RIMONAH OF THE FLASHING SWORD: A North African Tale

by Eric A. -- Adapt. Kimmel ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1995

A North African version of Snow White, with forty thieves in the role of the seven dwarfs. In its new setting, the familiar story picks up a series of exotic gimmicks -- bedouins in the desert, a pendant in the shape of a scorpion that comes alive after sunset, a flying carpet on which the wicked stepmother tries to escape -- but the plot remains more or less the same. However, Kimmel has considerably reworked the traditional story by turning Rimonah into a ""fearless young woman who rode with the reckless daring of a bedouin horseman"" -- attractive by virtue of her actions as well as her looks. Rayyan's illustrations -- thin, layered watercolors -- achieve a strong effect in subtle ways. His palette is soft, fragile; his carefully constructed compositions show expressive draftsmanship. The poses of the characters, the arrangements of the groups, the geometric interiors -- everything has an eloquence that is completely independent of color.

Pub Date: March 15, 1995

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1995

Categories: CHILDREN'S