Aladdin Or, The Wonderful Lamp (Shape Books)

The tale of Aladdin, a poor boy who finds a magic lamp containing a genie and eventually marries a princess, is one of Scheherezade’s from One Thousand and One Nights, and one of the best known. It has been told many times, in many forms and settings including opera, film, and of course many children’s picture books. This one – from 1934 and illustrated by C.H. Lawrence – is a fine example. 

 

The vivid imagery of Aladdin’s story is one reason it is so beloved over such a long period of time. The cave with its jeweled walls, the all powerful lamp, the genie’s sudden appearances, the Sultan’s court and the beautiful Princess – all these are wonderfully rendered by the artist C.H. Lawrence. Paired with a text that keeps the story’s potency, but simplifies it for younger readers – this is a wonderful Aladdin for parents and children to share.