The Amazing Travels of Ibn Battuta [Hardcover]

In 1325, when Ibn Battuta was just 21, he bid farewell to his parents in Tangier, Morocco, and embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was 30 years before he returned home, having seen much of the world. In this book he recalls his amazing journey and the fascinating people, cultures, and places he encountered. He traveled extensively, throughout Islamic lands and beyond — from the Middle East to Africa to Europe to Asia. Ibn Battuta kept a diary of his travels, and even though he lost it many times and had to recall and rewrite what he had seen, he kept a remarkable record of his years away. His meticulous observations, retold here by Fatima Sharafeddine and beautifully illustrated by Intelaq Mohammed Ali, give us a remarkable picture of what it was like to be a traveler nearly 700 years ago.

Fatima Sharafeddineis an award-winning Lebanese writer who has twice been nominated for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. She divides her time between Beirut and Brussels.Intelaq Mohammed Alilives in Baghdad.

“The farewell day was very difficult for my parents and me, since we all knew that traveling in those days was full of dangers. I started my trip alone, on my donkey, but I soon met a convoy of merchants heading to Mecca as well, so I joined them.” — from the book

Simple and dignified, this is an excellent tool to use when introducing youngsters to Arab history and culture. Highly Recommended. —Library Media Connections, starred review

The illustrations, done in a style reminiscent of Persian miniatures, feature large-eyed figures in period dress and evocative glimpses of grand architecture. —Kirkus Reviews