The Man with Bad Manners - El hombre maleducado: English-Spanish Edition (Teaching Stories) - Tapa blanda

This Afghani folktale has been recast in a modern Western setting, though Santiago's brilliantly hued, naive paintings give it a timeless quality. In a quaint village with well-cultivated gardens, everyone is courteous except for one man. He babbles "blah, blah, blah" in response to others' greetings, and in the night, bangs cans loudly. Everyone is happy when he leaves to visit friends in another village. A clever boy points out, though, that their problems aren't over yet, since the man will return. He has an idea that may make the rude fellow change his ways. This ingenious plan, carried out with the villagers' full cooperation, results in a happy ending for one and all. The tale's mild didacticism is leavened by Shah's gentle retelling and Santiago's artfully lighthearted illustrations. The artist has created a whimsically idyllic village of chunky houses surrounded by sunflowers and small gardens. Her delightfully childlike figures, with their comically exaggerated expressions, are perfectly cast to carry out this story's message of peaceful conflict resolution. - School Library Journal Afghan writer Shah tells of a badly behaved man who refuses to greet people properly, instead saying "blah blah blah" and "blee blee blee." He also bangs loudly on tin cans at night, so the villagers decide to teach the rude fellow a lesson. Narrator Michael Ashcraft has a great deal of fun with the sound effects--his BLEEs and BLAHs are hearty, and his BANG BANG BANGS are appropriately loud and irritating. Young children will enjoy following along and will especially be pleased by the bright illustrations that complement Ashcraft's lively narration. Although this story is from another culture, its themes (the value of manners in helping people get along) are universal. - AudioFile

This story is about a badly behaved man and how a young boy initiates a plan to change his behavior and, with the help of all the villagers, succeeds. It will bring laughter to young children and, at the same time, teach them valuable lessons about conflict resolution, initiative and co-operation.

 

Part of a rich body of literature from Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Middle East, this story is one of many collected and retold for children by the Afghan author Idries Shah. It is the first in this series to be set in the West.

 

Esta historia es acerca de un hombre que tenía malos modales, de cómo un niño inicia un plan para cambiar su conducta, y de cómo, con la ayuda de todos los aldeanos, tiene éxito. El cuento hará reír a los pequeños y, al mismo tiempo, les enseñará valiosas lecciones sobre solución de conflictos, iniciativa y cooperación.

 

Parte de la rica tradición literaria de Afganistán, Asia Central y el Medio Oriente, esta historia es una de las tantas recogidas y recontadas por el autor afgano Idries Shah. Es la primera de esta serie que se sitúa en el occidente.