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Pullman, Philip. 2005. ALADDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP. Ill. Sophy Williams. New York: Arthur A. Levine. ISBN 0439692555
ALADDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP is retold by Philip Pullman and nicely illustrated by Sophy Williams. Although the story was
originally written in Arabic and comes from the Middle East, the original story was set in China. (Despite what the reader
may think he/she knows about Aladdin based on the Disney movie...) Aladdin is a worthless, reckless, disobedient, disrespectful,
young man who worried his father into the grave and tormented his mother as well who pleaded with him to behave. But Aladdin
changes throughout the course of the story. ALADDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP consists of two-to-three main stories about Aladdin:
how Aladdin found the lamp and came in possession of the jinnee (who granted much more than three wishes), met and fell in
love with a princess, the daughter of the Sultan, and his marriage and the following return of the Moor (the bad guy) who
kept trying to steal the jinee. It is an adventurous and enjoyable story. The illustrations are wonderful! The double-page
spreads are particularly well done. I love the illustration of the Cave of Wonders shown on pages 20 and 21. Overall, I think
this is a wonderful book and I recommend it!
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