The Arabian Nights

by Wafa' Tarnowska (Adapted By), Carole Henáff (Illustrator)

Lebanese author Wafa' Tarnowska opens a window onto the Arab world with her magnificent new translation of eight stories from A Thousand and One Nights. This edition is notable for combining favourites such as 'Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp' with less familiar tales such as 'The Diamond Anklet' and 'The Speaking Bird and the Singing Tree'. The collection also features the frame story about Shahriyar and Shahrazade. A classic of world literature, newly translated by an Arab author who has divided her adult life between Europe and the Middle East, and who has based this retelling on a fourteenth-century Syrian manuscript. Sumptuous illustrations by French illustrator Carole Henaff, who has travelled in the Arab world and now lives with her family in Barcelona.

Shahriyar meets Shahrazade --
Aladdin and the wonderful lamp --
The diamond anklet --
Jullanar of the sea --
The ebony horse --
The speaking bird and the singing tree --
Prince Kamar el Zaman and Princess Boudour --
Seven nights of celebrations.

Genres: Childrens, Classics, Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Folklore

130 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Fats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I have not read the original version of The Arabian Nights, I'd like to think that Wafa Tarnowska did an excellent job at retelling a beloved tale. Of the four versions I've read, this has to be the most faithful to the original. Carole Henaff's illustrations are as beautiful as Wafa Tarnowska's storytelling. This book has the "kind of story that entertains children and adults, kings and queens, the rich and the poor, the kind of story your grandmother told you when you were little ."

[Eden Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I enjoyed the 8 stories inside this book. I definitely recommend this book.

[Tyra Kornegay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arabian Nights, written by Wafa Tarnowska, is a collection of folklore stories that originate from the lands of India, Persia, and the Arab World. I would use this book for fourth or fifth graders; I say this because of the amount of text that is in this book as well as how spread the illustrations are between the stories. Readers would really have to be strong with just engaging in the text so they wouldn't lose interest. Arabian Nights is about a woman named Shahrazade who has agreed to marry a king who has a reputation of marrying a wife who was then killed the next morning. Shahrazade believes that she has a strategy that will allow her to be saved from the King's punishment and that is by telling stories. She tells different stories to the King for 1,001 nights and after she is done with her stories, the King realizes that he is not only happy and in love with Shahrazade but that he also has three children as well. This book was a WOW book for me because of how beautifully written the stories were as well as the illustrations that were drawn. In the different stories, such as Aladdin and the Lamp, The Diamond Anklet, The Ebony Horse, and so many other stories, you really have the opportunity to step into the many cultures that the stories are based on. There were funny, emotional, and intriguing dialogue between the characters of the multiple stories that make the reader want to continue reading. The illustrations were not overpowering (meaning not something that appeared on every page) which makes the reader really appreciate the moments that they turn the page and one appeared to look at. In my opinion, the illustrations were drawn in a way that almost complemented the text as well as the way the text was written on the pages. In my classroom, I would want to use this book as a tool for a scavenger hunt into the Persian/Asian/Indian culture. I found myself many times noticing the same items, names, themes, and even foods between the stories. This made me understand that in this culture, these items and things were important and played a big part in everyday life. I would want my students to go through the book and pick out what they see repeated or talked about so we could create a discussion about what life was probably like during that time period. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone! It's such a beautiful display of fantasy, folklore, culture and adventure!

[Busy Mummy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exciting magic carpet ride adventure this stunning book offers, immersing you into the wonders and marvels of the folklore tales and stories from the exotic eastern lands. I was surprised not to see Ali Baba among the collection in this book. However, the book itself is a joy to read with its rich and bold illustrations. It is written by a well travelled author who is from and has lived in countries in the Eastern world. Some of the tales open up links and similarities to our own Western familiar tales, such as Cinderella, the Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Would open up for great discussion points with children and to learn the morals behind the stories. The glossary at the back is a lovely touch to aid the understanding of some of the words and sources in the book.
Overall, a gorgeous book.

[Izzy Bayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Magnificent book. I am so amazed at what the writer communicated though the stories and pictures. My favourite story was either 'The speaking bird and the singing tree' or 'the diamond anklet'.
The stories took the saying ' reading books takes you to another world' to a whole new level. The writer gets you so captivated and engaged in the text, and the tales enchant you, and you begin to travel through the ancient Arab world. I got given this book for my birthday, and as soon as I read the first sentence I was fully engaged, and didn't stop until I finished the book! It is definitely worth reading and you will remember the magical stories forever! Izzy-12

[MB B · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful!
I am using this book as part of an immersion research paper encompassing children & adult perspectives with ancient Persia & dreaming. This fits nicely with "Shadow Spinner," ( YA re: Shaharzad) By Susan Fletcher
This leads me smoothly into longer accounts of the Thousand Nights and One Day retellings.

[Christina Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Streamlined without overt bowdlerization, Tarnowska’s The Arabian Nights presents a retelling of the classic story cycle made relatable for western audiences while subtly providing insight into Islamic folkways, reflecting its cultural world view and outlook on life. This text begins with an introduction that explains the oral tradition at the root of these tales, which reach through the ages and continue to captivate readers, and concludes with a glossary and list of source citations that frame the narrative as neatly as Shahrazade’s dilemma itself. Henaff’s simple, graceful acrylics are ever-present, sometimes filling pages with rich hues, but more often framing the artfully set text with geometric patterns and naturalistic flourishes. Moving fluidly between the frame story of Shahrazade’s bold plan for survival to the content of her tales, a transition noted by a change of typeface, the reader sits in on the telling of six adventures ranging from a more authentic version of the well-worn “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp” to the less well-known “The Ebony Horse.” As examples of human excellence, the heroes of these tales would have provided standards for young Islamic children to follow. Each story esteems certain values, be it ingenuity, obedience, faithfulness or mercy, which in turn reflect on the overarching tale of the teller’s predicament and the effect she wishes to have on her audience, both in-story and beyond.

[Mary Jo Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shahrazade was the woman who changed the heart of a king with her storytelling. Her stories were drawn from across the Arab world and the Far East and enchanted all who heard them. Today, the Arabian Nights enchant children and adults the world over and have become embedded in our cultural consciousness, influencing literature and the arts in Western culture. Aladdin is perhaps the best-known of the tales for Americans, but The Diamond Anklet, for example, is simply another version of the Cinderella tale. The women featured in the tales, like Shahrazade herself, are clever, beautiful, and manage to outwit kings, emperors, and all manner of wicked men. They are strong yet tender of heart. They are not meek or mild, though they do temper their words and avoid rash acts. They are, in short, model women. The stories are intended as much to be object lessons in womanhood for young girls as they are meant to be entertaining.

This particular version is amazingly beautiful with rich illustrations full of color and texture, and the cover with its gilded letters. The stories are written in an accessible language

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once there was and wasn't...

Oooo I liked this one. It's my first venture into Arabian Nights and Jess will be going back. I'd had an affection for Scheherazade every since I read Reading Lolita in Tehran. It's been years, so I can't remember specifics, but Nafisi wrote with such love and respect for her that some of that love transferred to me.

Back to the book--

The illustrations are fantastic-colorful and fitting whether they're full page or sculpting the words. Loved them.

For the most fun, the stories are great. There's some violence--the Shah marries and murders wives daily for over a year and you learn about that in the first few pages--but well, it's folklore. It's not watered down.

Includes: Shahriyar meets Shahrazade, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, The Diamond Anklet, Jullanar of the Sea, The Ebony Horse, The Speaking Bird and the Singing Tree, Prince Kamar el Zaman and Princess Boudour, & Seven Nights of Celebrations

Oh, and Disney, boo for what you did for Aladdin.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are drawn from the traditions of India, Persia and the Arab world and as such are a great complement and contrast to the traditional tales of Western Europe. They are topped and tailed with the story of Sharahzade. The opening story of Aladdin would be good to use in class to contrast with Disney's version. Indeed, a whole topic could be looking at similarities and differences between traditional tales from different cultures and this book would lend itself well to that, for example comparing The Diamond Amulet with Cinderella; looking at the difference between the anthropomorphism common in Western fairy tales and the frequency that people are turned into animals in this collection; the action of Allah in some of these stories compared to the absence of God in western stories, replaced by fairy godmothers and other magical creatures. The book is lovely to read, the illustrations are striking and evocative and the stories are beautifully told. It ends with the phrase, "another time and another book, another day and another night."

[Emily Shilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Arabian nights is a compilation of traditional fairy-tales with a resemblance to Disney classics such as Aladdin and Cinderella. Children therefore are able to make these connections which may interest them further. Although there is a likeness to Disney classics, the stories are set in India and the Arab world which puts a slightly different twist on the classic story-lines. The stories themselves are not too long, with clear text and some illustrations. However I would say this book is for keen readers as it appears more lengthy in comparison to perhaps a short picture book.
The stories are inspiring as they entail lessons to be learnt, cultural and family traditions which small children may find fascinating and different to their own experiences. Many tales also show that females can be the hero, which is different to a lot of super-hero books and therefore the book is great at signalling female empowerment. Despite this, the book is easily accessible to both boys and girls.

[Adam Arzberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories for both reading solo (for ‘advanced readers’) and for sharing with children. You could just pick a story at random to share but the initial background story behind Shahrazade’s creativity in her storytelling is too good to miss out on. We began with ‘Shahriyar Meets Shahrazade’ and then chose the tales at random after that with the exception that the final tale of Shahrazade’s fate has to be read last, almost as a reward for finishing the book. Rich descriptions of exotic far away lands and seas, fabrics, flowers and fragrances and the blending of everyday lives (albeit it foreign to us) with those of magicians, princes and spirits transport the reader and set the imagination in motion. We also enjoyed thinking about other stories we know that might have their roots in these precious, ancient stories and the differences between them.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is collection of folklore that has been adapted and translated from manuscripts that date back as far as the early 800's. This book is good for an intermediate reader, not because of the vocabulary but because of the hidden meanings behind each tale. The book includes a glossary, a pronunciation key and sources where the story originated. Favorite stories like, The Arabian Nights, Aladin, and the Speaking Bird and the Singing Tree are all included in this collection. The book is beautifully illustrated, however a lot of the text is written in a manuscript font. This is a fun book book to read at home and in school. This book with capture the imagination of any child and at the same time expose them to a different culture and world.

[Fatima Azzahra Talhaoui · Rating 2 out of 5]

C'était amusant comme conte pour enfant, malgré l'image stéréotypée de l'héroïne super jolie, super intelligente, super amoureuse de l'héro qui est à son tour incontounable, et qui est -par hasard- toujours prince, et qui rassemble toutes les valeurs du monde.
Lorsque je reviens aux histoires dont on a passé l'enfance avec, je pose beaucoup de questions, si vraiment on a pas toutes construit une idée monotone de la fille idéale qui cherche toujours à être super belle pour gagner le coeur du prince.
On va pas parler du changement, de la pauvreté au richesses en un clin d'oeil, le livre est plein de tous ça, enfin, toutes les histoires se terminent par: le prince épouse l'héroïne, qui est 99% une princesse, et il vivent dans un château de rêves.

[Lissa Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wafa Tarnowska, a Lebanese writer, has taken eight stories from the Arabian Nights and, using the framework of the original tale of Shahrazade, has retold them as a series of interconnected tales. The stories in this beautifully illustrated book tend to feature strong women characters, unusual in most retellings. The language is rich with a formality often used in Arabic tales, yet very accessible to readers. The rich and colourful illustrations by Carole Henaffe use a palette of soft greens and browns, emphasizing the desert feel of the book.

A wonderful addition to the folktale section of any collection. Grades 5-9

[KitaabWorld.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lebanese author Wafa Tarnowska opens a window onto the Arab world with her magnificent translation of eight stories from A Thousand and One Nights. This edition is notable for combining favorites such as Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp with less familiar tales such as The Diamond Anklet and The Speaking Bird and the Singing Tree. The collection also features the frame stories about Shahriyar and Shahrazade.

See other books in our Folktales from Islamic Traditions booklist here: https://kitaabworld.com/blogs/news/fo...

[Benjamin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of lovely short stories, each with a powerful moral. All of them very interesting! A twist on Aladin was interesting to read. My favourite tale was The Singing Tree. Would highly recommend, and its a great way to provide children with alternatives to traditional fairy tales.

[Tova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Beautiful art.

[Debra Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

We got really tired of the love stories. It would have been nice if she had included more action stories— like Sinbad.

[Aruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this over several weeks to my daughter at bedtime. The stories are very well written, and we both loved them.

[Kalaycia Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 8 different traditional stories, which are set in the Arab world and India. I found that the first tale shared similarities with the likes of Aladdin. This is a good book to read both in school and at home, as it is exposing different cultures to the children and this can then stimulate their imagination and general interest. I also liked how Shahrazade was portrayed as a strong female as she constructed and executed her own plan and eventually became the hero, this sends out a positive message to all children that anyone can be a hero. Each story was illustrated which set the scene and made it easier to imagine what the characters environment actually looked like.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous retelling by Lebanese author Wafa' Tarnowska of the tales told by the clever vizier's daughter, Shahrazade, to keep the shah's interest and save her life. It's beautifully illustrated in a sumptuous oversized book.

Changes in font styles differentiate between the story about Shahrazade and the stories she tells the shah. I just wish there had been more of both. The ending where Shahrazade convinces the shah to abandon his murderous ways by introducing him to his three small children seemed oddly jarring. After all, if she'd been telling him wonderful tales every night for 1001 nights since their wedding, how would he be unaware of the existence of the three children she bore him? Even so, it's a fine addition to Arabian Nights collections.

[Eleni Mastronardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read any other edition besides this shortened illustrated one, but the stories are superb. They are a bit complicated for an almost 5 year old to follow the characters’ reasons for doing certain things (like why a character would pretend to be crazy so she didn’t have to marry the man her father wanted her to, or why a man had four wives and only liked one of them…) but all in all they were fun and they enjoyed the more abstract pictures, the fanciful magic and genies and djinns, and they really enjoyed realizing that some of the stories are similar to other fairy tales they had heard (Cinderella, Little Mermaid, and of course Aladdin).

[S. Shigemitsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book of tales told with a lively style. Though I have read the stories in another book, this one brought me delight. Like the shah eager for his next story, I too found myself looking forward to the next one. A wonderful collection of stories that make me say, "Just one more story."

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is split into different folk tales based on Arabia. The tales are interesting because they give important messages such as trust, kindness, sharing, being thoughtful, being loving and caring, being determined and hardworking. I would recommend this book because each tale is different which makes the book fascinating and interesting for the reader to find out about different Arabian tales. The book is interesting for learning about the different cultures of Arabia; finding out what they wear and what they believe.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this for early cultural literacy in our history curriculum. It was interesting, but parents should note that it includes issues like slavery, misogyny, lack of consent, and execution, among others.

[Meow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about the Arabian nights stories. My favorite story was Alladin. I liked how the book had a bunch of different stories.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book filled with tragedy, romance, and childhood nostalgia. It made me interested in reading the original Arabian Nights stories.

[Brantley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of Arabian folktales.

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been able to get The Wrath and the Dawn out of my head since reading it years ago. This “picture book” let re-immerse into the stories of Shahrazade.

Grades 8 and up.