The Secret Message - Hardcover

Javaherbin, Mina

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1423110447 ISBN 13: 9781423110446

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH, 2010

Synopsis

Alone, imprisoned in a golden cage, and far from the jungles of home, a parrot longs to escape. Will he ever fly free again?

Based on a poem by the ancient Persian philosopher Rumi, The Secret Message is a funny story of surprising twists, powerful solidarity, exotic travels, and a simple wish fulfilled. This witty tale, told with humor and vibrant images, will enchant young readers as it introduces them to the culture, literature, and history of Persia.

About this title

About the Author

MINA JAVAHERBIN (minajavaherbin.com) was born in Iran and has studied the literature, architecture, and history of Persia extensively. She is the author of the picture book Goal, illustrated by A.G. Ford. Ms. Javaherbin lives and writes in California.

BRUCE WHATLEY is one of Australia's best-loved and most-respected author illustrators, with more than fifty books to date, many of which earned special honors from the Children's Book Council of Australia. His books include the enormously successful and award-winning Diary of a Wombat, written by Jackie French, and its companion volumes, The Secret World of Wombats and How to Scratch a Wombat.

Reviews

K-Gr 3–Javaherbin retells a story taken from an ancient Persian poem, “Parrot and the Merchant,” by Jalaledin Rumi. It is the tale of a wealthy merchant who keeps a parrot in his shop whose colorful feathers, singing, and talking attract many customers. When the merchant travels to India on a shopping trip, he promises to bring something home for each family member, including the parrot, whose unusual request leads to his own freedom. Colorful cartoon-style acrylic artwork shows people in traditional dress and brightly colored birds and reinforces the capably written storytelling. Whatley includes touches of humor in several of the illustrations. While this is not an essential purchase, it offers an interesting twist that could lead to a discussion of the meaning of freedom.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This handsome picture book’s intriguing title will grab children, and they won’t be disappointed with the twists in both story and message. A Persian merchant keeps a talking parrot that attracts crowds to his market store, and vibrant, uncluttered acrylic paintings show the large bird locked behind bars in a golden cage. When the merchant prepares for a buying trip to India, he kindly asks his pet what gift he might like from the place that had once been the parrot’s home. What the bird wants most is just to let his family and friends know that he misses them and remembers their life together. When the merchant talks with the wild Indian parrots and tells them about his pet, which now lives in a “beautiful” cage, the birds play a trick that eventually sets the merchant's parrot free. Both the richly detailed scenes and story reversals will draw a young audience. In an author’s note, Iranian-born Javaherbin discusses her story’s roots in Rumi’s poem “The Parrot and the Merchant.” Preschool-Grade 3. --Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1423110447
• ISBN 13: 9781423110446
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Whatley Bruce
• Number of pages: 32