More than a hundred years before Marco Polo's travels, Benjamin of Tudela journeyed from his home in Spain through France, Italy, Egypt, Greece, Constantinople, Syria, Persia, and Babylon to reach his primary destination: Jerusalem. Drawing upon decades of writing and illustrating for children, Uri Shulevitz - through the first-person narration of his protagonist - captures the excitement and sense of wonder that Benjamin of Tudela experienced throughout his 14-year expedition. Sidebars relay factual information about related subjects, such as the Crusades and the ancient city of Baghdad. To add to the experience, a map included in the front of the book helps readers follow the journey.

Intricately painted, the book contains page after page of glorious panoramas. More than anything, Shulevitz's illustrations, with their pictorial detail, will have children seeing something new with each read. Turning the pages is like opening a series of jewel boxes, so rich in color is the artwork. Adults will learn, too, about history, geography, and the remarkable traveler of a thousand years ago.