The Hundredth Name

Salah and his camel, Qadiim, are daily companions: They work together, eat together, and sleep together. Salah is sad, however, because his camel always seems so downcast. But in middle of the night, he remember what his father had told him--that mankind knows only ninety-nine names for Allah, while there are actually one hundred. What if Qadiim could learn the hundredth name? Under the stars Salah prays, "to Allah with all his strength." The next day--a seeming miracle!--the camel carries his head high and has a most knowing look. This wonderful story, rich in the details of village life, is complimented by beautiful illustrations that portray the lush, verdant landscape of the banks of the Nile as well as luminous starlit nights.

Shulamath Levey Oppenheim is the author of I Love You, Bunny Rabbit, illustrated by Cyd Moore (Boyds Mills Press, 1995), and Iblis, illustrated by Ed Young (Little Brown, 1994). She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Michael Hays has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger (Macmillan, 1994), and The Boy Who Loved Morning by Shannon K. Jacobs (Little, Brown, 1993). He lives in Chicago, Illinois.