Czech-Canadian artist and animator Ludmila Zeman presents some of the Sindbad stories found in that celebrated collection known as The Arabian Nights in this gorgeous picture-book. She begins with the framing story of Shahrazad, who uses her storytelling to keep herself alive, and then moves on to a recitation of some of Sindbad's adventures, related by him as an older man. These include his time as a sailor, when his ship arrived at an island that was really a sleeping whale; his experiences as a castaway on an island where a legendary Roc kept its nest; and his descent into (and ascent out of) the Valley of Diamonds, guarded by countless snakes...

Although the story collection from which the tales of Sindbad come is often called The Arabian Nights - alternatively, it has also been called The 1001 Nights - it has Persian as well as Arab origins. Zeman chose to honor that in her lovely artwork, which features beautiful decorative borders meant to suggest Persian rugs, and which is gorgeously ornate in style. The stories themselves are engrossing, and young folk and fairy-tale enthusiasts who enjoy adventure stories will find much here to please them. For my part, I was fascinated to learn from Zeman's afterword that some scholars believe the Sindbad stories were inspired by actual sailing voyages made by Arabs to China, many centuries before Columbus sailed west. Recommended to anyone who enjoys beautifully-illustrated folktales and myths, and to readers looking for children's retellings of the Sindbad stories. ( )