الصَّيَّاد الصَّغِير
The Little Fisherman
A Hayya Beena Naqraa story · Tier 1 · For ages 5–7
Cover page
الصَّيَّاد الصَّغِير
The Little Fisherman
🎨 Illustration prompt
A soft watercolor illustration of a young child with short dark hair standing beside their grandfather on a stone pier at a Mediterranean port. The grandfather wears a simple linen shirt and a flat cap; the child holds a small fishing rod with both hands. Behind them, blue-green Mediterranean water, small wooden fishing boats painted white and blue, and the warm stone harbor of an old Levantine port (Byblos or Tyre feel). Soft morning light, gentle ripples on the water. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 1
ذَهَبْتُ مَعَ جِدُّو إِلَى الْبَحْر.
I went with Grandpa to the sea.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The child and grandfather walking hand in hand along a stone harbor path in the early morning. Grandfather carries a small bucket; the child carries a fishing rod over one shoulder. The Mediterranean spreads out beside them, calm and pale blue. A few seagulls in the sky. Old harbor buildings with terracotta roofs in the background. Warm, soft watercolor tones — sand, stone, sea. No text in the image.
Page 2
جِدُّو صَيَّادٌ مَاهِر.
Grandpa is a skilled fisherman.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A close, warm portrait of the grandfather sitting on the edge of the pier, preparing his fishing rod with careful hands. His face is kind, weathered, smiling slightly. The child watches him closely, eyes wide with admiration. A small tackle box sits open beside them. The Mediterranean glints behind them. Watercolor style with soft, warm light. No text in the image.
Page 3
أَمْسَكْتُ الصِّنَّارَةَ بِيَدِي.
I held the fishing rod in my hand.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A close view of the child's small hands gripping a simple wooden fishing rod, the line dropping into the blue water below. The child's feet dangle off the stone pier. A gentle reflection of the sky shimmers on the water's surface. Watercolor style, soft blues and warm skin tones. No text in the image.
Page 4
اِنْتَظَرْنَا… وَاِنْتَظَرْنَا.
We waited… and waited.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A wider scene: the child and grandfather sitting quietly side by side on the pier, both holding their rods, both looking out at the sea. The light has shifted — now it's mid-morning, soft and golden. A small fishing boat passes far in the background. The mood is patient, peaceful, unhurried. Watercolor style, gentle and quiet. No text in the image.
Page 5
سَمَكَةٌ صَغِيرَة!
A tiny fish!
🎨 Illustration prompt
The child's face lit up with surprise and delight, holding up the fishing line. At the end of the line, a small silvery fish wiggles, glistening with water droplets. The grandfather leans in, smiling warmly. Bright sparkles of water catch the sunlight. Watercolor style, joyful and bright. No text in the image.
Page 6
حَمَلْتُهَا بِلُطْفٍ فِي يَدِي.
I held it gently in my hand.
🎨 Illustration prompt
A close-up of the child's two small cupped hands cradling the tiny silver fish. The fish's eye is bright and alive; a single drop of water slips between the child's fingers. The child's face is soft, focused, careful. Watercolor style, very tender and intimate. No text in the image.
Page 7
قَالَ جِدُّو: "هَلْ نُطْلِقُهَا؟"
Grandpa said, "Shall we let it go?"
🎨 Illustration prompt
The grandfather kneels beside the child, his hand resting gently on the child's shoulder. He looks at the little fish in the child's hands with kind eyes. The child looks up at him, thinking. Behind them, the Mediterranean stretches out, soft and welcoming. Watercolor style, warm and quiet. No text in the image.
Page 8
رَجَعَتِ السَّمَكَةُ إِلَى الْبَحْر.
The little fish went back to the sea.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The tiny silver fish slipping from the child's hands into the clear blue-green water, leaving a small splash and a ripple. Below the surface, the fish's silver flash is visible, swimming away into the deep. The child and grandfather watch from above, smiling softly. Watercolor style, with the water rendered in flowing blues and greens. No text in the image.
كَلِمَاتٌ جَدِيدَة · New Words
| Arabic | How to say it | English |
|---|---|---|
صَيَّاد |
say-yād | fisherman |
جِدُّو |
jid-dū | grandpa |
بَحْر |
bahr | sea |
سَمَكَة |
sa-ma-kah | fish |
صِنَّارَة |
sin-nā-rah | fishing rod |
رَجَعَ |
ra-ja-'a | went back |
🗣️ Talk about it (for parent or teacher)
These are not test questions — they're conversation starters. Ask one. Listen.
- Have you ever gone fishing, or seen someone fishing? What did the water look like?
- The child let the fish go. Why do you think they did that? What would you have done?
- Who is someone older in your family that you love spending quiet time with? What do you like to do together?
✏️ Try it (a tiny activity, 2 minutes)
Pick one:
- Draw the sea. Add one tiny fish swimming free. Color the water any color you like.
- Sit quietly for one whole minute. Like the child waiting for a fish. What do you hear?
- Practice saying bahr (بَحْر). Then samakah (سَمَكَة). Then say them to someone in your family.
A note for grown-ups reading along
The Arabic in this story uses full vowel marks (تَشْكِيل) so early readers can sound out each word. As your child gets more comfortable, the vowel marks gradually disappear in higher tiers.
Read the Arabic line first. Then the English. Or the other way around — whatever feels natural. If you don't know Arabic yet, just read the English and point to the Arabic. Your child will start matching the shapes to the sounds.
This story has a quiet ending — the fish swims away. There's no big celebration, just a small act of kindness. Sit with that quietness for a moment with your child. Gentleness toward small creatures is one of the oldest lessons we pass down at the water's edge.
Read this book again tomorrow. Repetition is the secret. By the third time, your child will start saying bahr with you before you say the English.
— Hayya Beena Naqraa (هَيَّا بِنَا نَقْرَأ)