Hajj: journey to the heart of Islam by Venetia Porter

The British Museum is hosting the world’s biggest exhibition on Hajj from January 26th – April 15th 2012.
Drawing millions of pilgrims annually, the Hajj is a powerful bond that brings Muslims together from across the world. It takes place in the twelfth month of the Muslim year dhul hijja. Over the course of one week a number of specific rituals are performed which involve circumambulation of the Kaba, the cube-shaped building in the centre of the sanctuary at Makkah, and visiting key sites. The Kaba is believed to have been built by Abraham and his son Ishmael and was the focus of pilgrimage before the coming of Islam. Tracing the footsteps and personal experiences of pilgrims across the centuries, this fascinating book takes the reader on a physical and spiritual journey. The spirit of Hajj is further evoked through a wealth of illustrations, including personal objects carried by the pilgrims throughout the centuries; souvenirs collected along the route; early travel photographs; maps; manuscripts; wall paintings; compasses and astrolabes; textiles; contemporary artworks and images that capture the scale and emotional intensity of Hajj today.

The Tygrine Cat: On the Run by Inbali Iserles
Many girls in the Junior School will remember Inbali Iserles’ memorable visit last year, when she told us about the process of writing a novel and gave us writing tips for our own short stories. At the time, Inbali was finalising this sequel to her first book, ‘The ‘Tygrine Cat’. This title will therefore be of particular interest to those Junior School girls who discussed its forthcoming release with Inbali herself.
Long before humans walked the earth, there were two tribes of cats: the Sa Mau of the Nile Delta, and the Abyssinia Tygrine from ancient Nubia. Armed with mysterious powers, the ruthless Sa sought to crush the Tygrine and condemn all cats to darkness. Even those who believe the legend claim the tribes became extinct 9,000 years ago with the domestication of cats. They are mistaken... Mati lives among the street cats at Cressida Lock. But Mati is different - he is a Tygrine, the last of his kind. The Suzerain, his implacable foe, has set a murderous creature on his trail. As a shadow falls over Cressida Lock, the young cat must find the strength to lead his friends from danger. In this heart-stopping sequel to The Tygrine Cat, Mati must pass through three gates of the feline spirit realm and confront his enemies. The first gate takes him to a place of chaos and flame; the second to the ancient land of his ancestors; the last to the world of memory, where his fallen friends remain. Can cruelty and despair crush Mati's will - or is there an even greater power at work?