The Amazing Travels of IBN BATTUTA

Reviewed by: Kathy George - Gray Public Library, Gray, Me 04039, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 8, 2014

Review

In the Muslim tradition - a lifetime goal is to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. This is the true story of Ibn Battuta, a 21 year old man who lived in 1300 Morocco. He begins a journey that will take him almost 30 years to finish. He kept a diary of his travels both to Mecca to complete his Hajj, and then throughout Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.The reader begins in Mecca where the author explains what Ibn encounters and then we follow him as he journeys throughout the known world. What is so striking are the colored pencil illustrations done in the style of the Middle East- like the designs you would see on mosques. They make the words come to life- you can feel what it was like because of the illustrations. It is a beautifully written and illustrated book. My only concern is how widely it will go out. I think it is an important book in that it gives our readers a wider scope of the world.This is a book that will gain readership through word of mouth and exposing teachers and parents to its worth.

Overall Book Score: excellent