(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. Edited by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora A. Smith. This edition includes editor Wiggin's original 1909 preface to ten stories, among them the well-known tales about Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin, and Sinbad the Sailor. Parrish's glowing oil paintings on glossy inserts are few but splendid and are an asset to a well-wrought text that is challenging by contemporary standards.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Chiara Fedele. Gilani-Williams adapts a traditionally male-centered folktale with both Jewish and Arab roots to focus on a Jewish woman (Yaffa) and a Muslim woman (Fatima), who are neighbors and friends. Both women's daily lives reveal their similarities and their compassion, particularly during a poor harvest. Fedele's evocative illustrations use texture and color (mainly red, blue, and brown) to introduce a distant land and distinct cultures.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 4-6 Turning Points series. This well-researched series focuses on crucial moments from recent world history and examines the events, people, and places involved. Crisp, clear, and engaging writing marks all three of these volumes, particularly 9/11, in which the complicated interplay of history and culture is unpacked. Large glossy photographs are included throughout, along with sidebars providing background or expanding on information. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Turning Points titles: The Arab Spring, The 9/11 Attacks, and The End of the Cold War.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Cousins Maxine and William are spending the summer of 1929 with their odd grandfather in New Jersey. After a mysterious telegram, Colonel Battersea brings the children with him to collect an important package in NYC. When he disappears, the cousins team up with the courier, Turkish girl Nura. In a rich historical landscape, the captivating adventure involves ancient relics, Arabian and Turkish lore, and a deadly organization.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) YA Zahra, a jinni, knows better than to fall for a human. But after a young thief finds her lamp, Zahra is willing to sacrifice even her chance at freedom for him. Khoury's unabashedly romantic "Aladdin" retelling features scheming viziers, sparkling desert palaces, and intrigue and danger heightened by jinn magic. A strong female protagonist who commands great power propels this emotionally charged fantasy.

Reviewer: Amy Bennett-Zendzian

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Christina Balit. 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.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ibrahim Quraishi. Hurry, an affectionate donkey, lives in a "dry and lonely land by the sea"--occupied Gaza, according to an author's note at book's end. To cheer the local children, a zookeeper paints stripes on Hurry so that he resembles a zebra. Based on a true event, the tale is heart-yanking and uplifting; if only the every-media-imaginable illustrations were more inviting.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Secret History series. From propaganda and intelligence to technology and sacrifice, various ways in which conflicts or wars are won, lost, or negotiated are examined in these books. Archival photographs combine with a busy but well-organized design to present an engaging perspective on these efforts. Both reluctant readers and history buffs in need of a fresh approach to events will appreciate this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Secret History titles: Conflict in the Middle East and The Iraq War.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Micha Archer. As explained in the informative introduction, stories about Mulla Nasruddin appear throughout the Islamic world. The twenty-two short tales presented here (in tiny font) always have a kernel of humanistic wisdom, whether the protagonist pronounces judgment upon the foolish behavior of others or even laughs at his own actions. Brightly patterned collages accompany the tales. A pronunciation guide is appended. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Carole Hénaff. This edition of the traditional tales will captivate older middle-grade audiences; murder and infidelity are common themes, woven together with stories of genies and magicians. The Scheherazade framework isn't as engaging as the actual tales, and the font of those sections is difficult to read. The volume's best feature is its lovely, detail-rich, color-saturated acrylic illustrations that incorporate traditional motifs. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carol Liddiment. In this story starring an Arabic folk character, Jouha the wise fool is always losing one of ten donkeys (the one that he's riding!). Numbers in Arabic from wahid (one) to ashara (ten) run along the bottom of the pages, allowing readers to chime in as Jouha searches for his animals. Desert-hued illustrations show details of traditional Middle Eastern life.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Translated by R. M. Brent. Illustrated by Emmanuel Cerisier. This informative volume chronicles contributions made by Arab proponents of scientific knowledge from the seventh through fifteenth centuries. Topics include the invention of Arabic numerals (including zero), promotion of observation and experimentation for scientific research, medical and pharmacological advances, and map-making and astronomy. Photographs, comic book–like drawings, and archival images break up the text. Timeline. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) YA Creation of the Modern Middle East series. These books (most revised and updated) are straightforward histories of Middle Eastern countries (though the area's volatility makes the series immediately out of date). The texts are dry, but they do an adequate job of providing background. Useful maps delineate the region's geography, and the many photographs add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Creation of the Modern Middle East titles: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Creation of the Modern Middle East series. These books (most revised and updated) are straightforward histories of Middle Eastern countries (though the area's volatility makes the series immediately out of date). The texts are dry, but they do an adequate job of providing background. Useful maps delineate the region's geography, and the many photographs add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Creation of the Modern Middle East titles: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Creation of the Modern Middle East series. These books (most revised and updated) are straightforward histories of Middle Eastern countries (though the area's volatility makes the series immediately out of date). The texts are dry, but they do an adequate job of providing background. Useful maps delineate the region's geography, and the many photographs add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Creation of the Modern Middle East titles: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Creation of the Modern Middle East series. These books (most revised and updated) are straightforward histories of Middle Eastern countries (though the area's volatility makes the series immediately out of date). The texts are dry, but they do an adequate job of providing background. Useful maps delineate the region's geography, and the many photographs add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Creation of the Modern Middle East titles: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Creation of the Modern Middle East series. These books (most revised and updated) are straightforward histories of Middle Eastern countries (though the area's volatility makes the series immediately out of date). The texts are dry, but they do an adequate job of providing background. Useful maps delineate the region's geography, and the many photographs add interest. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Creation of the Modern Middle East titles: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Tom Pohrt. In addition to "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" and "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp," Mitchell includes the lesser-known "Abu Keer and Abu Seer." Mitchell delights in exaggeration and embroiders these already outrageous tales with extended descriptions of jewels and riches, clothing and food, sneaking in references to chocolate chip cookies to entice modern readers. Black-and-white line illustrations round out these retellings.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2007

(4) YA Making of the Middle East series. This series presents the history and culture of the complex, influential Middle East region, from the early twentieth century to today. Maps and photographs (some gruesome) expand the dry, straightforward texts, which provide clear accountings of events, places, and political and religious figures. There are five other fall 2007 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Making of the Middle East titles: The First World War and the End of the Ottoman Order, The Palestine Mandate and the Creation of Israel, 1920–1949, The Middle East in the Age of Uncertainty, 1991–Present, The Cold War in the Middle East, 1950–1991, and The Rise of Nationalism.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pep Montserrat. These bilingual editions of the well-known tales display a storytelling voice in both languages. The retro-style illustrations in Tortoise reflect the story's humor, while the rich-hued paintings in Aladdin capture the magic of that tale. Spanish-speaking parents and children will delight in the tellings; both volumes may also be useful in classroom collections. Review covers these titles: The Hare and the Tortoise / La liebre y la tortuga and Aladdin and the Magic Lamp / Aladino y la lámpara maravillosa.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham