How did the owl lose its beak

About the book: This story is inspired by the oral heritage of popular proverbs in the Asir region - southern Saudi Arabia. Oral heritage is one of the most important vessels of culture that stores the wisdom of peoples, embodies their existence, and preserves their cultures. It is the living memory of community experiences, passed down through generations, woven from their proverbs and stories, as a cloak of identity and symbolic of their values, thus becoming their constitution that transcends the barriers of time and place. Our story draws inspiration from a popular proverb that depicts the dire consequences of rushing things. The proverb says: "Cut my wing because I am in a hurry," and it is told by an owl preparing for a bird meeting. It is expected that all kinds of birds will have their beaks cut for some reason, but the owl does not hesitate until the matter becomes clear, then asks to have its beak cut so it can go on its way. Afterwards, everyone abandons the idea and keeps their beaks, but the owl remains without a beak forever! In the Asiri dialect, it means "Cut my beak because I am in a hurry." Author: Ali Al-Sabaan Illustration: Hussein Sonmez Age: 6 - 9 years Published: 2020 Number of pages: 33 Cover: Regular