Prolific picture-book author Eric A. Kimmel joins forces with illustrator Will Hillenbrand in this illustrated retelling of the classic story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, taken from that celebrated collection of Arab and Persian folklore, the One Thousand and One Nights. When poor woodcutter Ali Baba discovers the den of the forty thieves, and overhears the magical password ("Open Sesame") used by the leader of the thieves to open that den, he takes advantage of this knowledge to steal three bags of golden coins. His newfound wealth immediately attracts the attention of his greedy brother, whose own attempts to steal from the thieves prove his undoing. Now possessing his own wealth and that of his brother, Ali Baba must fend off the vengeance of the thieves, with the help of his slave girl, Marghana...

This is one of the best-known of the stories to come from the One Thousand and One Nights (often also known in the west as The Arabian Nights), and I have encountered it in various forms elsewhere. In picture-book form, I have enjoyed the retelling done by Walter McVitty and Margaret Early, but Kimmel and Hillenbrand's version is also very appealing. The story is exciting, and will have the young reader rooting for Ali Baba, and also for Marghana. It's quite violent, but no more so than any number of tales from other traditions, from the Brothers Grimm to Asbjørnsen and Moe. The artwork, done in watercolor, plaka and oil pastel, is colorful and appealing, with its stylized figures. I appreciated the inclusion of an afterword from the author, discussing the possible historical origins of the story of the forty thieves, in the Persian mountain leader, Hasan-i Sabbah. Recommended to young folklore lovers, and to fans of Kimmel and/or Hillenbrand. ( )

I do not remember this book growing up but it was a fun story. Kind of reminds me of Aladdin and the dudgeon he enters in the beginning of the movie. It was very wordy and too long of a story as well as little gory towards the end. Not my favorite story but I happy to have learned a new folktale. ( )

The Tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was a great read. This story was new to me but I think it's quickly become a new favorite of mine. It begins with the classic "once upon a time" and I think it suites it. I've always thought that phrase is a great way to get readers to sink into the story and it really works here. Although it gets a bit wordy at times, it is entertaining and switches between action/suspense to really funny moments. This is a lot more violent than classic fairy tales so I would recommend it for an older audience like grades 2 and up. ( )

This is the classic tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. I would use it in the classroom when teaching Folktales, specifically folktales from diverse cultures. ( )

This is the classic tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves accompanied by beautiful and detailed illustrations. ( )