The Caliph and the Poet
From Fifty Famous People, by James Baldwin
This story comes from James Baldwin's 1896 collection Fifty Famous People: A Book of Short Stories. Al Mansur was a real caliph who ruled the Arab empire in the 700s and built the great city of Baghdad. The text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The tale shows how a clever ruler tested a poet's honesty—and rewarded him for it.
- Band
- Yellow · Emerging readersTypical starting range: ages 6–8
- Length
- medium · about 521 words in 5 sections · 4 pictures
- Source
- Fifty Famous People: A Book of Short Stories, James Baldwin
- First published
- see the About page in the reader
- Regions
- Canada · United States
Included formats
- · Web reader and PDF
- · EPUB for e-readers
- · Home-print sheet
- · Folded booklet
- · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
- · Worksheet
- · Quick Check (8 questions) with answer key
- · Read-aloud script
- · Colouring page
- · Teacher’s Edition (members)
Lesson at a glance
- Reading
- about 9 minutes at this band
- Pause questions
- 2
- Words to Know
- 5
- Quick Check
- 8 questions, with the answer key
- Let’s Talk
- 3 questions for afterwards
- Worksheet
- questions, an activity and a drawing prompt
About 35 minutes with one story, all of it.
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Other bands of this story
This story is ready now at the Yellow band only. Other bands can be made to order for members after launch.