Böcker av Nancy Zakhour

When Elissa forgets to have dinner, her Grandmother and Grandfather know it's time to step in. They recognize that Elissa is diligently working towards her dream of becoming an engineer, but they also understand the importance of balance in life. They ask Elissa to take a break from studying for just one day to help them with something very special.Curious, Elissa heads downstairs and discovers they're preparing a grand feast for the extended family, emphasizing that this connection and nourishment are the "most important things."Elissa, the protagonist from previous books, returns in this installment to delve deeper into the significance of food, especially when it's tied to family. While hard work and studying are essential, maintaining health and being active are equally important. She also grasps that nutritious food can aid her studies by nourishing both her mind and body.Be on the lookout for familiar motifs (like the red suitcase and the delicious olives) from past Elissa tales as they make appearances throughout this story. As with previous books in the series, this narrative promises to be a cherished addition, perfect for school reading, bedtime tales, or a delightful rainy-day escape.Does Elissa discover what truly matters most? Dive into the book to find out alongside her!

Elissa and her grandmother are reminiscing about their family members, and Grandmother shows Elissa the immense box of letters, postcards, and pictures that she has collected over the years. Elissa is intrigued by these letters from the past-but a question occurs to her:What would happen if there were no alphabet?Grandmother is very clever, and wise too, and she knows the answer. She explains it to Elissa in the form of a story, in which the ancient Phoenicians-master sailors and even better merchants-devise an alphabet in order to communicate widely with their customers.In this book, you will explore the ancient world and find out what it was like to live in a time before reading and writing. This lively and charming tale spells out-quite literally-the advent of written language in an engaging narrative that will teach your child all about where our words come from. And it will do so in such a way that they don't even realize that they are learning!Read on to find out what oxen and houses have in common, to learn why purple cloth was so popular, and to know what cedarwood smells like.

Elissa, protagonist of Elissa Uncovers the Origins of the Alphabet, returns in this charming and beautifully illustrated book. She is, once again, traveling back in time, but this time, she is only going as far as her Grandfather's youth to uncover the origins of his love for olive trees.Grandfather explains that olive trees look beautiful, the logs can make fragrant long-lasting firewood for warmth and cooking, that olives and olive oil taste delicious (which Elissa already knows!) and that olive oil can even be made into soap or lotion. Not only that, but the small fruits have healing properties, keeping hearts healthy and bones strong. More than that: looking after olive trees makes Grandfather feel closer to his own grandfather, and his great-grandfather and his great-great-grandfather... It is no wonder that an olive branch has become a symbol for world peace, says Grandfather, because everyone in the world loves olives!Join Elissa and Grandfather in this informative and amusing book that is ideal for the home's bookshelves, the classroom, or for inclusion in the children's section of a lending library. Parents and children alike, will love the simple storyline, the warm familial bonds depicted in the tale and the clear and beautiful illustrations. It is sure to be a firm favorite, whether as a bedtime story or some quiet reading time after all the chores have been done!