REVIEWS
Islamic Horizons Review - Mar.-Apr. 2010
“Created as a user-friendly Arabic alphabet-and-culture book for beginners, the author simplifies learning the letters by ordering and then matching them according to the English alphabet. The ample and imaginative use of color also makes this an informative, fun, and useful teaching aid.”
Midwest Book Review - Oct. 2009
“Arabic written script commonly in use by more than 300 million people in more than twenty countries around the world is radically different from that of the scripts descended from the Roman alphabet. But now American and European students wanting to learn to read and write in Arabic have a superbly produced learning tool . . . This deftly composed and presented Arabic alphabet book demystifies the letters by introducing them in an English alphabetical order, and then using the spelling of English names and words as a way of learning Arabic. Students will be able look up matching letters, follow clear directions, and quite quickly become able to write their own name in Arabic. Profusely illustrated throughout, 'Sugar Comes From Arabic' is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, school, and community library Language Studies reference collections and curriculum supplements.”
School Library Journal - Sept. 2009
"This innovative guide has a twofold purpose: to teach the Arabic alphabet and to provide a window into Arabic culture. . . .a charming accessible book for all ages. It's informative, fun, and useful."
Louise Ermelino, Publishers Weekly
ACADEMICS
"Not only have you made learning the Arabic script fun but you have managed to embed this learning within broader cultural concepts (Western and Arab) . . . quite an accomplishment."
Ali Asani, professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic Religion and Culture, Harvard University
"The book is absolutely beautiful. . .an essential tool. . . for beginners of Arabic."
Leila Fawaz, Issam M. Fares Professor of Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean Studies; Founding Director, Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies, Tufts University
"[The book] is going to help a lot of people of diverse ages, not only as an introduction to the language, but as a needed cultural bridge as well. . . .through the wonderful photographs and background materials. . . .won't the teacher be happy to have this?"
Nancy Brown, retired librarian, Newton, Mass.
"[The] book is such a delight!. . .I found. . .the three steps to translating words so useful. . .It will surely fill a huge hole for the language community everywhere."
Walden Morton, retired teacher, Portland, Maine
COLLEAGUES
"I love your approach. It's fun, information-packed, beautiful, original, and easy to use."
Margaret Shepherd, author of "Calligraphy All OverThe World," forthcoming from Random House
Islamic Horizons Review - Mar.-Apr. 2010
“Created as a user-friendly Arabic alphabet-and-culture book for beginners, the author simplifies learning the letters by ordering and then matching them according to the English alphabet. The ample and imaginative use of color also makes this an informative, fun, and useful teaching aid.”
Midwest Book Review - Oct. 2009
“Arabic written script commonly in use by more than 300 million people in more than twenty countries around the world is radically different from that of the scripts descended from the Roman alphabet. But now American and European students wanting to learn to read and write in Arabic have a superbly produced learning tool . . . This deftly composed and presented Arabic alphabet book demystifies the letters by introducing them in an English alphabetical order, and then using the spelling of English names and words as a way of learning Arabic. Students will be able look up matching letters, follow clear directions, and quite quickly become able to write their own name in Arabic. Profusely illustrated throughout, 'Sugar Comes From Arabic' is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, school, and community library Language Studies reference collections and curriculum supplements.”
School Library Journal - Sept. 2009
"This innovative guide has a twofold purpose: to teach the Arabic alphabet and to provide a window into Arabic culture. . . .a charming accessible book for all ages. It's informative, fun, and useful."
Louise Ermelino, Publishers Weekly
ACADEMICS
"Not only have you made learning the Arabic script fun but you have managed to embed this learning within broader cultural concepts (Western and Arab) . . . quite an accomplishment."
Ali Asani, professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic Religion and Culture, Harvard University
"The book is absolutely beautiful. . .an essential tool. . . for beginners of Arabic."
Leila Fawaz, Issam M. Fares Professor of Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean Studies; Founding Director, Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies, Tufts University
"[The book] is going to help a lot of people of diverse ages, not only as an introduction to the language, but as a needed cultural bridge as well. . . .through the wonderful photographs and background materials. . . .won't the teacher be happy to have this?"
Nancy Brown, retired librarian, Newton, Mass.
"[The] book is such a delight!. . .I found. . .the three steps to translating words so useful. . .It will surely fill a huge hole for the language community everywhere."
Walden Morton, retired teacher, Portland, Maine
COLLEAGUES
"I love your approach. It's fun, information-packed, beautiful, original, and easy to use."
Margaret Shepherd, author of "Calligraphy All OverThe World," forthcoming from Random House