A handsome 11 1/4" x 10 1/4" volume combines an internationally respected African-American opera star's retelling of the opera narrative which, she states, has given her "great inspiration onstage and off." In a storyteller's note at the end of the book, Ms. Price cites the qualities she admires in the Ethiopian Princess who "was my best friend operatically and was a natural for me because my skin was my costume." These qualities include Aida's "deep devotion and love for her country and people - her nobility, strength and courage..." They are expressed in the Dillons' rich colors, dramatic costumings of characters, inventive stagings of action and multiple uses of ancient Egyptian images. The tragic enslavement central to the opera is not romanticized, although the story contains romantic elements. Traditional typography combined with the elegance of contemporary book design and production complement the Dillons' contemporary illustrative style. Winner, 1990 CCBC Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration Book Discussion. (Ages 7-14)

With depth and understanding, acclaimed diva Leontyne Price retells this famous opera about the beautiful princess of Ethiopia. “The Dillons magnificently capture the drama with powerful full-page illustrations that resemble stage sets. . . . Ideal for reading aloud during an Egyptian unit, in music classes, to children attending the opera, or for the pure aesthetic experience.”--Booklist