Age 7-11

This tale from ancient Iraq was written 4,000 years ago and is possibly the oldest extant story in the world, but was only translated from cuneiform on clay tablets in the 1970s. It is surprisingly fresh, although it has the timeless quality of myth or fairy tale: Lugalbanda, the youngest prince of seven brothers, goes with them to war and has to be left behind in the mountains when he falls ill. He is helped, in return for kindness, by the magical and terrible Anzu bird, and carries a message to a goddess who decrees that good fortune will befall the army that preserves and does not destroy the beautiful city it conquers. Henderson’s retelling for children makes the most of the poetry and the celebration of senses and colours — such as honey and hot cakes, the sunrise over the mountains and scented white cedar. Ray’s emotive and delicate illustrations, full of decorative pattern and gilded detail, borrow from ancient Sumerian artefacts, and the whole handsomely produced book is a valuable reminder that Iraqi civilisation is much older than ours.

(Walker £12.99)

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