How the Fisherman Tricked the Genie

By Kitoba Sunami and Christopher Sunami

Book Overview

When a poor fisherman casts his net out into the Arabian Sea -- and pulls in a genie in a bottle -- he expects three wishes.... But this genie isn't like other genies.... Three interwoven... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689833997
• ISBN13: 9780689833991
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Atheneum
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.3" x 0.4" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Two boys' review: Enchanting tale within a tale within a tale

Magic and mystery await your children with this lush retelling from Arabian Nights a.k.a One Thousand and One Nights. ...The child is young. ...The day is old. ...My story is waiting. ...It wants to be told. A poor fisherman living by the shores of the Arabian Sea unleashes a genie who intends to repay him with death. The fisherman shares two fables warning that evil will be repaid with evil. As foreboding as that sounds, the story ends happily as the genie, undaunted by the stories, is finally bested when the fisherman outfoxes him. The story is delivered with vocabulary befitting younger readers (Publishers Weekly recommends ages 5-9 and the School Library Journal recommends grades 3-6). As my sons are a bit younger (ages 6 and 4) than the target audience I chose to read this book as a bedtime story. Captivated by Amiko Hirao's illustrations, brimming with orange, blue and purple pastels, they frequently asked me to turn back to see the pictures again. The moral of the book is do not reward a good deed with evil, i.e. unkindness or disrespect. This is an excellent retelling of classic fables and earns our 5-star rating. ...The rising of the moon. ...The setting of the sun. ...The teller is tired. ...The story is done.

Complex and satisfying

This is not the more familiar genie story from the Arabian Nights, but another more complex one, possibly from the same source. It is told in a really engaging way, lots of good vocabulary that doesn't talk down to kids. I've given several copies to children in our extended family.

Wonderful book

This is a beautifully illustrated edition of the classic tale from the Arabian nights. Kitoba Sunami's writing is dramatic and evocative. The pastel illustrations are a terrific complement to the text. My four kids all love the book.

A Note from the Author

Hi, just wanted everyone to know that "Fisherman" was selected for the International Reading Association's (very prestigious) "Children's Book Award : Notable Books of 2003" list!P>Thanks to all "Fisherman" readers!<p>KS

tale within a tale

This is a beautifully illustrated fairy tale with a moral: He who returns evil for good will be punished. A poor fisherman casts his net and frees an evil genie, who threatens to kill him for his trouble. The fisherman tells a story within a story to try and convince the genie that murder would be a mistake. This is a classic Arabian Nights approach, very satisfying. The story within a story within a story structure may be somewhat complex for children reading to themselves, but the use of different type faces for each story makes them easier to track. The illustrations are dramatic and colorful. Several deaths occur in the course of this tale (and not only bad guys die), so it may be too scary or upsetting for bedtime reading for the youngest listeners.