Determined to marry the poorest—and most handsome—of the princes vying for her hand, the princess sends them for ``the rarest thing'' each can find. The wonders they bring when they meet a year later are similar to those in ``The Princess Nouronnihar and the Three Rarities'' in The Arabian Nights: a flying carpet, a crystal ball, and a life-restoring orange. Kimmel eliminates details of the princes' quests to focus on their discovery (through the crystal ball) that the princess is deathly ill, their return to her via the carpet, her recovery after eating the orange, and her choice of her original beloved on the grounds that only he has given up his treasure to save her life (in The Arabian Nights version, the princess's uncle—who's also the princes' father—makes this judgment; Kimmel makes the princes cousins, not brothers). Both Fisher and Kimmel provide notes. The artist details using acrylics over chalk and black underpainting to create his luminous double spreads; Kimmel doesn't cite specific sources, but he does mention Egyptian, Moroccan, and Persian versions as well as the tale's inclusion in ``later editions'' of The Arabian Nights. A smooth, accessible adaptation, much enhanced by the spare, powerful art. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 15, 1994
ISBN: 0-8234-1115-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1994
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
Sloat collaborates with Huffman, a Yu’pik storyteller, to infuse a traditional “origins” tale with the joy of creating. Hearing the old women of her village grumble that they have only tasteless crowberries for the fall feast’s akutaq—described as “Eskimo ice cream,” though the recipe at the end includes mixing in shredded fish and lard—young Anana carefully fashions three dolls, then sings and dances them to life. Away they bound, to cover the hills with cranberries, blueberries, and salmonberries. Sloat dresses her smiling figures in mixes of furs and brightly patterned garb, and sends them tumbling exuberantly through grassy tundra scenes as wildlife large and small gathers to look on. Despite obtrusively inserted pronunciations for Yu’pik words in the text, young readers will be captivated by the action, and by Anana’s infectious delight. (Picture book/folktale. 6-8)
Pub Date: June 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-88240-575-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
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