THE THREE PRINCES OF SERENDIP: NEW TELLINGS OF OLD TALES FOR EVERYONE, by Rodaan Al Galidi and Geertje Aalders, Candlewick, Dec. 28, 2021, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 6-9)
Twenty Middle Eastern tales come to life in The Three Princes of Serendip: New Tellings of Old Tales for Everyone, by Rodaan Al Galidi and Geertje Aalders.
The twenty fables and folktales in this illustrated storybook have taken a long journey. Many have roots that stretch across Europe, Asia, and Africa, but when award-winning writer and gatherer of tales Rodaan Al Galidi learned them in his homeland of Iraq, it was as Arabic folktales and as part of the Arabic storytelling tradition. When he migrated to the Netherlands, he shaped twenty of those tales into his debut book for children, which was translated to English by Laura Watkinson.
Filled with wisdom about love and acceptance, and warnings against folly, these translated stories—many unknown in the United States — of donkeys and roosters, kings, sheikhs, and paupers are illustrated by cut-paper artist Geertje Aalders. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick
Folktales and fables have been around for thousands of years. Every child grows up with them. And each one varies slightly depending on where it originates and who is telling it. The Three Princes of Serendip is a lovely collection new to the majority of Americans. Beautifully told and illustrated, this book deserves a place on your bookshelf.
