The Story of Kites
by Ying Chang Compestine
    The creative Kang brothers invent a practical solution to a common problem-in this case, keeping birds out of the rice fields. Shooing them away is time-consuming so the boys decide to make some wings of their own.

Tale of Four Dervishes
by Amir Khusru
    A story within a story within a story, told in true Arabian Nights fashion. Tradition has it that the great Nizamuddin Awliyya, after hearing this allegory from his disciple Khusru, placed a benediction on the work. It is widely believed that those who hear it will be restored to health.

Kite Flying
by Grace Lin
    A Chinese girl describes how the members of her family come together to make and fly a dragon kite. Even the girl's two younger sisters help: Mei Mei cuts the whiskers and Jie Jie paints a laughing mouth.

The Boy Without a Name
by Idries Shah
    Nameless has grown up, well . . . nameless, owing to a wise man's visit on the day of his birth. He asks his friend Anwar for a name, but Anwar only has one name, and he can't afford to give it away.

The Man With Bad Manners
by Idries Shah
    In a quaint village with well-cultivated gardens, everyone is courteous except for one man. He babbles "blah, blah, blah" in response to others' greetings, and in the night, bangs cans loudly.

The Old Woman and the Eagle
by Idries Shah
    In this amusing Afghan folktale, an old woman encounters an eagle for the first time. Perplexed by its unfamiliar appearance, she insists that it must be a pigeon and tries to make it so.

The Emperor and the Kite
by Jane Yolen
    Largely ignored by her own family, Princess Djeow Seow spends her days playing with a kite made from paper and sticks. But when the Emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, only the Princess can save the day, flying her kite high up into the sky to rescue her father.