The Parrot and the Merchant (Tales By Rumi)

Based on a short tale from Masnavi, a collection of stories written by the 13th-century poet Rumi, this fablelike lesson teaches that true happiness can sometimes be achieved by doing something that will bring joy and love to another being. Mah Jahan travels to places "far and wide, buying and selling beautiful things." For herself, she collects beautiful birds that she keeps caged or chained so they cannot fly away. As she prepares for a business trip to India, she asks her many servants and her favorite talking parrot what gifts she can bring them. While the servants ask for tangible gifts, the bird requests only some advice from its Indian friends that might help to cure the sadness that comes from missing them. Vafaeian has illustrated the tale in a folk art style with joyful quiltlike patterns in somewhat subdued blues, greens, reds, and browns on clothing and birds set against crisp white pages. The servants, both humans and camels, painted in shades of pale tan and gray, appear flat, ghostly, and grim. Mah Jahan is, oddly, one-eyed until she begins to understand that freedom can bring happiness. VERDICT Rumi's story, briefly and beautifully presented, carries a profound lesson that invites discussion.-Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH

"This poignant story is based on the fable by Rumi, a thirteenth century Persian poet, philosopher and mystic. It is a timeless tale about freedom and true love - setting free what you hold most dear - that is still just as relevant today. Award-winning Iranian illustrator Marjan Vafaian has brought a very modern twist to this ancient fable by casting a woman as the merchant. The illustrations look like a rich tapestry, with a mix of beautiful birds, fabrics and strange human characters that seem to cleverly emphasise the sense of captivity versus freedom in a metaphorical way." - Outside In World

"The Parrot and the Merchant is a beautiful retelling of a Rumi fable in clear language that is accessible to even the youngest of readers. The story, like many of the best stories, is simple, but it conveys an important, timeless message about love and freedom. And Marjan Vafaian's illustrations are magnificently different, unlike any artwork I have experienced before." - Planet Picture Book

"Exquisite, jewel-like illustrations grace every page of this thought-provoking retelling of the ancient fable from the pen of 13th C poet/philosopher Rumi. Gloriously visualised by Marjan Vafaian who has made the merchant a woman, it tells of said merchant, named Mah Jahan who collects and cages beautiful birds for her own pleasure, and one particular bird, her favourite an Indian parrot. A parrot that is able to talk." - Red Reading Hub