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Summary
Summary
This is the true story of Ishaq, a young boy in ninth-century Baghdad. And it is the story of the House of Wisdom. More than a house, more than a library, more even than a palace, the House of Wisdom was at the very center of the new ideas that flourished in Baghdad. It was here that thousands of scholars gathered to read, to exchange ideas, and to translate the dusty manuscripts that were brought by camel and ship from all over the world. Ishaq cannot understand why ancient words, words from faraway places, can cause such excitement. Then he embarks on a difficult journey seeking lost manuscripts. But it is what he discovers when he returns that ignites his imagination and changes him forever.
Lyrical prose and glorious illustrations capture the splendor of Baghdad when it was the center of one of the world's great civilizations. They tell the story of Ishaq's transformation from a bewildered young boy searching for understanding to a brilliant scholar, the greatest translator of Aristotle,whose work preserved Greek thought for civilizations to come.
Author Notes
Florence Parry Heide was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 27, 1919. She studied at Wilson College before transferring to the University of California at Los Angeles, where she received a B.A. in English. She worked in advertising and public relations in New York City before returning to Pittsburgh during World War II. She moved to Wisconsin with her husband after the war and started writing books at the age of 48. She wrote or co-wrote over 100 children's books including the Treehorn series, Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated, and The One and Only Marigold. She also wrote under the pseudonyms Alex B. Allen and Jamie McDonald.
Heide received numerous awards and honors including having The Shrinking of Treehorn named by the New York Times as the Best Illustrated Children's Book of 1971 and winning the Jugendbuchpreis for the Best Children's Book of Germany in 1977; The Day of Ahmed's Secret received the Editors' Choice Award from Booklist in 1991, and Sami and the Time of the Troubles received the Editors' Choice Award from Booklist in 1992. She died on October 24, 2011 at the age of 92.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-During the Dark Ages of Europe, the ruler of Baghdad built the House of Wisdom, a vast library to house a collection of books from around the world as well as a center for scholars. The authors tell the story of Ishaq, the son of an accomplished translator. Though a student himself, Ishaq doesn't "feel the fire" of reading and knowledge until he satisfies his restless dream to travel the world on an expedition to acquire books for the great library. On his return, he grows to recognize the enduring qualities of scholastic endeavors and to find the spark in his own spirit that enables him to become the chief translator of the works of Aristotle. That's a tall order for a picture book, and the writing team uses more poetry than detail to suggest the young man's experiences. When the youth questions his father about the wisdom of those who lived 1000 years before them, he is told, "We are like leaves of the same tree, separated by many autumns." Youngsters may have difficulty connecting with Ishaq on their own, but an insightful adult could use this book to engender an appreciation for the contributions of Islamic culture to all civilizations and for the fruits of human curiosity. GrandPr's pastel illustrations are both lush and dreamy. Making ample use of Islamic patterns and employing radiant colors, the artist welcomes readers into this story about the heights of human achievement.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The inspiration for Heide and Gilliland's (Sami and the Time of Troubles; The Day of Ahmed's Secret) ambitious tale is the landmark learning institution built in Baghdad in 830 A.D. by the Caliph al-Ma'mun. Told from the persepective of a boy, Ishaq, who lives in the House of Wisdom with his scholar father, the narrative transports readers to the Islamic Empire, at a time of dramatic academic and cultural growth. Ishaq aspires to the scholarly heights of his father, but finds his studies slow-going, unlike the sports he enjoysÄ"Then the time flew!" He simply does not share his father's "fire" for learning. But when the Caliph one day chooses Ishaq to lead an expedition in search of ancient manuscripts, Ishaq discovers for himself the truth of his father's wordsÄthat the scholars of history are "like the leaves of the same tree, separated by many autumns." The book's lofty subject and weighty text may make it best suited to those who have already been exposed to history's great thinkers, but all readers can appreciate the authentic feeling of the time and setting. Ishaq's character remains intangible, but the House of Wisdom's contribution to modern civilization comes through loudly and clearly. Grandpr's (Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat) lushly colored pastels detail the ornate patterns of the Baghdad rooftops as easily as they convey the sweltering heat of a caravan of camels. A fitting homage to the quest for knowledge. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Ishaq, who longs to be a scholar, travels the world searching for books to add to the collection of the House of Wisdom, a giant library and learning institution in Baghdad in the 800s. The story, based on the life of one of the greatest translators of Aristotle, describes the rich and scholarly culture of the Islamic Empire and is enhanced by vivid pastel illustrations. A pronunciation guide is included. Bib. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Heide and Gilliland (Sami and the Time of the Troubles, 1992, etc.) bring to readers Baghdad of the ninth century, a time and a place that sought wisdom and encouraged learning to the point of incandescence. The story concerns Ishaq, the son of Hunayn, one of the scholars of Caliph al-Ma'mun's grand House of Wisdom; it harbored both learned men and the great books of history, brought there by caravans that ranged throughout the known world. Ishaq is fascinated by his father's passion for the ancient books, but he doesn't share the fire for learning. He dreams of leading a caravan and when he gets his opportunity, travels for three years, returning to Baghdad with a great collection of books, including a lost manuscript of Aristotle's. This last excites Ishaq in a way he had never experienced, and he, too, decides to become a scholar in the House of Wisdom. Heide and Gilliland become almost mystical about the pleasures of learning, while GrandPr's fanciful, exotic artwork, with high domed ceilings and ornately patterned walls and floors, give books a sacred residence. That the three main characters were real gives the story its weight; it's an idyllic moment in history, with the architectural splendors of old Baghdad providing just the right setting. (Picture book. 4-7)
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. In this picture book for older readers, Heide and her daughter, Judith Gilliland, breathe new life into an event from an often neglected time and place. Baghdad in the ninth century is the center of a vast empire and the seat of knowledge and learning, exemplified by the House of Wisdom, which was a school, a library, and a translation bureau. The House of Wisdom attracts scholars from around the Islamic world. Into this environment, bursting with both old and new ideas, Ishaq is born, the son of a translator. Ishaq, too, wants to experience the fire that flames inside the scholars, but he also longs for adventure. Happily, his two yearnings are satisfied when he begins traveling the world to buy books for the Caliph, even locating an unknown book by Aristotle. Later, Ishaq devotes his life to the philosopher's works, becoming their greatest translator. Despite the fact that a youth is the protagonist, this is a difficult story to bring to life; there are so many elements children may be not be familiar with. Yet, with sensual art and a text that is vivid and not overly long, the book succeeds on many levels. Mary Grandpre, whose art many will recognize from the Harry Potter books, offers illustrations that are sweeping in scope, lush in color, and imaginative in their use of imagery. Even children who are not intrigued by a boy who longs to translate a Greek philosopher who was ancient even in the ninth century will respond to the luminous art that captures a long-ago world. A note at the back and a bibliography show the significant research done by the authors and the illustrator. --Ilene Cooper