Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Walter McVitty's translation is superb, and Margaret Early's patterned and gold-bordered illustrations make this book a jewel in your hands.This is the entire story, including dismemeberments, beheadings, and death by boiling oil. Don't say you weren't warned. It's a wonderful tale.The illustrations feature intricate, elaborate settings -- every one of them is a masterpiece. This is just an amazing book.

I remembered reading this title as a kid. I ordered it for my nephew for Christmas but after re-reading it as an adult I decided not to give it to him. There are multiple murders in this book, through either beheading or being boiled alive in hot oil. It's definitely not a book for young kids. Each page has it's own artwork showing what's going on in the story. On one of those pages, a man is shown standing over another man with a scimitar, about to chop his victims head off. The artwork is well done. Each picture has something interesting in it to look at.I suppose the book might be OK for someone who is old enough to have learned of the conflicts between good and evil that the Bible teaches. Please keep in mind I don't have any kids of my own.

This story was one of my favorites as a child. But I wish I had read the reviews. As I'm reading my kids this story, I start wondering how I was ever read such an inappropriate story as a kid. I'm going to go look for a more kid appropriate version of this clever tale, buy this copy with caution, I would not get it to read to the kids.

It's the original version. So, way to scary for young children.