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K Gr 2 This tale of Old Persia is based on a snippet of history about a real ruler and his curiosity about the common people. Tired of eating alone, King Abbas disguises himself as a poor man and slips out of the palace. He meets three men dressed in ragged clothes who tell him of their plan to rob the treasury by using their unusual skills. The first is able to whistle a tune that will put anyone to sleep, the second can see through walls, and the third can sneeze a door right off its hinges. Not to be outdone, the king tells them that if they are caught, he can free them with a mere twitch of his moustache. The plan goes off without a hitch and the king returns to the palace and has them captured. In the end, he takes wise advice from his trusted vizier and allows them an opportunity to use their abilities for good. In a brief note, Balouch explains that her husband heard this and other stories about King Abbas as a boy in Iran. The collagelike illustrations in bold orange and purple were created with Adobe Illustrator software. The thieves have square heads and exaggerated features that emphasize their magical powers and add a touch of humor to the story. The bright, action packed pictures and graceful telling make this a good choice for reading out loud. Doris Gebel, Northport East Northport Public Library, NY
ISBN: 0670880590
Author: Kristen Balouch, C. Hennessy (Editor)
Category: Children
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