The Legend of the Persian Carpet (Hardcover)

~ Tomie dePaola (Author) "Many, many years ago, in the land once called Persia, there lived a kind and wise king, who was much loved by his people..." (more)
Key Phrases: King Balash

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

DePaola ( Strega Nona ) retells--but does not illustrate--a legend about the origin of the jewel-patterned Persian rug. King Balash's brilliant giant diamond is stolen by a stranger who accidentally drops it onto a rocky plain, where the jewel shatters into thousands of glittering fragments. When apprentice carpet-weaver Payem leads the ruler to the "carpet" formed by the dazzling fragments, the overwhelmed king refuses to leave the beautiful sight behind. To lure their leader back to his palace, Payem and his fellow apprentices weave a silk carpet as brilliantly colored as the one made of diamond. A parable of the healing powers of art, this foray into the rich culture of the Middle East is ably recounted. Ewart's illustrations, with their unremarkable compositions and stiff, look-alike figures, are less pleasing. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-2-Although he does not cite a specific source, dePaola presents a picture-book version of a Persian legend. The story follows typical folkloric patterns as it tells of a wise and kindly king whose problems are solved by a poor but resourceful boy. In this case, King Balash's troubles stem from the theft of a large diamond that used to fill his palace with light. Payam, an apprentice weaver, finds the shards that remain where the thief dropped the gem. He persuades the king to rule for one year and a day while he, his fellow apprentices, and the master work together to create a magnificent carpet that will once again bring light and color to his home. The task, of course, is accomplished, and a happy ending is assured. Ewart's glowing illustrations in deep jewel tones are well suited to the text and capture something of the exotic flavor of ancient Persia's craftsmanship. An attractive collaboration that deserves a place in many libraries.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (October 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399224157
• ISBN-13: 978-0399224157
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #301,440 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to Persia, September 12, 2000

By	"shahriar-from-minneapolis" (MPLS, MN USA) - See all my reviews

I recommend this book, and books like this one, to all parents who wish to introduce other cultures to their children. The story is simple and well told. The illustrations are absolutely fabulous and are faithful to the Persian architecture.
If I may respond to the reviewers, folk stories do not always follow the Hollywood goodguy-badguy plot. This story does have morales: We should not get attached to material things because they are not permanent, friendship is more important that diamonds, a little kid can come up with a great idea, great achievements are made by working together.
There is some truth to the legend too. A carpet dubbed as `Bahar of Khosrow' (spring of Khosrow), existed at the Palace of Ctesiphone which is referred to in Persian scripts as the `Arch Palace of Ctesiphone'. The carpet was 450 feet long and 90 feet wide, made for Sassanid king Khosrow and for this reason it was named `Bahar of Khosrow'. In the book, the king character is named "Balash", which was the name of five of the Sassanid kings.
One minor critique though, the Sassanid dynasty was pre-islamic. The illustrations in the book, both the architecture and peoples costumes, are obviously post-islamic. :-)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visually beautiful, engrossing tale, November 4, 1999

By	Deirdre Macnab ([e-mail]) "dmac@nas... (Music City, Nashville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This beautifully written and illustrated tale for children ages 5 to 10, shows the power of childrens' kindness and ingenuity in a cleverly written story set in ancient Persia. Told like an old folktale, this story engrossed my two boys, ages 7 and 10, who thoroughly enjoyed the rich images the story and the pictures created. A good purchase for home or the classroom studying different cultures.