Ibrahim

In a translator's note, Caldecott Medal-winner Simont tells readers that he grew up in Barcelona, where his grandfather told him Catalan tales such as this one, about a boy who happily works alongside his father in the marketplace in Marrakesh. Ibrahim has only just begun his working life and is content, but when his friend Hassan announces that he is going to roam the desert, serenity vanishes. Ibrahim wonders if he, like Hassan, will soon feel ``imprisoned'' by the city. In his dreams, he sees the beauty of the desert, but another dream brings a vision of a genie, who shows Ibrahim the way to peace within himself. Vibrant illustrations of the market bring a lovely chaos to this tale: stalls and baskets full of grain, bunches of herbs and strings of red peppers decorate the pages. The setting is exotic, but the concerns mirror those of any child wondering about choices in the years ahead. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)