PRINCE OF THE BIRDS

Hall’s story follows its inspiration, Washington Irving’s tale of the Pilgrim of Love from his Alhambra, and uses some familiar fairytale tropes. In the kingdom of Granada in Spain, Prince Ahmed’s parents keep him locked in a tower to save him from the peril of love. Whiling away his days, Ahmed learns the language of birds, and a dove tells him that in a distant land in another tower a princess longs for him. Ahmed escapes his tower by unwinding his turban and climbing down it; an owl suggests traveling to Seville. There, a parrot sends him to Toledo, where Ahmed and the owl win a joust and with a magic rug sweep the princess away. The prince and princess become king and queen of Granada. Illustrations in a dry but decorative style take from modern design as well as Moorish pattern. Trimming Irving’s elaborate language, Hall’s version is still colorful and slightly exotic, and much more suited to its younger audience. (Picture book. 4-8)