THE TALE OF ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP

A concise retelling, with both text and illustrations framed in ogee arches. Chen (see Caryn Yacowitz's The Jade Stone, p. 546) is a wonderful colorist who deftly conveys shapes, textures, and expressions with streaks, swirls, and dabs of paint. The text here is shorter than Andrew Lang's, used by Errol LeCain in his 1981 version, while--compared to LeCain's formal, otherworldly pictures--Chen's art is down to earth, with sly touches of humor. As always, the genies (here called djinns) steal the show. A note points out that the story may actually be ""a French imposter in Oriental garb.