns down every pair he is offered. Then, joyfully, he knows just what he wants, and he finds his own way to get it, in time to wear his new shoes on the day of Eid.
The cover shows Audee, a cheerful lion with a big red mane, in a blue T-shirt and jeans, holding a blue shoe up in each paw. The book is by Safaa Azmi, with pictures by Hassan Al-Saadi, and its cover marks it as the first stage of a graded Arabic reading series, for readers of 6 and over. Each page offers a new colour and the same answer, so it is a simple way for children learning Arabic to learn the names of colours, and to join in with Audee's "No, no!"
The app has the book in Arabic. This page tells the story in English, from the translation of the book's text, so a parent who does not read Arabic can follow each page with their child. It is a good book to share before Eid, when many children look forward to something new to wear, and a fun one for talking about favourite colours. It is music-free.
What your child will learn
- Red, white, yellow, green, black and blue each have their own name.
- We can use our imagination to make something just the way we like it.
- Getting ready for Eid, with something new to wear, is something to look forward to.
The story of A Lion Called Audee
There was once a lion called Audee, and Audee was looking for new shoes. He needed a brand new pair, but when it came to colours, Audee was very picky indeed.
"How about red shoes?"
"No, no," said Audee. "I don't want those."
"How about white shoes?"
"No, no," said Audee. "I do not want those."
"Yellow shoes?"
"No, no. I don't want those."
"Green shoes?"
"No, no. I don't want those."
"Black shoes?"
"No, no. I don't want those."
"Blue shoes?"
"No, no. I don't want those."
Red, white, yellow, green, black and blue: Audee had said no to every one of them. Not one of those colours was right for his new shoes. What could he possibly want?
Then Audee had it. "This is what I want!" he said joyfully. "This is what I want!"
Audee painted just what he wanted.
And on the day of Eid, Audee wore those very shoes.
Find more stories about learning to read and learning Arabic.
Talk about it afterwards
- Which colours of shoes did Audee say no to?
- What did Audee do to get the shoes he wanted?
- What colour do you think Audee's new shoes were?
- When did Audee wear his new shoes?
- If you could paint your own shoes, what would they look like?
Words to know
- Asad
- A lion. The book's Arabic title is Asad ismuhu Audi, A lion called Audee.
- Eid
- A festival day for Muslims. There are two each year, Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan and Eid al-Adha in the month of Hajj.
Frequently asked questions
What age is A Lion Called Audee suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 9. Its cover marks it as stage one, for readers of 6 and over, of a graded Arabic reading series, so younger children enjoy it read aloud and older ones can try reading it on their own.
Can a parent who does not speak Arabic share A Lion Called Audee?
Yes. The app has the book in Arabic only, but its description gives an English translation of the text, and the story on this page follows it page by page. A parent can tell their child what each page says, look at the pictures together and let the child hear and read the Arabic.
Is A Lion Called Audee about Eid?
Eid comes only at the very end: Audee wears his new shoes on the day of Eid. The book does not say which Eid. It is mostly a story about colours.
