The Tale of the Tiger Slippers

In a graphically sumptuous tale, Brett (The Mitten) puts her own creative hallmark on a Persian folktale, “Abu Kassem’s Slippers.” The mother of a bighearted Bengal tiger stitches him a pair of slippers to spare his feet as he works tirelessly around their makeshift home under a banyan tree. Her pledge that the shoes “will protect and guide you” proves true: while wearing them, the tiger spies a bank of white clay, which he molds into bricks to build a house for his mother, later making his fortune constructing clay structures “all over the land,” including a beautiful edifice for his future bride. Brett’s understated narrative belies the opulence of her watercolor and gouache paintings, which feature detailed images of elegantly clad animals, lush vegetation, and the tiger’s arresting architecture (including the diminutive tabernacle he builds as a final resting spot for his enchanted slippers). Gemstones and intricate patterns adorn Brett’s signature sidebar art and borders, capping off this visual extravaganza, whose pièce de résistance is a peacock fanning dazzling plumage. A richly imagined tale of love, diligence, and kindness rewarded. Ages 4–8. [em](Sept.) [/em]