"The rich man went home with a big
smile on his face.
The traveler invited the villagers to come
and rest. "Now that the shade is mine, you
can lie here whenever you want," he said.
And the villagers thanked him and happily
relaxed."
Suzy Lee creates such fabulous books! I am in awe of her storytelling and her brilliant art.
This story begins with a traveler seeking shade under a large tree. The sun is hot, the shade is cool; the traveler sees that the villagers stop in the tree's shade to rest. As the traveler prepares to join them, there is a hue and cry from a seemingly rich and powerful man. He insists that everyone leave as the tree is on his land; therefore, the shade is his!
The traveler is surprised to hear that shade has an owner. The owner is adamant, and lies down beneath the tree. The traveler is willing to buy the shade. Being greedy, the owner sees a chance to make more money. He accepts all the money the traveler has to offer. The deal is done. At the traveler's invitation, the villagers return to enjoy the cool, and the traveler explains that they can sit in the shade whenever they like. After all, it is his now.
At sunset, the shadows grow longer and longer. Ms. Lee's gatefold of the traveler cavorting from the tree to the rich man's garden is delightful. The man's response is as expected; he is furious. The traveler's calm reminder of what the man has promised leaves the rich man with no option ... except to eventually move away from the tree and the shade it provides.
Character silhouettes and the ever-present tree and its shade match the storytelling at every turn. A lovely retelling of a Korean folktale. Stellar!
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