What do you think?
Rate this book
National Geographic Timeless Tales
Tales From the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal
Classic stories and dazzling illustrations of princesses, kings, sailors, and genies come to life in a stunning retelling of the Arabian folk tales from One Thousand and One Nights and other collections, including those of Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The magical storytelling of award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli dramatizes these timeless tales and ignites childrens' imaginations.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2016
58 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
About the author
Donna Jo Napoli
138 books1,112 followersDonna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction. She loves to garden and bake bread, and even dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 21, 2020
Donna Jo Napoli and Christina Balit, the author/illustrator team behind such titles as
Treasury of Greek Mythology
,
Treasury of Egyptian Mythology
and
Treasury of Norse Mythology
, all also published by National Geographic, turn in this title to
The Arabian Nights
- that fabulous collection of Middle Eastern stories also sometimes known as the 1001 Nights. Napoli maintains the framing story of Scheherazade in her retelling, exploring how this inventive young storyteller must use her gift in order to prolong and save her own life, bringing healing to her husband, a man embittered by his first wife's betrayal, who had vowed to execute each new wife after a single night of wedlock, so that none could prove unfaithful to him. Although her narrator is meant to tell 1001 stories, over the course of 1001 nights, Napoli chooses a selection of the tales contained in the original for inclusion here, from favorites such as
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
, the many voyages of
Sindbad the Sailor
and
Aladdin
, to other selections, such as the tales of Maaruf the Cobbler, that of Qamar Al-Zaman, or that of King Yunan and Sage Duban. The after matter includes a discussion of Napoli's adaptation strategy, her source material, a map of the Middle East, and an index...
Although I have read a number of retellings of specific stories from The Arabian Nights , particularly Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin (mentioned above), I have never read the story collection in its entirety, nor have I read a great many anthologies taken from that collection, making Tales from the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal a pleasure. Some of Napoli's other books in this vein have been marred by her tendency as a narrator to moralize, something I have found intrusive. Here however, this tendency is subsumed by the narrator Scheherazade, whose criticisms feel entirely appropriate, given her precarious situation. The tales themselves were engaging, and I appreciated the way in which various levels of story - the framing story of Scheherazade, the stories told by Scheherazade, the stories told by characters within the stories being told, and so on - were all intertwined in one complicated but satisfying whole. As usual, I found Christina Balit's accompanying illustrations absolutely gorgeous - her artwork is in fact the reason that I tracked down these Napoli collections in the first place. Recommended to readers looking for an anthology of stories from The Arabian Nights adapted for children - middle grades and above, I would say - and to fellow fans of Balit's work.
Although I have read a number of retellings of specific stories from The Arabian Nights , particularly Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin (mentioned above), I have never read the story collection in its entirety, nor have I read a great many anthologies taken from that collection, making Tales from the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal a pleasure. Some of Napoli's other books in this vein have been marred by her tendency as a narrator to moralize, something I have found intrusive. Here however, this tendency is subsumed by the narrator Scheherazade, whose criticisms feel entirely appropriate, given her precarious situation. The tales themselves were engaging, and I appreciated the way in which various levels of story - the framing story of Scheherazade, the stories told by Scheherazade, the stories told by characters within the stories being told, and so on - were all intertwined in one complicated but satisfying whole. As usual, I found Christina Balit's accompanying illustrations absolutely gorgeous - her artwork is in fact the reason that I tracked down these Napoli collections in the first place. Recommended to readers looking for an anthology of stories from The Arabian Nights adapted for children - middle grades and above, I would say - and to fellow fans of Balit's work.
April 12, 2024
Not sure how to categorize this book. It is not appropriate for children. Extremely violent, and probably the most sexist premise I could have exposed my 7yo to.
Nevertheless, we were rapt. We especially loved that this version includes stories inside stories inside the ongoing plot of Scheherazade, her husband Shah Rayar, and her sister Dinarzad (who sleeps under their bed!).
Unfortunately, the ending was meh.
Nevertheless, we were rapt. We especially loved that this version includes stories inside stories inside the ongoing plot of Scheherazade, her husband Shah Rayar, and her sister Dinarzad (who sleeps under their bed!).
Unfortunately, the ending was meh.
November 13, 2021
This review is for if this book is appropriate for kids. Parents, teachers, and others who are considering this book for children will be attracted to it's bright colorful pictures and have no idea that within the first chapter is adultery, a sexual orgy, and sexual abuse. These stories were not written for children, and though the illustrations and writing are beautiful, it is very wrong of the author, illustrator, and publisher to market it in such a way to make it look like a children's book without a warning that it is adult-only content.
February 12, 2017
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
This short story anthology of Arabian mythology was fascinating, captivating, and beautifully written and illustrated. The layers of themes and stories built upon each other to create a collection that is a wonderful introduction to true traditional literature.
One thing that I at first struggled with but then ended up loving was how stories overlapped with stories. The main story was that a young woman was telling her husband a story every night to keep him in suspense so that he keeps her alive for another night. So within her story, she is telling stories. Then sometimes the characters in her stories, to help her add suspense and cliffhangers, will tell stories. So that meant at times the story you were reading was a story within a story within a story. Sounds confusing but the way it was explained and implemented allowed for the tactic to do what the young woman hoped it would do for her husband--I just had to keep reading!
I also, in my ignorance, had not read any Arabian traditional literature as I only knew the pop culture versions, so I loved learning about the culture and history through their folk tales.
This short story anthology of Arabian mythology was fascinating, captivating, and beautifully written and illustrated. The layers of themes and stories built upon each other to create a collection that is a wonderful introduction to true traditional literature.
One thing that I at first struggled with but then ended up loving was how stories overlapped with stories. The main story was that a young woman was telling her husband a story every night to keep him in suspense so that he keeps her alive for another night. So within her story, she is telling stories. Then sometimes the characters in her stories, to help her add suspense and cliffhangers, will tell stories. So that meant at times the story you were reading was a story within a story within a story. Sounds confusing but the way it was explained and implemented allowed for the tactic to do what the young woman hoped it would do for her husband--I just had to keep reading!
I also, in my ignorance, had not read any Arabian traditional literature as I only knew the pop culture versions, so I loved learning about the culture and history through their folk tales.
October 1, 2017
Buka, biji wijen!!
Hehehe.... maaf aku msh terkekeh-kekeh membaca terjemahan Open, Sesame! ini. Pdhl gak salah samsek lho. Maaap sekali lagi *malah membayangkan Hamtaro dan biji bunga mataharinya* #EH :))
Dari ketiga seri natgeo myth yg sdh kubaca, seri ini yg jd favku. Cerita 1001 malam yg berbingkai-bingkai-bingkai ini diceritakan dalam struktur yg teratur sekali, hingga tidak kehilangan alurnya. Dongeng-dongeng yg dipilih pun gak sembarangan. Yg terkenal spt Sinbad dan Ali Baba ada, yg nuansanya lebih artistik dan tragis ada, yg bijak tanpa kesan menggurui pun ada. Penutup kisah Sultan Syahrar dan Scheherezade juga ditampilkan dengan mencukupi, tidak terkesan tergesa-gesa, dan mampu memberikan akhiran yang pas buat keseluruhan cerita.
Ilustrasinya cuaaakep dan berwarna. Heran nih ilustratornya bisa ganti2 gaya penggambaran dari gaya nordik ke mesir ke timur tengah (blm baca yg yunani) dengan pas dan tetap indah. Edisi hardcover dan dengan kertas yang mewah membuat ini jadi buku collectible yg patut diburu, meski perlu mengetatkan anggaran buat yg lainnya.
Hehehe.... maaf aku msh terkekeh-kekeh membaca terjemahan Open, Sesame! ini. Pdhl gak salah samsek lho. Maaap sekali lagi *malah membayangkan Hamtaro dan biji bunga mataharinya* #EH :))
Dari ketiga seri natgeo myth yg sdh kubaca, seri ini yg jd favku. Cerita 1001 malam yg berbingkai-bingkai-bingkai ini diceritakan dalam struktur yg teratur sekali, hingga tidak kehilangan alurnya. Dongeng-dongeng yg dipilih pun gak sembarangan. Yg terkenal spt Sinbad dan Ali Baba ada, yg nuansanya lebih artistik dan tragis ada, yg bijak tanpa kesan menggurui pun ada. Penutup kisah Sultan Syahrar dan Scheherezade juga ditampilkan dengan mencukupi, tidak terkesan tergesa-gesa, dan mampu memberikan akhiran yang pas buat keseluruhan cerita.
Ilustrasinya cuaaakep dan berwarna. Heran nih ilustratornya bisa ganti2 gaya penggambaran dari gaya nordik ke mesir ke timur tengah (blm baca yg yunani) dengan pas dan tetap indah. Edisi hardcover dan dengan kertas yang mewah membuat ini jadi buku collectible yg patut diburu, meski perlu mengetatkan anggaran buat yg lainnya.
April 8, 2019
Днес ще ви представим едно пищно илюстровано издание на National Geographic, което ще ви завладее още със самото си заглавие. „Вечните арабски приказки: Истории за приключения, магия, любов и измяна” (изд. „Егмонт България”), съставена от Дона Джо Наполи, е не просто поредният привлекателен том с разказите на от „1001 нощ”. Освен самите приказки, в тази книга ще откриете и силно застъпен енциклопедичен елемент. Разказите на Шехеразада са съпроводени от информативни бележки, анотации и снимки, чрез които небивалите патила на Али Баба, Аладин и Синдбад придобиват нова за младите читатели дълбочина и по съвременен и достъпен начин биват разгледани в културен и исторически контекст. А прелестните илюстрации на Кристина Балит улавят духа на източния фолклор и превръщат страниците в истинска наслада за окото. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
May 10, 2023
4,5 bintang
Masih dalam rangka baca buku - buku keluaran Donna Jo Napoli yang juga diterbitkan di bawah lininya National Geographic. Setelah berturut - turut baca tentang mitologi terus, yang pertama Yunani dan kedua Norse, gue memutuskan untuk baca Kisah 1001 Malam dulu, berdasarkan urutan terbitnya. Jadi Mitologi Mesir akan gue baca terakhir. Lagian, biar ga bosan juga, hehe. Nyatanya, baru di buku inilah cara Napoli bercerita itu benar - benar enak dibaca. Gue merasa, baik di Mitologi Yunani dan Norse (dan mungkin nanti yang Mesir juga), tulisannya agak kering dibaca meskipun emang sudah diceritakan ulang dengan gaya bercerita Napoli yang cukup khas. Kisah 1001 Malam sendiri ketika diceritakan ulang oleh Napoli, membuat gue malah jadi ga bisa berhenti baca. Persis seperti Syah Razar dan Dinarzad yang terus meminta Shahrazad (atau Scheherazade) untuk bercerita sampai 1001 malam lamanya.
Kisah 1001 Malam, atau Arabian Nights atau Alf Layla Wa Laylah, seperti yang Napoli jabarkan di akhir buku berasal dari Manuskrip Suriah. Tidak semua cerita tentunya diceritakan, karena bakal tebal banget bukunya (dan membuat harganya semakin mahal, uhuk), jadi Napoli hanya menceritakan beberapa saja. Malam - malam pertama tentunya diceritakan, sebelum ceritanya lalu melompat-lompat tiap malam. Cerita di 1001 Malam sendiri ternyata bercabang. Jadi ga cuma MLM yang bercabang, karena cerita Shahrazad itu ada cerita di dalamnya, lalu ada cerita lagi. Makanya bisa berkembang sampai hampir 3 tahun. Karena gue emang belum familiar sama 1001 Malam, kecuali cerita yang terkenal seperti Aladin, Alibaba dan Sinbad, baca buku ini bikin gue terkesima dan jadi pengen baca kisah 1001 Malam secara keseluruhan. Pun, gue juga baru tahu kalau kisah Aladdin, Alibaba dan Sinbad itu aslinya ga ada di Kisah 1001 Malam yang awal dan baru ditambahkan di abad 1500-1800an. Uniknya, kisah - kisah itu juga yang paling banyak dikenal orang, mungkin karena banyak versi adaptasinya.
Yang lebih menarik dari buku ini, selain kisah 1001 Malam, adalah keputusan Napoli untuk memberikan interaksi antara Shahrazad dan Syah Razar. Interaksi - interaksi ini berlangsung setiap awal dan akhir cerita. Disini kita bisa lihat, bagaimana kegelisahan Shahrazad, ketakutannya apakah dia masih bisa hidup satu malam lagi, karena Syah Razar yang dikhianati istri pertamanya, berubah jadi bengis dengan membunuh setiap istri barunya setelah 1 malam. Pembaca diajak merasakan perasaan Shahrazad dan berempati padanya. Tapi ga cuma Sharazad, karena pembaca juga melihat bagaian Syah Razar sedikit demi sedikit berubah, menjadi raja yang lebih baik dan seperti kita tahu, akhirnya dia membiarkan istrinya hidup apalagi setelah diberi 3 anak. Walau begitu, MVP buku ini ya Dinarzad, adik Shahrazad yang winged-woman sejati hahaha. Dinarzad yang selalu antusias buat menanyakan cerita baru pada Shahrazad, yang mendukung kakaknya supaya tetap hidup sampe akhir. Beberapa bagian yang cukup unik adalah bagaimana Syah Razar dan Dinarzad kadang menganalisa beberapa cerita Shahrazad seperti bagaimana ending cerita, moral cerita dll. Hehehe, bener - bener kayak pembaca yang abis baca buku lalu didiskusikan ya
Kalau gue memperhatikan, memang cerita - cerita yang diambil Napoli di buku ini endingnya kebanyakan bahagia, walau perjuangan untuk mencapai kebahagiaan itu cukup berliku. Tiap cerita emang dibagi beberapa bab, yang berakhir dengan cliffhanger. Ini tentunya bukan tanpa sebab, karena kan Shahrazad memang mengulur - ngulur waktu untuk menyelamatkan nyawanya. Tiap cerita bakal bikin kamu sedih, senang, harap - harap cemas, sembari juga berpikir, apakah Shahrazad akan selamat, walau ya sebagian besar dari pembaca sebenarnya sudah tahu jawabannya. Inilah kenapa buku ini emang lebih enak dibaca ketimbang buku - buku yang mitologi apalagi kalau kamu emang banyakan baca fiksi. Emosinya dapet, rasa puasnya dapet. Pun, ilustrasi Christina Balit jauh lebih menarik dan sangat cocok dengan nuansa tiap cerita di Kisah 1001 Malam ini, kalau dibandingkan dengan ilustrasinya di buku - buku yang mitologi.
1001 Malam ini selain ada cerita dengan karakter fiksi, ada juga karakter nyata seperti Kalifah Harun Al-Rasyid. Baca buku ini juga bikin nostalgia dan teringat manga Magi karya Shinobu Ohtaka yang memang sangat terinspirasi dari 1001 Malam, terutama tokoh - tokohnya yang dinamakan sama, yaitu Aladdin, Alibaba, Morgiana, Yunan, etc. Gue juga bisa melihat pengaruh 1001 Malam di salah satu buku favorit gue tahun ini, trilogy Daevabad. Tentunya, berbeda dengan para djin di Daevabad yang punya kesadaran penuh, djin di 1001 Malam apalagi yang jin cincin dan lampu sangat pasrah sama keinginan tuannya. Pun gue jadi merasa kasihan sama Shahrazad dan Dinarzad, karena hampir 3 tahun mereka jadi makhluk nocturnal yang hobi begadang :'). Yha walau mereka begini karena nyawa yang jadi taruhannya, tapi rasanya capek ga sih hampir 3 tahun cerita dari tengah malem sampe fajar XD. Dan walaupun ceritanya mungkin beberapa sudah di-tone down, tapi porsi kekerasannya sangat lumayan di cerita - cerita Shahrazad. Jadi buku ini lebih cocok dibaca sama remaja, apalagi infonya di manuskrip aslinya sebenarnya cerita 1001 Malam itu jauh lebih penuh kekerasan dan bbrp bahkan mengandung konten erotis.
Buku yang sangat recommended sekali buat dikoleksi, apalagi kalau kamu suka kisah rakyat atau dongeng.
Masih dalam rangka baca buku - buku keluaran Donna Jo Napoli yang juga diterbitkan di bawah lininya National Geographic. Setelah berturut - turut baca tentang mitologi terus, yang pertama Yunani dan kedua Norse, gue memutuskan untuk baca Kisah 1001 Malam dulu, berdasarkan urutan terbitnya. Jadi Mitologi Mesir akan gue baca terakhir. Lagian, biar ga bosan juga, hehe. Nyatanya, baru di buku inilah cara Napoli bercerita itu benar - benar enak dibaca. Gue merasa, baik di Mitologi Yunani dan Norse (dan mungkin nanti yang Mesir juga), tulisannya agak kering dibaca meskipun emang sudah diceritakan ulang dengan gaya bercerita Napoli yang cukup khas. Kisah 1001 Malam sendiri ketika diceritakan ulang oleh Napoli, membuat gue malah jadi ga bisa berhenti baca. Persis seperti Syah Razar dan Dinarzad yang terus meminta Shahrazad (atau Scheherazade) untuk bercerita sampai 1001 malam lamanya.
Kisah 1001 Malam, atau Arabian Nights atau Alf Layla Wa Laylah, seperti yang Napoli jabarkan di akhir buku berasal dari Manuskrip Suriah. Tidak semua cerita tentunya diceritakan, karena bakal tebal banget bukunya (dan membuat harganya semakin mahal, uhuk), jadi Napoli hanya menceritakan beberapa saja. Malam - malam pertama tentunya diceritakan, sebelum ceritanya lalu melompat-lompat tiap malam. Cerita di 1001 Malam sendiri ternyata bercabang. Jadi ga cuma MLM yang bercabang, karena cerita Shahrazad itu ada cerita di dalamnya, lalu ada cerita lagi. Makanya bisa berkembang sampai hampir 3 tahun. Karena gue emang belum familiar sama 1001 Malam, kecuali cerita yang terkenal seperti Aladin, Alibaba dan Sinbad, baca buku ini bikin gue terkesima dan jadi pengen baca kisah 1001 Malam secara keseluruhan. Pun, gue juga baru tahu kalau kisah Aladdin, Alibaba dan Sinbad itu aslinya ga ada di Kisah 1001 Malam yang awal dan baru ditambahkan di abad 1500-1800an. Uniknya, kisah - kisah itu juga yang paling banyak dikenal orang, mungkin karena banyak versi adaptasinya.
Yang lebih menarik dari buku ini, selain kisah 1001 Malam, adalah keputusan Napoli untuk memberikan interaksi antara Shahrazad dan Syah Razar. Interaksi - interaksi ini berlangsung setiap awal dan akhir cerita. Disini kita bisa lihat, bagaimana kegelisahan Shahrazad, ketakutannya apakah dia masih bisa hidup satu malam lagi, karena Syah Razar yang dikhianati istri pertamanya, berubah jadi bengis dengan membunuh setiap istri barunya setelah 1 malam. Pembaca diajak merasakan perasaan Shahrazad dan berempati padanya. Tapi ga cuma Sharazad, karena pembaca juga melihat bagaian Syah Razar sedikit demi sedikit berubah, menjadi raja yang lebih baik dan seperti kita tahu, akhirnya dia membiarkan istrinya hidup apalagi setelah diberi 3 anak. Walau begitu, MVP buku ini ya Dinarzad, adik Shahrazad yang winged-woman sejati hahaha. Dinarzad yang selalu antusias buat menanyakan cerita baru pada Shahrazad, yang mendukung kakaknya supaya tetap hidup sampe akhir. Beberapa bagian yang cukup unik adalah bagaimana Syah Razar dan Dinarzad kadang menganalisa beberapa cerita Shahrazad seperti bagaimana ending cerita, moral cerita dll. Hehehe, bener - bener kayak pembaca yang abis baca buku lalu didiskusikan ya
Kalau gue memperhatikan, memang cerita - cerita yang diambil Napoli di buku ini endingnya kebanyakan bahagia, walau perjuangan untuk mencapai kebahagiaan itu cukup berliku. Tiap cerita emang dibagi beberapa bab, yang berakhir dengan cliffhanger. Ini tentunya bukan tanpa sebab, karena kan Shahrazad memang mengulur - ngulur waktu untuk menyelamatkan nyawanya. Tiap cerita bakal bikin kamu sedih, senang, harap - harap cemas, sembari juga berpikir, apakah Shahrazad akan selamat, walau ya sebagian besar dari pembaca sebenarnya sudah tahu jawabannya. Inilah kenapa buku ini emang lebih enak dibaca ketimbang buku - buku yang mitologi apalagi kalau kamu emang banyakan baca fiksi. Emosinya dapet, rasa puasnya dapet. Pun, ilustrasi Christina Balit jauh lebih menarik dan sangat cocok dengan nuansa tiap cerita di Kisah 1001 Malam ini, kalau dibandingkan dengan ilustrasinya di buku - buku yang mitologi.
1001 Malam ini selain ada cerita dengan karakter fiksi, ada juga karakter nyata seperti Kalifah Harun Al-Rasyid. Baca buku ini juga bikin nostalgia dan teringat manga Magi karya Shinobu Ohtaka yang memang sangat terinspirasi dari 1001 Malam, terutama tokoh - tokohnya yang dinamakan sama, yaitu Aladdin, Alibaba, Morgiana, Yunan, etc. Gue juga bisa melihat pengaruh 1001 Malam di salah satu buku favorit gue tahun ini, trilogy Daevabad. Tentunya, berbeda dengan para djin di Daevabad yang punya kesadaran penuh, djin di 1001 Malam apalagi yang jin cincin dan lampu sangat pasrah sama keinginan tuannya. Pun gue jadi merasa kasihan sama Shahrazad dan Dinarzad, karena hampir 3 tahun mereka jadi makhluk nocturnal yang hobi begadang :'). Yha walau mereka begini karena nyawa yang jadi taruhannya, tapi rasanya capek ga sih hampir 3 tahun cerita dari tengah malem sampe fajar XD. Dan walaupun ceritanya mungkin beberapa sudah di-tone down, tapi porsi kekerasannya sangat lumayan di cerita - cerita Shahrazad. Jadi buku ini lebih cocok dibaca sama remaja, apalagi infonya di manuskrip aslinya sebenarnya cerita 1001 Malam itu jauh lebih penuh kekerasan dan bbrp bahkan mengandung konten erotis.
Buku yang sangat recommended sekali buat dikoleksi, apalagi kalau kamu suka kisah rakyat atau dongeng.
November 19, 2016
This retelling of the over 1,000 stories that comprise the Arabian Nights is compressed into 25 stories.
Tales of Aladdin, of genies in lamps, flying carpets, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves make up part of the lore of India, China, Arabia, and the Far East. Author Donna Jo Napoli has selected 25 of the stories and rewritten them keeping well to those handed down through the years. The illustrations of Christina Balit are stunning blasts of vivid color and swirling imagery that stays true to real and perceived images of these fantastic fables.
Most familiar to me of the 25 in this stunning book are "Aladdin," "Sinbad the Sailor," and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." The stories are such that older readers will enjoy an evening reading these old tales and the young children will grasp much of the excitement and hopefully not be too frightened or excited for bedtime.
Parents should keep in mind that these stories are not for the faint-of-heart. There is an ogress, scary genies (jinni), chopping off the head, etc. They are, however, old and can be beneficial for older children to read. These tales and pictures take the child to far off lands and far off times to far off stories of the ancients.
There are side bars that present varied information that lends understanding to the story, the people, the cultures. Some of the illustrations are scary or frightful and others striking in their beauty.
"Ali Baba approached the rock. 'Open, Sesame.' The door opened. He stepped inside. Sun lit the cave through a hole in the
ceiling. The floor glittered with bales of silk, fine carpets, strange foods. And montains of gold coins. Ali Baba took two
bags of coins and put them on one of his donkeys. He covered them with wood. He said, 'Close, Sesame.' The door closed."
I don't recommend this for all homes, but for some it will be a good addition. As I said, there are scary stories and events as well as wives who are unfaithful to their husbands. I would not read this to children younger than age 10.
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review of my own opinions which are freely given.
Tales of Aladdin, of genies in lamps, flying carpets, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves make up part of the lore of India, China, Arabia, and the Far East. Author Donna Jo Napoli has selected 25 of the stories and rewritten them keeping well to those handed down through the years. The illustrations of Christina Balit are stunning blasts of vivid color and swirling imagery that stays true to real and perceived images of these fantastic fables.
Most familiar to me of the 25 in this stunning book are "Aladdin," "Sinbad the Sailor," and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." The stories are such that older readers will enjoy an evening reading these old tales and the young children will grasp much of the excitement and hopefully not be too frightened or excited for bedtime.
Parents should keep in mind that these stories are not for the faint-of-heart. There is an ogress, scary genies (jinni), chopping off the head, etc. They are, however, old and can be beneficial for older children to read. These tales and pictures take the child to far off lands and far off times to far off stories of the ancients.
There are side bars that present varied information that lends understanding to the story, the people, the cultures. Some of the illustrations are scary or frightful and others striking in their beauty.
"Ali Baba approached the rock. 'Open, Sesame.' The door opened. He stepped inside. Sun lit the cave through a hole in the
ceiling. The floor glittered with bales of silk, fine carpets, strange foods. And montains of gold coins. Ali Baba took two
bags of coins and put them on one of his donkeys. He covered them with wood. He said, 'Close, Sesame.' The door closed."
I don't recommend this for all homes, but for some it will be a good addition. As I said, there are scary stories and events as well as wives who are unfaithful to their husbands. I would not read this to children younger than age 10.
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review of my own opinions which are freely given.
January 19, 2021
Holy jinns! The artworks in the book are absolutely to-die-for. Well, maybe not literally but they are beyond beautiful! I swear to Ra, the artist did a fantastic, bizarre, ethereal job that is sure to stick into your mind's eye and heart long after setting your sight upon them. Detailed, planned, graced with deep meanings, unique and made with passion---those are but a few words I can use to describe said crafts. The designs set on the book reflect the culture from where it came from. Delicate and elegant patterns are found within that not only allures but also gives the reader a better feel and greater gusto in devouring every word the author wove into one of the finest mythology books you will ever encounter. This book is one hell of a morality---that is, a literary work teaching a moral lesson. You see the author's goal includes exactly this and I haven't encountered that many books whose vision is pursued in a very spot-on manner. I advice you pay attention to EVERY SINGLE DETAIL, even the subtlest, most minute ones because they all have the power to incalcate life lessons into the audience. Donna Jo Napoli simply poured her heart and soul into this that reading it would impact you, your view of life---life itself. It teaches the greatest virtues that are hard to gain, well maybe in most people's cases. Trust, understanding and love are the most prominent ones I saw. The author worked long and hard for the book, evident through her explanations of how she came upon the various tales that date back to the earliest of centuries to the oldest of civilizations. She gathered a large collective of expert help and reviewed anything and everything she did, making sure that all points made are laid out in the most refined way possible. The stories differ, as the author herself stated, and I quote: “They range from the fantastic to the horrific to the erotic, from satire to thriller.” which is why you must be ready for ANYTHING. For passion and for despisement. For life and for death. You MAY see some stories as brutal in nature but look well, for behind these unfortunate events lie knowledge beyond any other---for THAT is the ESSENCE of this wondrous tale.
October 10, 2016
With 25 stories that are rich in history and span many eras, this book is filled with wondrous stories that are sure to please all who snuggle up to read it. Filled with illustrations that are bright, vibrant and exceptionally detailed the readers with be lost within the illustrations as the stories unfold. The sidebars are designed to connect the stories with all the history, geography and culture of the stories. This book is a plethora of information and contains so many extras that the reader can expand their interests beyond the book. A must for lovers of grand storytelling, beautiful illustrations and facts and tidbits galore.
February 5, 2018
54 - 2018
DongengCeption...
Dalam dongeng, ada dongeng, yang di dalamnya ada dongeng lagi...
Pantas bisa to be continued terus sampai 1001 malam...
Yeah, lebih enak dibaca ketimbang buku-buku Donna Jo Napoli yang tentang mitos.
DongengCeption...
Dalam dongeng, ada dongeng, yang di dalamnya ada dongeng lagi...
Pantas bisa to be continued terus sampai 1001 malam...
Yeah, lebih enak dibaca ketimbang buku-buku Donna Jo Napoli yang tentang mitos.
September 15, 2023
Read this to the girls, continuing our ancient lit adventures. The Ebony Horse, The Fisherman and the Jin, and Maaruf the Cobbler we especially enjoyed.
Violence and mature content, along the lines of the Odyssey or the Old Testament.
I don't know if it's indicative of any broader cultural tenents, but these stories are far more focused on romance, love, and marriage than the other collections of legends or myths that we've read so far.
Violence and mature content, along the lines of the Odyssey or the Old Testament.
I don't know if it's indicative of any broader cultural tenents, but these stories are far more focused on romance, love, and marriage than the other collections of legends or myths that we've read so far.
September 12, 2025
Couldn't finish, should have read reviews first but I saw the pretty cover art and thought it would be a quick children's book, WRONG! Very deceiving to make it look child appropriate and put in what is questionable as even adult themes.
Didn't even want to give it 1 star.
Didn't even want to give it 1 star.
July 13, 2020
A collection of some of the tales from “One Thousand and One Nights” simplified a little for kids, with great illustrations and little sidebars of facts to expand learning about the society & culture these tales come from.
I’ve never read the original tales, and this was a good introduction to them. If I was rating it as an adult book, I would only give it 3 stars, but since it's a kid's book intended for kids, it's 4 stars.
I’ve never read the original tales, and this was a good introduction to them. If I was rating it as an adult book, I would only give it 3 stars, but since it's a kid's book intended for kids, it's 4 stars.
April 14, 2021
Accessible version of the 1001 Arabian Nights stories --not too simplifed of a version, and not the complete unabridged either. Has some nice cultural explanations of things that happen in the stories --like why Ali Baba was suspicious when his guest wouldn't eat food with salt it in. I had always heard of the woman who stayed alive by telling awesome stories to the king who liked to have a new wife every night, but never read how Scheherazade did it.
October 22, 2016
Classic tales that are so interesting, many favorites in this collection from Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves to One Thousand and One Nights. These are well told, well loved and must have stories for all ages.
July 17, 2021
Dongeng-dongeng tentang Si Kancil kadang memang asyik, namun Kisah 1001 Malam sepertinya adalah epitome kedongengan. Yah, kalau mitologi bisa disatu-kategorikan, mitologi Yunani, Nordik, Jepang atau India barangkali tak kalah asyik juga; juga kisah-kisah biblikal. Oedepus, Sisipus, Ikarus, Narsisus, Prometeus dan nama-nama berakhiran us-us lain. Tapi, Kisah 1001 Malam dipayungi satu kausal: Syahrazad si pendongeng yang tahu kalau Syah Rayar sudah bosan sama cerita-cerita malamnya, dia bakal mati paginya. Daud versus Goliat. Ini adalah pertarungan tak seimbang antara lelaki penuh kuasa melawan perempuan yang hanya bersenjata imajinasi (yah, nggak sepenuhnya ‘cuma’ imajinasi sih—maksudnya Albert si Ilmuwan cum pegawai kantor paten itu juga bilang... sampai sini sudah terlalu jauh melenceng, maaf).
Berlatar belakang sebagai putri seorang menteri, tentu saja Syahrazad punya privelese: pendidikan setara S1 paling tidak, lingkungan tumbuh kembang yang oke dan seterusnya-dan seterusnya. Dan, sebenarnya dia pun tak perlu jadi korban si sultan yang patah hati akibat istrinya main serong sama budaknya. Maksudnya dia anak menteri, si ayah harusnya bisa (nepotisme?) mengatur biar anak gadis rakyat jelata saja yang kena imbas murka si sultan. Kalau orang punya kuasa berlebih memang jadinya yang susah satu negara deh. (Wis tak kandani penak jaman ku to?) Dari mana empati itu datang? Melihat gadis-gadis belia jadi istri semalam si sultan dan masih saja menawarkan diri menjadi istri semalam selanjutnya demi suatu ide abstrak bahwa mungkin dia bisa merubah tabiat si sultan (apa ini metafora sistem?). Apa ini namanya kalau bukan feminisme? BANTAI PATRIARKI! Maksudnya kalau kamu lahir sebaga gadis Yanomamo, terus tumbuh di masyarakat itu, bukankah alih-alih jadi feminis, kemungkinan kamu cuma bakal jadi pengidap stockholm sindrom tulen.
Betapa malam demi malam Syahrazad mengakhiri suatu kisah dengan awal kisah lain saat sinar matahari pertama menyapa atau sekadar menggantung cerita demi memperpanjang napas. Cerdiknya ia membaca psikologi Syah Rayar. Caranya membuat karakter dalam dongengnya berubah jadi si pencerita. Sungguh Wife Material.
Ilustrasinya oke juga. Bukannya nggak ada hasrat mengkritik soal perspektif, anatomi, warna atau lainnya. Ini kan seni. Illustrasi. “Belajar dulu cara bikin penggaris, sebelum mematahkan penggaris itu.” Maksudnya ini bukan Vermeer atau Caravaggio. Kalau misal Holden Caulfield ada ilustrasinya, dan yang bikin ilustrasi itu Leyendecker atau Norman Rockwell bagus kayaknya ya.
Untung saja Syah Rayar ini cultured man. Barangkali di semesta lain, Syah Rayar tak acuh sama jin yang terkurung di kendi atau cincin; nelayan yang nasibnya masih saja sial meski rajin salat lima waktu; kakak beradik yang disihir jadi anjing atau istri yang disihir jadi kuda; pelaut yang mengarungi tujuh samudra; tukang sepatu filantropis yang mati bahagia sebagai raja; dan seterusnya-dan seterusnya. Di semesta itu, siapa yang bisa menjamin kalau pada akhir malam pertama kepala Syahrazad masih tersambung dengan badannya.
Berlatar belakang sebagai putri seorang menteri, tentu saja Syahrazad punya privelese: pendidikan setara S1 paling tidak, lingkungan tumbuh kembang yang oke dan seterusnya-dan seterusnya. Dan, sebenarnya dia pun tak perlu jadi korban si sultan yang patah hati akibat istrinya main serong sama budaknya. Maksudnya dia anak menteri, si ayah harusnya bisa (nepotisme?) mengatur biar anak gadis rakyat jelata saja yang kena imbas murka si sultan. Kalau orang punya kuasa berlebih memang jadinya yang susah satu negara deh. (Wis tak kandani penak jaman ku to?) Dari mana empati itu datang? Melihat gadis-gadis belia jadi istri semalam si sultan dan masih saja menawarkan diri menjadi istri semalam selanjutnya demi suatu ide abstrak bahwa mungkin dia bisa merubah tabiat si sultan (apa ini metafora sistem?). Apa ini namanya kalau bukan feminisme? BANTAI PATRIARKI! Maksudnya kalau kamu lahir sebaga gadis Yanomamo, terus tumbuh di masyarakat itu, bukankah alih-alih jadi feminis, kemungkinan kamu cuma bakal jadi pengidap stockholm sindrom tulen.
Betapa malam demi malam Syahrazad mengakhiri suatu kisah dengan awal kisah lain saat sinar matahari pertama menyapa atau sekadar menggantung cerita demi memperpanjang napas. Cerdiknya ia membaca psikologi Syah Rayar. Caranya membuat karakter dalam dongengnya berubah jadi si pencerita. Sungguh Wife Material.
Ilustrasinya oke juga. Bukannya nggak ada hasrat mengkritik soal perspektif, anatomi, warna atau lainnya. Ini kan seni. Illustrasi. “Belajar dulu cara bikin penggaris, sebelum mematahkan penggaris itu.” Maksudnya ini bukan Vermeer atau Caravaggio. Kalau misal Holden Caulfield ada ilustrasinya, dan yang bikin ilustrasi itu Leyendecker atau Norman Rockwell bagus kayaknya ya.
Untung saja Syah Rayar ini cultured man. Barangkali di semesta lain, Syah Rayar tak acuh sama jin yang terkurung di kendi atau cincin; nelayan yang nasibnya masih saja sial meski rajin salat lima waktu; kakak beradik yang disihir jadi anjing atau istri yang disihir jadi kuda; pelaut yang mengarungi tujuh samudra; tukang sepatu filantropis yang mati bahagia sebagai raja; dan seterusnya-dan seterusnya. Di semesta itu, siapa yang bisa menjamin kalau pada akhir malam pertama kepala Syahrazad masih tersambung dengan badannya.
December 13, 2016
Does your child love stories full of adventure? Does your daughter dream of being a princess or living in a royal kingdom? This book is full of stories to delight all the imaginations of your children and fill their dreams with visions of genies, kings, and families full of wild tales.
Scheherazade comes up with a way to tell stories to her husband in the hopes of being granted another day of life. Her adventurous stories engage and excite the reader or listener and leave them guessing the conclusion to many of the fables along with maybe learning a few life lessons along the way.
This is quite a large and heavy book, but perfect for night-time storytelling. You can read a story in just a few minutes before bed and your child can savor the tale while drifting off to sleep.
The pages are full of gorgeous illustrations that depict a culture much different from one here in the United States. The clothing is elaborate as is the architecture and the illustrations show the beautiful details on the pages.
One tale that I remembered reading as a child was "The Tale of Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves" . It's full of greed and jealousy. But it also reminds us of the treasure we have and then holding onto it. Each of the stories also has various sidebars that give information related to the culture and current traditions. Some of these stories are a bit gory or have parts you wouldn't want to read to young children. But, older elementary children who love adventure will appreciate the folklore and history tied to these stories.
With 24 stories, this book can last many nights by reading just a story at a time. The back of the book offers a map of the Middle East and a bibliography for those who want to learn more about a particular legend or folk tale.
This would make a wonderful gift for the adventurous child and one that could be passed on for generations.
Scheherazade comes up with a way to tell stories to her husband in the hopes of being granted another day of life. Her adventurous stories engage and excite the reader or listener and leave them guessing the conclusion to many of the fables along with maybe learning a few life lessons along the way.
This is quite a large and heavy book, but perfect for night-time storytelling. You can read a story in just a few minutes before bed and your child can savor the tale while drifting off to sleep.
The pages are full of gorgeous illustrations that depict a culture much different from one here in the United States. The clothing is elaborate as is the architecture and the illustrations show the beautiful details on the pages.
One tale that I remembered reading as a child was "The Tale of Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves" . It's full of greed and jealousy. But it also reminds us of the treasure we have and then holding onto it. Each of the stories also has various sidebars that give information related to the culture and current traditions. Some of these stories are a bit gory or have parts you wouldn't want to read to young children. But, older elementary children who love adventure will appreciate the folklore and history tied to these stories.
With 24 stories, this book can last many nights by reading just a story at a time. The back of the book offers a map of the Middle East and a bibliography for those who want to learn more about a particular legend or folk tale.
This would make a wonderful gift for the adventurous child and one that could be passed on for generations.
April 6, 2022
I first read this book on Kindle, where the graphics are small. I'd give it 5 stars as a highly readable reintroduction to the most popular stories from the oldest core of "The Arabian Nights" and a few much later additions. I especially like the way Donna Jo Napoli expands on the framework of the growing relationship between wife and husband.
As a children's book: On one hand, it's published by National Geographic Kids, available on Amazon Kids+, and recommended by School Library Journal for kids in grades 3-7. If it were a movie, it would probably be rated PG-13.
On the other hand, while Napoli doesn't dwell graphically on the sex, infidelity, violence, forced marriage, cross-cousin marriages, autocracy, slavery, jinn, or magic, no retelling can eliminate them. There'd be no plot without them. If you enjoy this introductory retelling and want to read more, Napoli provides a handy list of references in the back. Since this book was published, there's also a brilliant new partial translation by Jasmine Seale. But any full translation of the stories included in this collection would be NC-17, and the most popular older translations, by Burton and by Mardus and Powys, include racist, misogynist, and pornographic additions that aren't in the original Arabic.
After I read the Kindle version, I bought the hardback because of Cristina Balit's illustrations. As other reviewers have commented, they're gorgeous, but I have to wonder. Many of the sidebars include photos or paintings from throughout the Islamic world, from Malaysia to India to Iran to North Africa. Nearly all the photos show skin ranging from tan to black. In nearly all the illustrations, though, skin color ranges from very light pink to albino. Where did all those white folks in Balit's illustrations come from?
As a children's book: On one hand, it's published by National Geographic Kids, available on Amazon Kids+, and recommended by School Library Journal for kids in grades 3-7. If it were a movie, it would probably be rated PG-13.
On the other hand, while Napoli doesn't dwell graphically on the sex, infidelity, violence, forced marriage, cross-cousin marriages, autocracy, slavery, jinn, or magic, no retelling can eliminate them. There'd be no plot without them. If you enjoy this introductory retelling and want to read more, Napoli provides a handy list of references in the back. Since this book was published, there's also a brilliant new partial translation by Jasmine Seale. But any full translation of the stories included in this collection would be NC-17, and the most popular older translations, by Burton and by Mardus and Powys, include racist, misogynist, and pornographic additions that aren't in the original Arabic.
After I read the Kindle version, I bought the hardback because of Cristina Balit's illustrations. As other reviewers have commented, they're gorgeous, but I have to wonder. Many of the sidebars include photos or paintings from throughout the Islamic world, from Malaysia to India to Iran to North Africa. Nearly all the photos show skin ranging from tan to black. In nearly all the illustrations, though, skin color ranges from very light pink to albino. Where did all those white folks in Balit's illustrations come from?
Read
July 2, 2019 Many cultures have their own fascinating legends and this book is no exception. The book follows a series of stories told through the course of 1001 nights that are narrated by a Sultan’s wife who is trying to charm the Sultan out of killing her. The tales told in this book are of adventure, magic, love and betrayal. Each night or story tells the fate of a certain character while teaching important lessons along the way. Sometimes the stories would end halfway to increase suspense and then the next night the story would be continued. Through the course of these tales, the Sultan’s wife attempts to ward off the Sultan’s anger and live through another night. Each tales enchants and delights with its genies, monsters, and heroic protagonists and side characters. Will the Sultan’s wife survive long enough to get through her 1001 storytelling? Join her on this exciting journey of suspense, adventure, and true love. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking to read a book that takes you on a ride of legend and lore. The book has a deep meaning below the surface that really teaches the readers important life lessons such as not being greedy and helping others. It helps you truly better understand the true meaning of living life and being kind to those around you. Therefore, for those who want to explore a new culture or just want to enjoy a book about escaping from reality, this book is for you. I had not expected the book to teach so many valuable lessons that one can use in life. The book really helped me to escape reality and understand how to be a better person, while enjoying Arabian fairy tales.
August 21, 2022
So, my thoughts on this are mixed. As a whole, the 1001 Nights framing story and its inner stories were not for children - some of the themes are mature. Donna Jo Napoli toned down these themes but there are still many present that I would be uncomfortable reading aloud to kids. I definitely wouldn't read it in its entirety before the teen years. So as for being marketed for children, I disagree.
What I did appreciate as an adult was the inclusion of the framing story. The other compilation I am reading ("The Arabian Nights" by Kate Douglas Wiggin) makes no mention of Scheherazade or the context of these stories, but rather reads like a book of fairy tales. I started that one expecting to learn the background (for instance, why the king killed off each new wife every day) but, while I didn't find that in the KDW edition, I did find it in Napoli's. I like knowing the context now and appreciate the fuller story.
I did find it a little frustrating that some stories weren't finished before the author decided to skip a bunch of nights (scores of them) and start in on new tales.
Note: a sampling of content that may be problematic: people "tangled up" together, adultery, wedding nights, "getting to know each other," bigamy, murder, poison, grisly things like: a cut-up corpse and the hire of someone to sew it back together; boiling oil being poured on men; living spouses lowered with the dead into a pit to die slowly in the dark among the bones; a man killing those spouses to take their provisions and jewels; people being eaten by giants. Also some of the illustrations could be frightening for young kids (though that may be the least of the worries).
What I did appreciate as an adult was the inclusion of the framing story. The other compilation I am reading ("The Arabian Nights" by Kate Douglas Wiggin) makes no mention of Scheherazade or the context of these stories, but rather reads like a book of fairy tales. I started that one expecting to learn the background (for instance, why the king killed off each new wife every day) but, while I didn't find that in the KDW edition, I did find it in Napoli's. I like knowing the context now and appreciate the fuller story.
I did find it a little frustrating that some stories weren't finished before the author decided to skip a bunch of nights (scores of them) and start in on new tales.
Note: a sampling of content that may be problematic: people "tangled up" together, adultery, wedding nights, "getting to know each other," bigamy, murder, poison, grisly things like: a cut-up corpse and the hire of someone to sew it back together; boiling oil being poured on men; living spouses lowered with the dead into a pit to die slowly in the dark among the bones; a man killing those spouses to take their provisions and jewels; people being eaten by giants. Also some of the illustrations could be frightening for young kids (though that may be the least of the worries).
August 30, 2022
Fitting neatly on 5 disks, this isn’t a translation of the full “One Thousand and One Nights” or “Arabian Nights’ Entertainment.” The author, editor, compiler, or whatever term you wish to use, could cherry-pick stories to include, even some which had been added later, such as Aladdin and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. There are also some which were toned down or shortened. To get to the point: This is a manipulation of the evolving 1,200-year-old collection based on later translations and is intended for children with much of the sex and violence softened. Even the frame story of the wife spinning a tale to live another day has been altered so that her sons aren’t hidden away for months or years, and the story that should have lasted from, say, night 668-675 only lasts from 670-675 then skips ahead to a few hundred nights for the next story. There are breaks between nights, not stories, to fill the reader/listener in on aspects of life and tradition in the middle ages throughout North Africa, West Asia, and South Asia. At the end is an explanation of how the stories were selected, a brief history of the evolving text of the work, and a summary of the changes that had been made to clean it up to make it appropriate for “all ages.”
May 3, 2024
This collection of Arabian folk tales adapted from One Thousand and One Nights and other works is a great read! Princesses, kings, sailors, merchants, and plenty of genies/Djinn! Popular tales include Ali Baba and the Forty thieves, Sinbad the Sailor, and Aladdin.
Because this is an adaptation, it's abridged and does not include all 1,001 tales, but I liked how those told build upon one another. Donna Jo Napoli does a great job of showing how the relationship between Shahryar and Scheherazade develops as he engages with and learns from his wife's storytelling. Wealth, murder, marriage, and magic are core themes, but this is a children's edition and so could be a good stepping stone to get kids interested in other cultures and folk traditions before they're old enough to read more mature translations.
I'm so glad I read this; big fan of Napoli here, and I enjoyed the Greek Mythology and Egyptian Mythology books in this National Geographic series. Obviously a fun read for fans of Disney's "Aladdin" and "Ms. Marvel". I also highly recommend to fans of folklore, Aesop's Fables, myths and legends, Hans Christian Anderson, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and Brothers Grimm.
Because this is an adaptation, it's abridged and does not include all 1,001 tales, but I liked how those told build upon one another. Donna Jo Napoli does a great job of showing how the relationship between Shahryar and Scheherazade develops as he engages with and learns from his wife's storytelling. Wealth, murder, marriage, and magic are core themes, but this is a children's edition and so could be a good stepping stone to get kids interested in other cultures and folk traditions before they're old enough to read more mature translations.
I'm so glad I read this; big fan of Napoli here, and I enjoyed the Greek Mythology and Egyptian Mythology books in this National Geographic series. Obviously a fun read for fans of Disney's "Aladdin" and "Ms. Marvel". I also highly recommend to fans of folklore, Aesop's Fables, myths and legends, Hans Christian Anderson, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and Brothers Grimm.
October 31, 2016
4.5 stars. Wow. You know when you kinda just want to stroke pages because it's so beautiful? Writing and illustrations both? This. This is one of those books. It's traditional folktales from the Middle East, but are written in such a way that you can sit and a read a full story front to back (One Thousand and One Nights), or flip to different chapters and read a story in and of itself--the organization is really phenomenal. But being traditional, just be aware that these are dramatic, exciting tales--and can sometimes include incest, or murder. It's not overt, and of course, it's being true to the original tales, so it's to be expected. There is an introduction that helps set the stage and helpful side notes, too. It can be a bit long, even intimidating to kids, but with some encouragement, I think they'll enjoy it.
The illustrations are bold, intricate, and really quite phenomenal. They add some real beauty to the tales. Overall, it's a great reference to have on hand and a wonderful cultural study. In conjunction with the other books from this series (Treasuries of Greek, Norse, and Egyptian Mythology) it's a very worthy addition.
The illustrations are bold, intricate, and really quite phenomenal. They add some real beauty to the tales. Overall, it's a great reference to have on hand and a wonderful cultural study. In conjunction with the other books from this series (Treasuries of Greek, Norse, and Egyptian Mythology) it's a very worthy addition.
September 4, 2020
I thought this book would be great, but all it did was disappoint me. the stories failed to get my attention because a lot of details were omitted that made the stories' endings predictable. I remember holding my breath in anticipation when I read the Arabic version years ago and I always wondered what will happen next, but here the omitting of details did the stories no good.
Also it made no sense when at some nights a story ends and the king grants Scheherazade another night just because she promises him a better story tomorrow night, the only reason the king kept her alive was to know what will happen in the rest of the story, so in the original text she would immediately start another one after she finishes the one she is telling and stop at an interesting part and the king would spare her for another night to know the end of the story and that made more sense because the king has trust issues so how is he supposed to spare her for another night just because she promises a good story.
Also in the start of the book it says that number 4 is the righteous number in many ancient Islamic culture. I am a Muslim and I don't know where did this come from It's number 3 not 4.
Also it made no sense when at some nights a story ends and the king grants Scheherazade another night just because she promises him a better story tomorrow night, the only reason the king kept her alive was to know what will happen in the rest of the story, so in the original text she would immediately start another one after she finishes the one she is telling and stop at an interesting part and the king would spare her for another night to know the end of the story and that made more sense because the king has trust issues so how is he supposed to spare her for another night just because she promises a good story.
Also in the start of the book it says that number 4 is the righteous number in many ancient Islamic culture. I am a Muslim and I don't know where did this come from It's number 3 not 4.
September 30, 2020
An excellent retelling of the Arabian Nights, in which Napoli tries to get as close to the original story as possible, with a very solid frame story woven throughout of Scheherazade's plan to save her life and so many others, and her deliberately slow plan to change her husband's heart.
As she tells the tales, Napoli manages to pull off the trick of a story-within-a-story-within-a-story without losing the reader, as well as filling the stories to the brim with eh details of the culture of that time and place. Fun bonus, between chapters there mini history lectures on different aspects of Scheherazade's world such as clothing, economics, architecture, food, algebra, and artwork.
Wonderful retelling that very much captures the spirit of the tales, the time, and Scheherazade's character.
April 27, 2021
I have been interested in reading the Arabian Nights tales for a while, but finding a version that wasn’t too wordy or overwhelming proved difficult. This was a great selection of them. Donna Jo Napoli did take some liberties in editing them in a cohesive way for her narrative, but it worked for me.
Occasionally, I did find myself wanting to know how the rest of the story went (for ones where we didn’t get the full ending), or I was curious about the stories that were left out (since in 1001 nights there had to be more than a couple to fit it into 340 ebook pages), but this was a good taster, as it were.
Also - the illustrations by Christina Balit are gorgeous and probably drew me in more than anything!
I am eager to find the other National Geographic books that I saw listed in here about Egyptian myths and Norse myths to see if they are written as compellingly.
Occasionally, I did find myself wanting to know how the rest of the story went (for ones where we didn’t get the full ending), or I was curious about the stories that were left out (since in 1001 nights there had to be more than a couple to fit it into 340 ebook pages), but this was a good taster, as it were.
Also - the illustrations by Christina Balit are gorgeous and probably drew me in more than anything!
I am eager to find the other National Geographic books that I saw listed in here about Egyptian myths and Norse myths to see if they are written as compellingly.
October 9, 2023
I started reading this book to my kids (ages 11 and 9) as part of our homeschool study of medieval times (we are using History Quest - Middle Times this year and it was a suggested book). They liked parts of it, but ultimately it became too intense for them. There is a lot of killing and descriptions of how people were killed, which none of us enjoyed.
The illustrations are well-done and very beautiful. I liked that this version is simplified for kids, I just wish it wasn't quite so intense. I guess there isn't a lot to do about that since that is what the stories are about, but for sensitive kids, this isn't a great option. I ended up reading a little over half of the book to my kids and then I finished it up on my own. Scheherazade was an inspiring character and I'm glad to finally know what 1001 Nights is about.
The illustrations are well-done and very beautiful. I liked that this version is simplified for kids, I just wish it wasn't quite so intense. I guess there isn't a lot to do about that since that is what the stories are about, but for sensitive kids, this isn't a great option. I ended up reading a little over half of the book to my kids and then I finished it up on my own. Scheherazade was an inspiring character and I'm glad to finally know what 1001 Nights is about.
May 21, 2017
I have never read this before and didn't know what it was. I love how it's set up. Scheherazade is telling a story each night to save her life as her husband didn't trust woman and vowed to kill his wife after one night so they can't cheat on him. The stories save her life. She has children and convinces the Prince to trust her and love her. It's an unique and amazing story. All these hollywood stories like Ali Baba and Aladdin, Sinbad and so forth come from this book. I was assuming they were all about Aladdin. This is a good book for kids and a great introduction to this book. I now want to read the entire 1,001 Nights. This book only does some stories and not the whole stories. Some things are skipped.
August 25, 2018
I've always wanted to read some of the classic Middle Eastern stories from Arabian Nights, as I've always had a love for Aladdin and Scheherazade. This book contained some of the most well known stories in Arabic folklore, all of which are narrated by the kind and clever Scheherazade. There are a variety of stories and characters, and it's hard to pick a favourite (though I'm going to go with Aladdin and Maaruf's stories). The artwork is unique and colourful, and the extras in the margins add some interesting notes to the culture. I'm so glad I picked up this book and got to experience these stories!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews