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366 pp.
| Atheneum
| February, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-1-5344-3018-1$29.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-5344-3019-8 Reissue (1909, Charles Scribner's Sons)
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Maxfield Parrish.
Edited by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora A. Smith. This edition includes editor Wiggin's original 1909 preface to ten stories, among them the well-known tales about Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin, and Sinbad the Sailor. Parrish's glowing oil paintings on glossy inserts are few but splendid and are an asset to a well-wrought text that is challenging by contemporary standards.
24 pp.
| Kar-Ben
| April, 2017
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-8938-7$17.99
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-9423-7$7.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-5124-2717-2
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Chiara Fedele.
Gilani-Williams adapts a traditionally male-centered folktale with both Jewish and Arab roots to focus on a Jewish woman (Yaffa) and a Muslim woman (Fatima), who are neighbors and friends. Both women's daily lives reveal their similarities and their compassion, particularly during a poor harvest. Fedele's evocative illustrations use texture and color (mainly red, blue, and brown) to introduce a distant land and distinct cultures.
(3)
4-6
Cousins Maxine and William are spending the summer of 1929 with their odd grandfather in New Jersey. After a mysterious telegram, Colonel Battersea brings the children with him to collect an important package in NYC. When he disappears, the cousins team up with the courier, Turkish girl Nura. In a rich historical landscape, the captivating adventure involves ancient relics, Arabian and Turkish lore, and a deadly organization.
343 pp.
| Penguin/Razorbill
| February, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59514-767-7$17.99
(3)
YA
Zahra, a jinni, knows better than to fall for a human. But after a young thief finds her lamp, Zahra is willing to sacrifice even her chance at freedom for him. Khoury's unabashedly romantic "Aladdin" retelling features scheming viziers, sparkling desert palaces, and intrigue and danger heightened by jinn magic. A strong female protagonist who commands great power propels this emotionally charged fantasy.
208 pp.
| National
| October, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-2540-3$24.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-2541-0$34.90
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Christina Balit.
Napoli (Treasury of Norse Mythology et al.) presents the legendary tales of Scheherazade. A helpful introduction draws attention to the "stories within stories within stories within the overarching story" structure; sidebars provide further context for readers. Well-sourced back matter tells more about the author's "literary license" along with information about "the Ancient Arab World." Lush, luminous illustrations appear throughout. Bib., ind.
64 pp.
| Barefoot
| September, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-84686-226-7$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Micha Archer.
As explained in the informative introduction, stories about Mulla Nasruddin appear throughout the Islamic world. The twenty-two short tales presented here (in tiny font) always have a kernel of humanistic wisdom, whether the protagonist pronounces judgment upon the foolish behavior of others or even laughs at his own actions. Brightly patterned collages accompany the tales. A pronunciation guide is appended. Bib., glos.
128 pp.
| Barefoot
| December, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-84686-122-2$24.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Carole Hénaff.
This edition of the traditional tales will captivate older middle-grade audiences; murder and infidelity are common themes, woven together with stories of genies and magicians. The Scheherazade framework isn't as engaging as the actual tales, and the font of those sections is difficult to read. The volume's best feature is its lovely, detail-rich, color-saturated acrylic illustrations that incorporate traditional motifs. Glos.
32 pp.
| Whitman
| September, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8075-3424-3$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Carol Liddiment.
In this story starring an Arabic folk character, Jouha the wise fool is always losing one of ten donkeys (the one that he's riding!). Numbers in Arabic from wahid (one) to ashara (ten) run along the bottom of the pages, allowing readers to chime in as Jouha searches for his animals. Desert-hued illustrations show details of traditional Middle Eastern life.
181 pp.
| Walker
| August, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8027-9639-4$16.95
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Tom Pohrt.
In addition to "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" and "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp," Mitchell includes the lesser-known "Abu Keer and Abu Seer." Mitchell delights in exaggeration and embroiders these already outrageous tales with extended descriptions of jewels and riches, clothing and food, sneaking in references to chocolate chip cookies to entice modern readers. Black-and-white line illustrations round out these retellings.
Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2007
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Pep Montserrat.
These bilingual editions of the well-known tales display a storytelling voice in both languages. The retro-style illustrations in Tortoise reflect the story's humor, while the rich-hued paintings in Aladdin capture the magic of that tale. Spanish-speaking parents and children will delight in the tellings; both volumes may also be useful in classroom collections. Review covers these titles: The Hare and the Tortoise / La liebre y la tortuga and Aladdin and the Magic Lamp / Aladino y la lámpara maravillosa.
72 pp.
| Scholastic/Levine
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-439-69255-5$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Sophy Williams.
Pullman adds his own original and often witty flourishes, through both language and story detail, to this retelling of Aladdin's adventures. The handsome paintings also contain many imaginative details, but oddly enough the locales in the illustrations don't always match Pullman's introduction, in which he sets the story in China. Still, this oversize volume is appealing, especially for reading aloud.
(4)
4-6
Rabbit Ears Books series.
Illustrated by
Greg Couch.
These varied tales with sophisticated vocabulary and wordy texts are reissued in library bindings. They are illustrated in a variety of styles, including the intense, hyperbolic pastels of Stormalong and the strong cut-paper silhouettes of Monkey People. No sources are given. There are twenty-one other spring 2005 books in this series. Review covers these Rabbit Ears: A Classic Tale titles: Finn McCoul, Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, The Monkey People, Peachboy, Stormalong.
117 pp.
| Golden
| September, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-375-82636-X$$19.95
|
LibraryISBN 0-375-92636-4$$21.99 1957, Simon
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Gustaf Tenggren
&
Gustaf Tenggren.
This new edition with a laudatory introduction by Mary Pope Osborne re-introduces Tenggren to a new audience. His illustrations resemble Persian miniatures, with their graceful women, handsome men, jewel-like tones, and intricate patterns. This volume presents eleven stories, including the frame story of Scheherazade, and the well-known tales about Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad.
(4)
K-3
DK Classic Readers series.
Illustrated by
Nilesh Mistry.
With simplified texts and using many of the same illustrations and photos as the original editions, these two tales are repackaged for younger readers (Robin Hood is geared toward more "proficient" readers). Margin notes with background information are somewhat intrusive. Although these versions lack the depth of fuller retellings, children new to reading can tackle these abridged versions on their own. Glos.
32 pp.
| Clarion
| August, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-395-81133-3$$15.00
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Alisher Dianov.
Frustrated by her husband's meager earnings, Jamell convinces Ahmed to become a fortuneteller. After Ahmed unwittingly fools forty treasure thieves into believing he knows their identities, he is rewarded handsomely by the king. The story, adapted from a traditional Iranian folktale, is clever and funny, and the book is well designed: the text is ostensibly printed on scrolls, and the illustrations are the colors of gemstones.