The Magic Grove: A Persian Folktale
Grade 2-5 A beautifully illustrated retelling of a Persian folk tale about the rewards of good deeds. A farmer and a shepherd are delighted when their children marry and after some hard times are fortunate in finding a bag of gold. The farmer's son goes off to buy some trees to plant so that all can enjoy them, but on the way he meets a caravan taking some beautiful birds to be killed. He feels sorry for them so he buys them and sets them free. The family is sad about this use of the money, but they awaken to find that the birds have flown to their section of the savannah and have created a beautiful grove where the farmer's descendants will be free and protected forever. The story is told in a stilted form which may not hold the interest of children. The full-page illustrations that alternate with the text, however, are lovely and done in the vibrant but muted shades of the Middle East. In some cases they extend the text, such as in showing the first arrival of the Khan's horsemen. Lovely as it is, this may not be a necessary purchase for libraries unless there is a strong interest in Middle Eastern folklore. Margaret C. Howell, Capitol Hill Day Sch . Lib . , Washington, D.C.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.