Rabbit Ears Treasury of World Tales: Volume One: Aladdin, Anansi, East of the Sun/West of the Moon, The Five Chinese Brothers

The Rabbit Ears Treasury of World Tales features mystical stories from all around the globe--read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today's greatest artists.

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
Read by John Hurt
Original Music by Mickey Hart
A poor young boy named Aladdin ventures into a cave and discovers a magical lamp. With the help of his newfound treasure he finds wealth and happiness . . . and wins the heart of the Sultan's daughter.

Anansi
Read by Denzel Washington
Original Music by UB40
These two stories feature Anansi, the hilarious spider of West Indian folklore. In the first, he outwits a prideful snake to win possession of all the stories in the jungle. The second recounts his getting tangled in his own web of lies at his mother-in-law's funeral.

East of the Sun, West of the Moon
Read by Max von Sydow
Original Music by Lyle Mays
In this Norwegian tale, a peasant farmer sends his youngest daughter to live with a mysterious white bear in exchange for untold riches. But when the girl ignores the bear's advice she must travel to a castle East of the Sun and West of the Moon to face the Troll Queen and make things right.

The Five Chinese Brothers
Read by John Lone
Original Music by Bill Douglass and David Austin
Five brothers, each of whom has an amazing physical gift, join forces to outwit the evil Emperor who has forced thousands into slavery to build the Great Wall of China. The older brothers are put to the test but the youngest proves to be the most gifted of all.

This star-studded collection is the ticket for a magical tour around the world. John Hurt's deep, gravelly voice captures the evil and drama of "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" while percussionist Mickey Hart's cymbals, drums, and chimes accent the story's twists and exotic Middle Eastern setting. Next stop, Jamaica, as UB40 lays down a calypso beat and Denzel Washington adopts a lilting accent to tell two stories of "Anansi," the tiny trickster spider with a huge ego. Lyle Mays's romantic music sets the mood for Max von Sydow's performance of the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." The actor's voice and musicians' notes swell to a crescendo to complete the happily-ever-after ending. Bill Douglass and Dave Austin's chimes, harps, and percussion play up the Asian setting of "The Five Chinese Brothers" and accompany John Lone's lightly accented reading of the siblings whose strange gifts and love for each other vanquish a cruel emperor. S.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine