Tali and the Toucan

Ages 4 to 8, Grades K to 3

Perfect for children just starting school, Tali and the Toucan follows Tali as she winds her way through San Francisco, watching other kids play with abandon and wishing she could overcome her fears to do the same. And then one night her dreams show her the way. But what will happen when she wakes up?

Tali longs to play like the other kids play as they tumble and swing at the park, the gymnastics studio, and the aikido dojo, but her fears hold her back. In her dreams, she can soar, but when she wakes up in the morning, she’s still scared. Until one night, a surprise guest flies into her dreams and teaches her how to make them a reality.

Filled with beautiful, evocative illustrations and honest prose, Tali and the Toucan is for any child (or parent) whose worries keep them from living their dreams—whether that’s trying a new sport, making a new friend, or climbing to the top of the jungle gym.

About the Author

Mira Z. Amiras is an anthropologist, author, and award-winning filmmaker. She was raised on her mother’s accounts of the Inquisition and Holocaust, her father’s tales of the creation and beauty of the universe, and her grandparents’ foods, folklore and music of ancient Sefarad. Mira has lived, studied, and traveled throughout the Middle East and North Africa, camped out 7,000 miles through Africa, and traveled overland from Istanbul to the Nepalese border. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and is Professor Emerita of Comparative Religion and Middle East Studies at San Jose State University. Mira is past president of the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, and was a member of the Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association. She lives in San Francisco with her family—witnessing the birth of new tales as we speak.