Tales From the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal - Hardcover

Napoli, Donna Jo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1426325401 ISBN 13: 9781426325403

Publisher: National Geographic Kids, 2016

Synopsis

Classic stories and dazzling illustrations of princesses, kings, sailors, and genies come to life in a stunning retelling of the Arabian folk tales from One Thousand and One Nights and other collections, including those of Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The magical storytelling of award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli dramatizes these timeless tals and ignites children's imaginations.

About this title

About the Author

DONNA JO NAPOLI is professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College, mother of five, grandmother of five, and the author of more than 80 books for children and young adults. While her undergraduate major was mathematics and her graduate work was in linguistics, she has a profound love of mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. 


CHRISTINA BALIT is a graduate of the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London. An award-winning dramatist and illustrator, Christina has painted more than 20 children's books, including Blodin and the Beast by Michael Morpurgo, Zoo in the Sky, The Planet Gods, The Lion Bible, National Geographic's Treasury of Greek Mythology, and National Geographic's Treasury Egyptian Mythology. Her author titles include Escape From Pompeii, Atlantis, The Legend of the Lost City, and An Arabian Home. Her plays include Woman With Upturned Skirt, The Sentence, and Needle (winner of the Brave New Role award).

Reviews

Gr 4 Up—A carefully researched collection of tales from the Arabian Nights accompanied by a wealth of historical and cultural commentary. Napoli, a seasoned teller of ancient legends (Treasury of Egyptian Mythology; Treasury of Greek Mythology), first introduces readers to the main tropes and reoccurring themes present in many of the pieces, effectively setting up a critical framework for students to draw from (e.g., What is the significance of the self-reliant hero? What is the relationship between storyteller and listener, etc.). Napoli addresses Scheherazade but also emphasizes that each episode can stand on its own. The work includes 25 tales, from the seven voyages of Sinbad to "King Yunan and Sage Duban." Balit's illustrations are eye-catching; the emphasis on pattern captures not only the energy and magic of the entries but also a key tenet of Islamic art. Sidebars expand on topics within the stories to provide students with a deeper understanding of some of the more subtle cultural aspects of each vignette (the importance of the number four, the transformational power of words, bathing as a social activity, and more). The volume concludes with a postscript, where Napoli expands on the history of the Arabian Nights and the editorial choices she made when compiling the work. VERDICT A grand addition to Napoli's treasury of mythology books. Consider to refresh collections.—Della Farrell, School Library Journal

Edition details

• Publisher: National Geographic Kids
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1426325401
• ISBN 13: 9781426325403
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208