The Tale of the Tiger Slippers

July 1, 2019
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.

August 1, 2019
A retelling of a Persian folktale substituting tigers for people. A tiger cub lives in a stately home built by its father. In the center of the vast gardens there is a fountain that, to the surprise of the tiger cub's friends, contains a pair of worn-out slippers. When the cub's friends ask why the slippers are there, the tiger's father explains that when he was younger, he and his mother were impoverished. His mother--the tiger cub's grandmother--made the slippers for him as an act of love. As the tiger grew older, wealthier, and more successful, he was repeatedly told that his worn, old slippers were not appropriate for his new station in life. Although he agreed, no matter how many times he tried to get rid of his slippers, they always managed to find a way back to him. Eventually, the tiger's uncle helps him find a way to keep his slippers--and his memories of his past--without sacrificing his future. Done in Brett's signature, paneled style, the book's illustrations, while vibrant, read more like Western picture-book illustrations than the Mughal miniature style the author claims as her inspiration. Furthermore, although they are beautifully detailed, at times, the number of panels makes the pages feel crowded. The text is well paced, but Brett's choice to retell the folktale using animals instead of people comes across as exoticizing at a time when the current Indian government is systematically erasing Muslim, particularly Mughal, history. It's pretty, but it falls far short of authenticity. (Picture book. 3-5)

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October 1, 2019

K-Gr 2-Brett's latest foray into the world of folklore has readers following a self-made tiger and the slippers that he reverently displays. Though worn and old, the red embroidered slippers were a gift from his mother when they were poor. As the young cub built his wealth, the footwear endured throughout his labors. But after attaining new status, others questioned their appropriateness. Time and time again, he tried to throw them away, and yet, they always came back. Eventually, thanks to his son, who narrates the enveloping narrative, the tiger realizes the inherent lesson in this. You can't throw away your past. That self may no longer be who you are, but it is a part of you, which should be treasured. Brett's retelling of the Persian tale, "Abu Kassem's Slippers," doesn't strictly adhere to the most recognized version, especially in terms of the character. Additionally, this one specifically sets itself in a Mughal court. The lavish textiles and swooping architecture of ancient India look fantastic in this illustrator's finely drawn style. As usual, readers will find a world full of geographically relevant animals living their lives within her triptychs. VERDICT Brett continues to be one of the most revered retellers of classic tales. An automatic purchase for most libraries.-Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.

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