Aladdin and Other Tales From the Arabian Nights

Information for students
Author: Rosalind Kerven Title: Aladdin and Other Tales From the Arabian Nights
Book Genre: Fantasy Publishing Info: DK Publishing Inc. 64 pp.

Summary: Retells some of the magical adventures with Arabic, Persian, and Indian origin, framed by the take of Shahrazad who tells the king a story for 1001 nights. Illustrated notes throughout the text explain the historical background of the story. This collection includes the framing story of Shahrazad, and well-known favorites such as Aladdin, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
Personal rating: ****

Rationale: good illustrations, imaginative characters, problem solving, enjoyable, magical but believable, well-written, courage, survival


Information for teachers
Reading level: 6.8 Interest level: 4th-6th

Thematic Areas: villains, genies, myths, love, family, friendship, good vs. evil, adventurous, cultural, magic

Content Areas: history, language arts, writing

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Fantasy and complex plot may be difficult for some at a younger age.

Possible use in classroom: have students use their imagination and draw out their favorite characters Compare and contrast their world and incidents in the story to the “real” world. Have students pick out their favorite (or least favorite) story in the book and write and draw what they could’ve done differently in the story. Discussion on the different cultures that are in the stories and study the differences compare to our culture today.