Books by Sonia Nimr

Thunderbird 3

(طائر الرعد 3)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2021

ISBN: 9789950270473

In the third and final book of the Thunderbird trilogy, Noor finds herself in Byzantine Jerusalem in the year 638 CE, where the city is under siege. Joined by Sabeeka, the djinn who takes the form of a cat, Noor meets the twins Helena and Julian, who possess the power of healing. Together, they team up to find the thunderbird. However, before they can accomplish this, they are swallowed by a giant, worm-like creature which transports them to the world beyond the wall separating the djinn world from the human realm. In the terrifying, dark, gloomy Bacosala’a world of worm–like creatures, Noor and her friends are rescued and delivered to the colorful and peaceful world of the Sakarik. Here, they discover that Bacosala’a are stealing the golden liquid that sustains the Sakarik's life. Will Noor and her friends rescue the Sakarik and return to the human world in time to find the last two thunderbird feathers needed to save the world?

Thunderbird 2

(طائر الرعد 2)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2020

ISBN: 9789950270350

In this second volume, Noor finds herself in the year 1177 in Jerusalem during the Crusades. With the help of the Djinn and Zainab—a girl who has the power of invisibility—and her local resistance group, Noor must again find a feather belonging to the thunderbird before it burns, to prevent the world of the djinn and other creatures from collapsing into the human world. Along the way, Noor assists the resistance in saving hundreds of books and manuscripts from destruction. Like the first book in the trilogy, Book Two combines magic with real events from Palestinian history, taking the reader on a wild and adventurous ride through time.

Thunderbird 1

(طائر الرعد 1)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2016

ISBN: 9789950260856

The Thunderbird trilogy is a fast-paced, time-traveling fantasy adventure centered on Noor, a young orphaned Palestinian girl. Beginning in the present, Noor must travel back in time to collect four magical feathers from the phoenix before it burns and save the world. With the aid of a djinn taking the form of a cat and girls who look identical to Noor—each possessing one of the bird’s powers—this initial volume launches Noor on her journey through different historical periods, striving to keep the wall between worlds intact.

Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2013

ISBN: 9789950260108

In a tent at the foot of a mountain in Palestine, hundreds of years ago, our storyteller and her twin sister were born. Her name is Qamar (Moon), and her sister is Shams (Sun). Their small caravan is journeying from their mother’s city back to their father’s remote ancestral village atop the mountain. This village suffers from isolation—and a curse—which their young family tries to undo. But when both parents' lives are cut short, Qamar and her sister are left orphans. Qamar decides to pursue her parents’ dreams of discovering the world—its people, places, and stories. With the red book that brought her parents together in hand, she sets out on a daring journey across empires, traveling by caravans and ships. Telling tales to survive, Qamar crosses deserts and seas: to Jerusalem and Gaza, Egypt, Tangier, Andalusia, and Genoa; Abyssinia, India, the Maldives, and Yemen. She faces kidnappers, is sold as a slave to the house of a mad king, studies with a polymath, disguises herself as a man, and falls in love for the first time—with a pirate. Qamar searches irrepressibly for life, uncovering endless stories within stories.

A Little Piece of Ground

Macmillan Publishers London, 2003

ISBN: 9780330437431

Twelve-year-old Karim longs to play football in occupied Ramallah, but a curfew keeps him home. His struggle for freedom highlights the everyday resilience of Palestinian youth.

Ghaddar the Ghoul and Other Palestinian Stories

Frances Lincoln London, 2007

ISBN: 978-1845075231

Nine Palestinian folk tales retold for young readers. Clever tricksters, mischievous animals, and bold women feature in this delightful anthology.

When It Rained Fish (عندما أمطرت السماء سمكاً )

Al Aswar Books Acre, 2021

ISBN: 1407193221

This is the story of Saeed, who is not known for his smarts, unlike his wife. While looking for a paid job, he ends up stealing the chameleon’s gold, triggering a bizarre phenomenon where the sky begins to rain fish, vegetables, and candy.

The Blue Door (الباب الأزرق)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2018

ISBN: 9789950270190

Every night, a little girl plays with her grandfather on an old blue magical door. It's their secret time travel port. It takes them to a different time in Palestine and to her grandfather’s destroyed village, which magically comes to life with colors, green trees, and vibrant life whenever he touches the ground.

King of Tales (ملك الحكايات)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2014

ISBN: 9789950260375

On moonlit nights, the forest animals gather to share stories, but when it’s the grasshopper’s turn, they mock him, claiming he has no tales to tell. Determined to fit in, he tries to be strong like an elephant, roars like a lion, and even disguises himself as a chameleon, but to no avail. But later in the story with his son by his side, he returns to the gathering, finally ready to share his own

The Lion Who Lost His Sleep (الأسد الذي فقد نومه)

Al Aswar Books Acre, 2014

ISBN: 1407-193093

This is the tale of a lion, the king of the forest, who loves nothing more than to sleep. While danger looms from fearsome machines with teeth, the animals turn to him for help. The lion promises to solve their problems and devise a clever plan, but instead, he dozes off again and again, pretending to work while truly lost in slumber. Will the lion wake up in time to save his kingdom, or will his laziness lead to disaster?

Zalloutah (زلّوطة)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2011

ISBN: 9789950260344

This is the tale of a fly who loves her cozy home in the rubbish bin. When she gets into a squabble with other flies over her favorite spot, things take a turn for the worse. Ultimately, the landlady decides to close the bin, forcing her to leave. Now, she must find a new place to call home!

Mukhtar’s Big Ears (مختار أبو دنين كبار)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2011

ISBN: 98799540326798

Mukhtar is a boy who feels self-conscious about his large ears, which make him the target of bullying in his village and among his peers. Despite his efforts to hide them, the bullying

قصة أولها خيال واخرها خيال

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2003

ISBN: 9789950260535

The king wanted his only son and heir to get married and presented him with choices: a princess, a rich girl, or a beautiful girl. However, the prince had a different idea; he wanted a girl who reads books and knows how to tell stories. He sought a story that begins and ends with lies. Girls came from all corners of the kingdom, each trying but failing to tell the prince a story that began and ended with lies. Just as the prince’s patience began to wane, an ordinary girl in a simple dress approached him. She began to tell a most imaginative and fantastical story about a giant rooster that emerged from a round egg , a town inside a water melon and being shot in the sky by a canon and other fantastical details.

Mandoura (مندورة)

Al Aswar Books Acre, 2007

ISBN: 978-965-7439-17-3

Mandoura is a curious girl with a heart full of wonder. She’s captivated by the world around her, always asking questions. Her insatiable curiosity leads her to a tiny world inhabited by the rainbow painters. But when they discover they’ve run out of red, Mandoura embarks on a magical adventure, learning profound lessons about nature along the way. Will she be able to help them find the color red and finish the rainbow?

The Dragon (التنين)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2001

This story is about a town besieged by a monstrous dragon that no one can face. While help is sought but no avail, a brave girl stands up for her town and its people and manages to defeat the monster with a single stone, thus saving the city.

Tanbouri’s Shoes

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 1996

Based on Arabic classical heritage, it is converted here into a folktale shape in rhyme, this is the story of a miser who wants to get rid of his old shoes, but they keep coming back to him as each attempts entangles him more and more into troubles.

The smart swallow

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 1996

Based on classical Arabic heritage, woven in rhyme to resemble folk tales, this story tries to answer, why do snakes eat frogs? why the tail of the swallow is forked? and why do mosquitos make a buzzing sound?

From Eibal to the Port (من عيبال للمينا)

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2013

ISBN: 9789950260153

This book is a collaborative effort with young adults who gathered oral history testimonies from older generations. It’s a project, that aimed to introduce the young adults into oral history as a research method.

من القدس تبدأ الحكاية

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2009

ISBN: 9789950326521

This book is a joint effort with young adults who collected oral testimonies and stories from shop owners in the old souqs of Jerusalem. It’s the second project, that aimed to introduce the young adults into oral history as a research method.

Short History of Palestine

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2004

ISBN: 9950326079

This book is an attempt to tell the history of Palestine using a collection of pictures that recounts the main events in the contemporary Palestine.

Yalo “oral history of this village”

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2000

ISBN: N/A

This is a joint work with young adults, who gathered oral history testimonies from older people about the village of Yalo which was destroyed in 1967. It’s a book project that aimed to introduce the young adults into oral history as a research method.

قصة أولها خيال واخرها خيال

ISBN: 9789950260535

Age: Children

The king wanted his only son and heir to get married and presented him with choices: a princess, a rich girl, or a beautiful girl. However, the prince had a different idea; he wanted a girl who reads books and knows how to tell stories. He sought a story that begins and ends with lies. Girls came from all corners of the kingdom, each trying but failing to tell the prince a story that began and ended with lies. Just as the prince’s patience began to wane, an ordinary girl in a simple dress approached him. She began to tell a most imaginative and fantastical story about a giant rooster that emerged from a round egg , a town inside a water melon and being shot in the sky by a canon and other fantastical details.

Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands

ISBN: 9789950260108

Age: young adults

In a tent at the foot of a mountain in Palestine, hundreds of years ago, our storyteller and her twin sister were born. Her name is Qamar (Moon), and her sister is Shams (Sun). Their small caravan is journeying from their mother’s city back to their father’s remote ancestral village atop the mountain. This village suffers from isolation—and a curse—which their young family tries to undo. But when both parents' lives are cut short, Qamar and her sister are left orphans. Qamar decides to pursue her parents’ dreams of discovering the world—its people, places, and stories. With the red book that brought her parents together in hand, she sets out on a daring journey across empires, traveling by caravans and ships. Telling tales to survive, Qamar crosses deserts and seas: to Jerusalem and Gaza, Egypt, Tangier, Andalusia, and Genoa; Abyssinia, India, the Maldives, and Yemen. She faces kidnappers, is sold as a slave to the house of a mad king, studies with a polymath, disguises herself as a man, and falls in love for the first time—with a pirate. Qamar searches irrepressibly for life, uncovering endless stories within stories.

Thunderbird 1

(طائر الرعد 1)

ISBN: 9789950260856

Age: young adults

The Thunderbird trilogy is a fast-paced, time-traveling fantasy adventure centered on Noor, a young orphaned Palestinian girl. Beginning in the present, Noor must travel back in time to collect four magical feathers from the phoenix before it burns and save the world. With the aid of a djinn taking the form of a cat and girls who look identical to Noor—each possessing one of the bird’s powers—this initial volume launches Noor on her journey through different historical periods, striving to keep the wall between worlds intact.

The Blue Door (الباب الأزرق)

ISBN: 9789950270190

Age: Children

Every night, a little girl plays with her grandfather on an old blue magical door. It's their secret time travel port. It takes them to a different time in Palestine and to her grandfather’s destroyed village, which magically comes to life with colors, green trees, and vibrant life whenever he touches the ground.

King of Tales (ملك الحكايات)

ISBN: 9789950260375

Age: Children

On moonlit nights, the forest animals gather to share stories, but when it’s the grasshopper’s turn, they mock him, claiming he has no tales to tell. Determined to fit in, he tries to be strong like an elephant, roars like a lion, and even disguises himself as a chameleon, but to no avail. But later in the story with his son by his side, he returns to the gathering, finally ready to share his own

Translated By: Marcia Lynx Qualey

University of Texas, Austin, 2022

ISBN: 9781477325810

Language: English

Translated By: Marcia Lynx Qualey

University of Texas, Austin, 2023

Language: English

ISBN:

Translated By: Marcia Lynx Qualey

University of Texas, Austin, 2024

Language: English

ISBN: 9781477327524

Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands

Translated By: Marcia Lynx Qualey

Interlink Publishing Group, Inc.

First Edition, 2021

Language: English

ISBN: 9781623718664

Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands

Translated By: Marcia Lynx Qualey

Interlink Publishing Group, Inc.

Second Edition, 2024

Language: English

ISBN: 9781623716486

Forunderlige reiser i fremmede lande

Translated By: Elisabeth Moestrup

Jensen and Delgaard Publishers, 2024

Language: Danish

ISBN: 9788771518825

Viajes Extraordinarios por Tierras Misteriosas

Translated By: Monica Carrion

Icaria editorial, 2016

Language: Spanish

ISBN: 9788498887426

Viatges Extraordinaris per Terres Misterioses

Translated By: Monica Carrion

Jarit Associacio Civil, 2017

First Edition

Language: Catalan

ISBN: 9788461780310

Viatges Extraordinaris per Terres Misterioses

Translated By: Monica Carrion

Jarit Associacio Civil, 2018

Second Edition

Language: Catalan

ISBN: 9788409009343

سفريه سرزمين هاك غريب

Translated By: Qasim Fathi

Nasher Atraf

Language: Farisi (Persian)

ISBN: 9786229488027

Pribeh, ktory sa zacina aj konci s fantaziou

Civic Association Sinieckovo, 2023

Language: Slovak

ISBN: 9788089314690

Una história inventada do começo ao fin

Translated By: Maria Carolina Goncalves

Tabla Brazil, 2022

Language: Portugeuse

ISBN: 9786587796178

Ghaddar o Demonio

Companhia das Letras, 2012

Language: Portugeuse, Brazilian Edition

ISBN: 9788574066288

Märchen im Gepäck - حكايات في حقيبتي

Translated By: Micaela Sauber

AphorisA, 2018

Language: German

ISBN: 978386575032

قطعة صغيرة من الأرض

Translated By: Samar Al Qutob

Tamer Institute Ramallah, 2004

Language: Arabic

ISBN: 9789950326392