Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp (Picture Hippo All Ages) [Paperback]

Philip Pullman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Picture Hippo All Ages

An illustrated retelling of "Aladdin".

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6–Pullman, known for his ability to create worlds full of drama, excitement, and dark battles of good versus evil, employs a mild tone in this retelling of the classic tale of the mischievous boy who becomes heir to a magical lamp. He sets the story in its original location–China–and his retelling is fast-paced and lively. Skillful use of colorful contemporary language maintains the tale's mystical, long-ago quality. Descriptions of the boy's most violent encounters are cushioned (the evil Sorcerer's beheading) or omitted (scenes with the Sorcerer's vengeful brother, Aladdin's efforts to stop the princess's marriage to the Vizier's son). The result is an accessible story that can be introduced to younger children. Williams's decorative, jewel-toned illustrations are competent and engaging, but fail to express the drama and excitement of Aladdin's adventures. Eric A. Kimmel's The Tale of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (Holiday House, 1992) is an appealing picture-book retelling. Marianna Mayer's striking version (S & S, 1985), illustrated by Gerald McDermott, focuses on Aladdin's attempts to win the princess. Andrew Lang's version (Puffin, 1983) is still the gold standard as the most complete and compelling account of Aladdin's life.–Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud. An author more commonly known for weaving tales of startling originality here makes his mark on an old standard. Fulfilling expectations of extravagance set up by the silver-gilded book jacket, Pullman's spin on Aladdin's serendipitous adventures is satisfyingly festooned with exotic vocabulary and details. He also enlivens the telling with knowing wit, reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen's; children will delight in the zoo of wonders where identification placards are written "in outlandish tongues like English." Williams' numerous paintings follow Pullman's lead, with a bazaar of burnished colors and dramatic, imagination-tickling scenes. Unfortunately, Pullman neglects to discuss specific sources or the tale's controversial origins, and much of the treatment, particularly the minaret- and camel-laden settings in Williams' artwork, stands in opposition to Pullman's introductory remarks that locate Aladdin in China. Nonetheless, this big, lavish volume is undeniably enticing, and it will help lessen the grip of Disney's 1992 movie--the release of which slowed new picture-book retellings of Aladdin's story to a trickle. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Hippo (September 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059013177X
• ISBN-13: 978-0590131773
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,795,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice version - previous review wrong, February 28, 2006

By 

M. Lilliquist (Bellingham, Washington USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aladdin And The Enchanted Lamp (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a non-Disney version of this classic tale, this is a nice re-telling of the Aladdin story, with captivating illustrations for kids ages 6-10.

The previous reviewer wrote that this version of the classic Aladdin tale was in error - that it mistakenly took place in China, not the Middle East as it should be. The truth is that this story has ALWAYS taken place in China, from the earliest existing versions of the story from the 16th century. Disney got it wrong, no surprise. Although these stories originated in the Middle East, they were often fantasies about far away and fabulous places, such as China. (It may also interest people to know that the earliest versions of many of these stories are in French, not Arabic, and many scholars believe that the versions which we know were created by Europeans out of bits and fragments of local Arabic and Persian sources, emphasizing the "oriental" exoticism which Europeans saw therein. In other words, there is no existing "authentic" Middle Eastern version.)

For grown ups, I recommend the highly readable two volumes of Arabian Nights tales translated into English by Husain Haddawy. It's the definitive version, IMHO. Avoid Sir Richard Burton's translation like the plague. Enough said.

For kids ages 7-11, I also strongly recommend Brian Alderson's colorfully illistrated retelling of the Arabian Nights (ISBN 0-688-14219-2). Another excellent illustrated version is The Arabian Nights retold by Neil Philip (ISBN 0-531-06868-4), which has fewer but funkier illustrations. Both story collections contain over a dozen tales, sutable for reading over many days, including the stories of Aladdin and Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves. Alderson's version also has the Story of Sinbad, and is the children's version which comes closest to mirroring the full extent of the original tales.

For slightly older kids (ages 9-14) I would recommend Geraldine McCaughrean's version of the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights (ISBN 0-19-274500), which has the best version of the stories-within-story framework.

If Middle Eastern exoticism is your interest, another good picture book for kids ages 5-7 is Tomie DePaola's Legend of the Persian Carpet (ISBN 0-399-22415-7).

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice story, but no special interest for Pullman lovers, April 29, 2008

By 

Deb Oestreicher (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aladdin And The Enchanted Lamp (Hardcover)

While I can certainly recommend this book for children (it is a great story, and the pictures are quite beautiful), it is of limited interest for the Philip Pullman junkie. The story is retold well, but you'd never know Pullman wrote it, as opposed to anyone else.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, but with a major flaw ...., May 29, 2005

By 

An avid reader (New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aladdin And The Enchanted Lamp (Hardcover)

This book is excellently written and illustrated, but I was really surprised to read the first sentence, "Once upon a time in China ..." The story and illustrations indicate the settings in the Middle East and the currency used for all transactions in the story is the "dinar" !!!!