A WEAVE OF WORDS: An Armenian Tale Retold
by Robert D. San Souci
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
Orchard Books, 1998
[Ages 5-8] hardcover
ISBN 0-531-30053-6

When Prince Vachagan meets the weaver's daughter, Anait, he feels certain that she will marry him. After all, he is rich and powerful. But Anait wants more. "When you can read and write, and learn a trade," she tells him, "I will be satisfied."

Vachagan proves himself equal to the task. He learns to read and write, and to weave rugs as lovely as Anait's. In return, she learns how to ride and use a sword, and together they rule the kingdom.

But their fortunes turn when Vachagan is taken prisoner by a horrible three-headed dev. Only then do he and Anait understand the full importance of their newfound skills, as they use them to be reunited with each other.

Together, master storyteller Robert D. San Souci and gifted artist Raúl Colón weave a tale of adventure, love, and wisdom sure to capture the imagination.

Robert D. San Souci is a graduate of St. Mary's College in Moraga, California, and is also a native of the state. His books include THE WHITE CAT, illustrated by Gennady Spirin, THE TALKING EGGS, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, and THE FAITHFUL FRIEND, illustrated by Brian Pinkney -- the latter two titles are Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honor Books.

Raúl Colón knew at an early age that he wanted to be an artist. "Ever since I can remember," he says, "I've had a pencil and piece of paper in my hand." His work now appears regularly in the NEW YORKER, BUSINESS WEEK, the NEW YORK TIMES, and other publications, and he has illustrated several books for young readers. MY MAMA HAD A DANCING HEART by Libba Moore Gray, which he illustrated, was named a NEW YORK TIMES Best Illustrated Book.

Mr. Colón lives in New City, New York.

Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Ages 6-9. While hunting in the forest, Prince Vachagan meets and falls in love with Anait, a weaver's daughter, who refuses to marry him because he can neither read nor write nor make his living by his hands. Taking her words to heart, the prince shuns his lazy palace ways, earning her hand by learning to read and write, and weave a beautiful carpet. Years later, those skills enable Queen Anait to find and save King Vachagan after he is captured and imprisoned by a monstrous, three-headed dev. Drawn from many sources of Armenian folklore, the story weaves strong characters, an adventurous plot, and underlying wisdom into a fabric as beautiful as the carpet King Vachagan weaves to save his life. Rich with subtle colors and strong composition, Colon's textured paintings create a fantasy world that reflects the tale's subtlety and its dramatic force. Readers tired of princes rescuing princesses will have the added pleasure of seeing a queen rescue her beloved king. A fine picture book to read aloud. Carolyn Phelan

From Kirkus Reviews , January 15, 1998
0-531-33053-2 From San Souci (Nicholas Pipe, 1997, etc.), a blending of a handful of Armenian folktales into one story that can be filed under plain old good advice, ornately illustrated by Coln. In days of yore, there was a prince by the name of Vachagan, a good but uneducated man, both rich and powerful. Out hunting one day, he happens across Anait, daughter of a weaver, possessed of a quick wit, ready laugh, good sense, great beauty, and magic in her fingers when at the loom. The prince proposes, Anait demurs; she will not marry a man who cannot read nor write, nor earn a living with his hands: ``Times change,'' she notes. ``A king may become a servant.'' Vachagan gets down to the task, learns to read and write, and learns a craft: weaving. The two are wed and become king and queen, living happily until Vachagan goes to investigate trouble in the eastern provinces of their kingdom and falls into the hands of a horrific three-headed dev. Coln's etched watercolors, shadowy and talismanic, ably support this tale of love and sapience and derring-do, which San Souci tells with perfect pacing and alluring imagery. (Picture book/folklore. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.