Ali the Bold Heart

Ali is a magician in his country but life there becomes dangerous. He travels to a new safe land where he is locked up in a place surrounded by wire as sharp as tigers teeth. There he uses his magic to entertain the others and to pass the time. He can pull a coin from behind Mahmood’s ear and make rings appear from silken scarves. Everyone in the camp is amazed by Ali’s magic. One night a hot wind blows in and the compound is left empty. Ali looks up at the tiger’s teeth wire and wails. In the deepest part of the night the metal gates creak and shudder. The next morning Ali is gone!

In this beautiful picture book, Jane Jolly retells the true story of an Iranian refugee who was a practising magician with gentle language. Elise Hurst’s illustrations superbly capture the sensitivity of the themes.