The Shade Tree
Published on 7. September 2023
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-1-77840-018-6 (ISBN)
Description
From Hans Christian Andersen award winner Suzy Lee comes an inventive retelling of a Korean folk tale about a young traveler who outwits a rich, selfish man to ensure that villagers will always be able to rest in the shade of a magnificent tree.
"A gorgeous fable celebrating generosity and wit." -Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review
Villagers like to come to rest and cool down in the shade of a huge, old tree. But when a young traveler decides to join them one day, a rich man on whose land the tree stands demands they leave because he owns the tree and therefore its shade. Thinking fast, the traveler strikes a deal: one that will enable him to outsmart the rich man-and ensure that the villagers will always have access to the shade tree's shade, wherever it may fall.
With simple, elegant illustrations, The Shade Tree is a striking story about one person's quest to combat greed for the greater good.
An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids
"A gorgeous fable celebrating generosity and wit." -Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review
Villagers like to come to rest and cool down in the shade of a huge, old tree. But when a young traveler decides to join them one day, a rich man on whose land the tree stands demands they leave because he owns the tree and therefore its shade. Thinking fast, the traveler strikes a deal: one that will enable him to outsmart the rich man-and ensure that the villagers will always have access to the shade tree's shade, wherever it may fall.
With simple, elegant illustrations, The Shade Tree is a striking story about one person's quest to combat greed for the greater good.
An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids
Reviews / Votes
"Purchase for all picture bookshelves."-School Library Journal
"Captivating... a great choice for story sequencing and problem-resolution...would allow even pre-readers familiar with the story to follow along and re-tell it on their own."
-Children's Literature
"Children can learn much from this carefully constructed parable... The Shade Tree shows us that we can greatly enrich our lives by reaching out-and sharing."
-Quill & Quire
"Certain to resonate with young readers."
-Publishers Weekly
"Delicate paintwork... Suzy Lee uses spare language and illustration to retell a traditional Korean folktale."
-The Wall Street Journal
"Small but evocative artistic details continually reward re-readers... All the cleverer for its minimal depictions, this tale has maximal resonance as societies embrace collaborative solidarity and community care."
-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books review
"(A) thought-provoking volume about sharing, community and the undoing of selfishness."
-Youth Services Book Review, STARRED REVIEW
"The soothing cadence of the story paired with the simple but beautiful illustrations and amusing ending make for a calming and satisfying read, translated from Korean and reformatted for a North American audience. A gorgeous fable celebrating generosity and wit."
-Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Canada
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 4 to 10 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 253 mm
Width: 182 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
310 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77840-018-6 (9781778400186)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award winning illustrator SUZY LEE is a critically acclaimed, award-winning Korean picture book artist and illustrator. Her books include Mirror, Wave, and Shadow, which are known collectively as "The Border Trilogy."
HELEN MIXTER is a writer and the translator of several children's books, including the Governor General's Award-winning Harvey.
HELEN MIXTER is a writer and the translator of several children's books, including the Governor General's Award-winning Harvey.