For centuries, readers have been fascinated by the stories of the Arabian Nights. Perhaps the best-known is Sindbad the Sailor. He discovers an island paradise, but it is actually a giant whale. He sees a huge mountain. It is, in fact, the egg of the famous Roc, a bird so huge that she can carry an elephant in her talons. Sindbad manages to escape from Roc’s nest by tying his turban to the bird’s leg and is transported to the final adventure in this volume: the Valley of Diamonds. It is a story of high adventure and wit overcoming any obstacle. 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. Among the many stories from the Arabian Nights, those recounting the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor are among the most enduring and popular. Canadian author-artist Zeman takes readers along on two of Sinbad's celebrated voyages: first, to a mysterious island that turns out to be an enormous whale; then, on an encounter with a huge bird, Roc, that carries Sinbad to a viper-infested valley of diamonds. The stories remain compelling, but it is Zeman's art that is extraordinary. Each picture is presented in the form of a richly colored Persian carpet surrounded by an intricately designed border. Figures actually appear to be woven into the page. In a few instances, the text serves as the frame, but in every case, it's Zeman's careful arrangement of visual elements, the varying size of the pictures, and the action depicted that keep the pages turning. The colors are rich, and the formal language of the telling harmonizes with the design of the book. It's a lavish tribute to Persian influence on decorative art and design. Endpaper maps trace the course of Sinbad's wanderings, and an author's note describes sources and research. Michael Cart s, readers have been fascinated by the stories of the Arabian Nights. Perhaps the best-known is Sindbad the Sailor. He discovers an island paradise, but it is actually a giant whale. He sees a huge mountain. It is, in fact, the egg of the famous Roc, a bird so huge that she can carry an elephant in her talons. Sindbad manages to escape from Roc s nest by tying his turban to the bird s leg and is transported to the final adventure in this volume: the Valley of Diamonds. It is a story of high adventure and wit overcoming any obstacle. Ludmila Zeman was born in the former Czechoslovakia and immigrated to Canada in 1984. She has taught art in Vancouver, created animated sequences for Sesame Street and, with her husband, made the film Lord of the Sky , an award-winning animated short. Her epic Gilgamesh trilogy won numerous awards. Her book, The First Red Maple Leaf , was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Illustration. Used Book in Good Condition