The shade tree

K-Gr 3--A beautifully depicted parable about the cost of greed and the joys of generosity. A traveler comes upon a gorgeously green tree where the townspeople rest and play under its shade. The rich man that owns the land on which the tree stands demands everyone leave, until the traveler offers to pay for its shade. The greedy rich man agrees. As the day darkens and the shade lengthens, the traveler dances and jumps in the shade of his newly purchased tree. He eventually somersaults onto the rich man's property, completely covered now in the shade, and claims it as his. The outsmarted rich man begrudgingly leaves, and the traveler shares the shade with all of the townspeople. With spare, direct language Mixter's translation of Lee's retelling of a Korean tale of comeuppance is reminiscent of "The Emperor Has No Clothes," also a story centering a rich and foolish man. Lee's signature art with lots of white space and black silhouettes is the perfect fit for this narrative. The striking emerald green of the tree projects life and joy against the stark background, with the little black figures of the villagers prancing under it. As the sun sets, the tree and its shade are presented in a deep violet that spreads as the traveler pirouettes toward the rich man's great house in a three-page gatefold that adds to the story's dramatic effect. The shade is an active character in this work, and the traveler follows its lead. The impeccable design, striking illustrations, and effective page turns make this a book that readers, educators, and creators will admire. This would also be a perfect choice for language arts curricula. VERDICT This is a work of art that excels on many levels. Purchase for all picture bookshelves.--Shelley M. Diaz

A traveler attempts to rest in the shade of a tree. The traveler, along with several villagers, is soon driven off when the rich man who owns the land the tree sits on demands they leave his property. The traveler makes a deal with the rich man. Parting with all his money, he purchases the right to sit in the tree's shadow wherever it may land for as long as he wants. The rich man believes he's made some easy money, but as the day lengthens, so does the tree's shadow, allowing the traveler to reach unexpected places. Eventually he gets the better of the rich man and finds a way to allow all the villagers to share in his happiness. Abstract backgrounds and characters presented as silhouettes meld with the narrative, a retelling of a Korean folktale, to create a fairy tale--like mood. The eponymous tree features in nearly every illustration, and clever layouts and a dramatic gatefold demonstrate the true extent of its shade as the day goes on, making for a stunning dusk scene as the traveler literally dances along the shadow's length. 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. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A gorgeous fable celebrating generosity and wit. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.