There was no joy in Czar Ivan’s country. In spite of its crystalline waters, beautiful trees, and tall mountains, not to mention the ruler’s luxurious clothing and magnificent jewels, neither the czar nor his people were happy. One day, while crown prince Alexander was helping the wise man Nebal carry some books to the library, one of the volumes fell open. Alexander could not help reading some of the text on the pages that were revealed. They told the story of a hidden forest known as the Gem Forest. Intrigued by what he had read, he took the book to his room and decided to read it from start to finish. One of the nine stories it contained was entitled The Sesame Diamond. The word sesame—ajonjolí in Spanish—sounded familiar to him, and soon he realized that one of its synonyms—alegría—meant happiness. Realizing that this was just what the country needed, he decided it would be worthwhile to look for the Gem Forest and bring back a little happiness to his people. He told everyone about his plans, but one by one those he spoke to tried to discourage him. After all, it was just a legend. Nonetheless, Alexander was not willing to give up so easily.
This fantastic book combines delicately written text with magnificent illustrations that bring to life the rich detail of every scene. This deluxe edition is sure to be appreciated for its literary value as well as the quality of its beautiful artwork.
