The Palace of the Man in Blue / Palatul Omului În Albastru

Four traveling merchants stumble upon a magnificent palace. Once inside, they meet a mysterious man dressed in blue, and things happen that make them each question their past experiences and assumptions. Through reading this imaginative tale, children learn that looks can be deceptive and that there are deeper reasons to help others than we might at first assume.

This story is one of many teaching stories collected and adapted by the Afghan philosopher Idries Shah, who told these to his own children to promote thinking skills and impart wisdom. These unique tales have their roots in Central Asia and the Middle East. They are published now, beautifully illustrated, so as to appeal to children in the lands in which they originated and to children in the West, the aims being to teach through humor and example and to draw attention to our commonalities.

Although the origins of many of the author's stories can be traced back to ancient oral traditions, the insights and practical lessons contained in these narratives are timeless. Today, these stories are read in classrooms and homes and studied by thoughtful world leaders. They continue to pass knowledge from one generation to the next and to establish strong cultural foundations for peoples and communities around the world.