Publisher's Weekly Review
Napoli and Balit follow their collections of Egyptian, Greek, and Norse myth with a selection of the stories recounted by Scheherazade, a girl "subject to the whims of a man so deeply wounded his ego wobbles with every step," as Napoli writes in her introduction. Brief sidebars provide context and insight into the stories: a discussion titled "Horses in History" accompanies Sindbad the sailor's fourth voyage, and an overview of the use of rugs joins "The Tale of Prince Hussain and the Magic Carpet." Balit's ornate tableaus feature fluid forms and gold accents, helping evoke the drama and mystery of the tales. The supplemental educational content, including a map of the ancient Arab world and notes on Napoli's approach to her skilled retellings, allows for a deeper understanding of these stories and their significance within a larger cultural context. Ages 8-12. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Napoli (Treasury of Norse Mythology et al.) presents the legendary tales of Scheherazade. A helpful introduction draws attention to the "stories within stories within stories within the overarching story" structure; sidebars provide further context for readers. Well-sourced back matter tells more about the author's "literary license" along with information about "the Ancient Arab World." Lush, luminous illustrations appear throughout. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Forty-five (compressed from the original 1,001) nights of interwoven stories map Scheherazades courageous campaign to heal the heart of her murderous and disillusioned husbandand save her own life in the bargain.Drawn from authoritative sources and retold in plain (and, aside from references to the Almighty, nonreligious) language, the selections are arranged in several sequences of nights, with extras interposed and interludes that set up and flesh out the frame story. Brave and clever women stand out in these versions, notably Ali Babas wife, Marjana, the princess who marries Maaruf the Cobbler (and Maarufs comically abusive first wife, Dung Fatima)and especially Scheherazade herself, who over the many nights, any one of which could be her last, presents Shah Rayar with three children as well as tantalizingly strung-out adventures featuring moral quandaries, decisions wise and foolish, reversals of fortune, love, and wisdoms growth. Overall, Napoli sees the Arabian Nights as more optimistic than the Greek, Norse, or ancient Egyptian mythologies she has explored in previous collections in this series: There is a strong sense that good behavior will lead to good results and that the world is basically a lot more delightful than it is frightful. Balit whirls bright patterns around stylized figures to add notes of grandeur to each tale. Faces are light-skinned, but she does add hints of regional features and dress for stories set in China or the Indies. A brilliant tapestry woven not of yarn but of stories, both fresh and faithful to its historical roots. (introduction, index, extensive source notes) (Folk tales. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
The success of this collection of tales from the Arabian Nights (focusing on 45 instead of the full 1,001) will depend on the reader's ability to put aside outrage at Scheherazade's predicament. The individual tales, full of adventure, magic, love, and betrayal, are often known to Western readers, even those who aren't familiar with the complete work. Despite author Napoli's efforts to convince her readers that these stories are more optimistic than those found in other ancient and medieval mythologies, because they embody innovation, an interest in exploration, and loyalty, they are still bookended by the delicate machinations of a woman who is fighting for her life, and who bore three children to her husband over the course of those 1,001 nights. As a collection, the book straddles the line between pleasure reading enhanced by the vibrant and highly stylized artwork and a scholarly source, complete with sidebars, maps of the ancient Arab world, and additional sources for those interested in further pursuit.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2016 Booklist
