Short Tales: The Sultan’s Perfect Tree

“The Sultan’s Perfect Tree” is another jewel from Jane Yolan’s library of modern fairy tales. A short story of about 16 pages, the book is about a beloved sultan who likes things to be just perfect. Orderly. Beautiful. Symmetrical. Perfect. In his mind, the perfectly shaped form, from the beautiful servants waiting on him down to the unblemished fruit served  on his golden platter, is the only form of life worthy of his consideration. However, this wouldn’t be a fairy tale if fate didn’t have other plans.

One autumnal day, a tree planted in the center of the Sultan’s symmetrically designed garden loses its leaves on one side because of a strong gust of wind. The tree, planted by the Sultan’s wise grandfather, is in his direct line of  vision, and so loses its perfection and and status. Thus begins the Sultan’s journey, in his quest to replace the imperfect tree with a perfect, albeit static, tree that can change with the seasons, to learn the true difference between perfection and imperfection. He is adroitly and subtly aided in his quest by a young serving girl who has not had the opportunity to become a perfectly behaved servant. Read that to mean one who can still think for herself and thus still has individualism, spunk and brains.

Illustrated by Barbara Garrison, The drawings are etched onto the pages, giving them a medieval, two dimensional feel reminiscent of mogul paintings from the sub-continent. Gentle splashes of color are spread throughout the paintings in an array of subdued tints creating a rather majestic and medieval presence. And the character’s expressions are so wonderfully expressive(!!!) that you smile each time you turn the page! Check out the library and see for yourselves!

Short Tales: The Girl Who Loved The Wind

I have discovered a new love of illustrated children’s books. Short stories, encased in hard cover and liberally drawn. Full of age-old wisdom, sweet and gentle humor, beautiful pictures and poetically simple sentences. Online formats will not do them justice; these books beg to be held and gazed at slowly and reverently, read aloud softly and intimately to yourself, your child or to your entire family.

I discovered these “short tales” as part of my rite of passage – I was at the library with my son was looking for books to read to him at night, and I stumbled upon the children’s fairy tales section. A whole new world opened and I was soon choosing books for myself instead! I still read them at night, but I will be honest when I say that only some of them appealed to him. It didn’t matter – I still read it aloud to my husband and enjoyed them on my own. I’ve decided to share this series of “short tales” with you in the hopes that these books will not be forgotten. Here goes!

The idea for the series came to me with my third short tale: “The Girl Who Loved the Wind.” This out-of-print book by Jane Yolan is gorgeously illustrated and allegorically composed. It is about a girl with an overprotective father. He wants her to see and feel only happiness and good things, so he builds her an elaborate cocoon at the edge of the sea, constantly surrounded by servants who are ordered to look happy in young girl’s presence. This superficial haven is all she knows. But then, life slips in: a strong and vivacious wind blows into her home and into her mind. He sweeps in and out of her life on a whim, simultaneously taunting and tantalizing her about the world outside. And, because this is a fairy tale, she falls in love with him and breaks free.

Accompanying this fable are a set of illustrations that belong in an Ottoman palace. Ed Young, the illustrator, has recreated Persian and Moghul miniatures, imbuing them with an Arabian Nights quality. They are detailed, colorful and authentic. You can gave at the pictures forever and still be humbled at their magical qualities.

Sadly, this book is out-of-print, so it is very difficult for me to add it to my bookshelf. But I am thankful that my local library has a copy and knows how much I love it. Go and find this book. Pick it off the bookshelf and look at it. It will be a treasure.