Sindbad (English): From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights (Hardcover)

by Ludmila Zeman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Zeman (The Last Quest of Gilgamesh) focuses primarily on the second voyage of Sindbad the Sailor for her retelling, which strikes the informal tone that Shahrazad might have adopted when she first relayed the adventures to King Shahriyar. But it's the illustrations that will carry the stories in readers' minds. Zeman sets the scene, explaining that Shahrazad told the 1,001 tales in order to save her life, but she pairs the information with a portrait of the king asleep on his bride's lap. In succeeding spreads, the artwork incorporates many motifs from Persian rugs: a border of exotic birds frames the meeting between Sindbad the Porter and Sindbad the Sailor; a background of hunters on horseback, foxes and prancing deer decorates the volume's most elegant painting, a portrait of the young Sindbad. A strong use of perspective emphasizes the sailor's precarious position when a vulture unwittingly saves Sindbad from the viper-filled Valley of Diamonds and drops him onto the branch of a tree atop a cliff. At times the integrity of the compositions founders due to bug-eyed caricatures of Sindbad and other characters. However, the volume ends on a note of strength with an ornate depiction of Sindbad the Porter's intimate audience with Sindbad the Sailor, and thus brings readers full circle to the importance and magic of storytelling. Ages 6-up. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-A retelling from The Thousand and One Nights that links together two of the seven voyages of Sindbad the Sailor. Here readers follow the intrepid Arab as he mistakes a giant whale for an island paradise, is carried off by the eagle Roc, and escapes from a valley filled with snakes and diamonds. While not quite the rival of Shahrazad, Zeman does an admirable job of conveying the earthy spirit and atmosphere of the tale, which endures as one of the most compelling adventure yarns ever penned. The richly detailed, gold-toned illustrations are done in the style of Persian carpets, each one surrounded by an elegant border. An author's note supplies not only background on the tales themselves but also information on Zeman's research for both text and illustrations. This is an excellent way to expose children who frequently know these stories only through cartoons to the genuine article.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books; New edition edition (August 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887764606
• ISBN-13: 978-0887764608
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #166,459 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Charming Art, September 2, 2005

By	Theresa L. Ryder - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The art in this book is very charming, but we found the story-telling to be a bit stiff in places. Still, it's a great way to introduce younger children to Sindbad.