
audiobook
by Samuel Marinus Zwemer, Amy E. Zwemer
TOPSY-TURVY LAND - ARABIA PICTURED FOR CHILDREN - BY - SAMUEL M. ZWEMER - AND - AMY E. ZWEMER
TOPSY-TURVY LAND - ARABIA PICTURED FOR CHILDREN - BY - SAMUEL M. ZWEMER - AND - AMY E. ZWEMER
PREFACE
List of Illustrations
I. WHY IS ARABIA TOPSY-TURVY LAND?
II. A LESSON IN GEOGRAPHY
III. THE SQUARE-HOUSE WITH THE BLACK OVERCOAT
IV. SABBACH-KUM BIL KHEIR!
V. AT THE CORNER GROCERY
VI. BLIND FATIMAH
Step into a colourful world where camel caravans become the “ships of the desert” and the day begins when bedtime rolls around elsewhere. This picture‑rich volume invites curious readers to wander through bustling markets, fragrant date palms, and lively street scenes, all drawn with the kind of detail that makes you feel the sand beneath your feet. Each vignette carries a gentle moral, turning everyday adventures into quiet lessons about kindness, sharing and respect.
The chapters arrive in a playful, non‑linear order, so you can dip in at any point—perhaps to watch a boy pray at sunrise, or to follow a group of friends as they barter for sugar‑cane and dates. Short stories about a square house with a black coat, a bustling grocery corner, and the rhythmic call of the muezzin introduce children to the rhythms of Arabian daily life. Sprinkled throughout are proverbs and bits of humor that capture the spirit of the region while highlighting the similarities between distant cultures.
Beyond the eye‑catching illustrations, the book offers a bird’s‑eye view of geography, travel, and customs that many children have never seen. It encourages listeners to imagine the world from a new angle, turning the familiar upside‑down and inviting a broader, more empathetic outlook. Perfect for young imaginations eager to explore a place where sunrise and dinner swap places, and where every picture tells a story.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (129K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Curtis Weyant, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
Release date
2005-04-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1952
Remembered as the "Apostle to Islam," this American missionary and writer spent decades in Arabia and Egypt and became one of the best-known Christian interpreters of the Muslim world in the early 20th century.
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1865–1937
Her books opened a vivid window onto Arabia for young readers, blending travel, storytelling, and missionary experience. Writing with Samuel M. Zwemer and later on her own, she helped turn distant places into scenes children could picture and remember.
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