The Shady Tree

by Demi, Demi (Illustrator)

Overview

A beautiful companion to Demi's classic The Empty Pot.
In this new Chinese fable, Ping returns and deals with the selfish and greedy Tan Tan, who owns a beautiful house and a beautiful shady tree, but who does not share. Ping turns Tan Tan's greed into his own gain, but even with his new-found wealth, Ping is true to his generous nature—there is room for everyone. Simply told and beautifully illustrated, The Shady Tree is sure to become a classic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627797696
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/25/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	393,312
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Demi is the author and illustrator of many well-loved books for children, including The Empty Pot, Liang and His Magic Paintbrush, and Buddha Stories. She lives in Washington state.

Editorial Reviews

08/29/2016
Acclaimed for her elegantly illustrated picture-book biographies, Demi revisits another of her signature genres—Chinese folktales—in this graceful story of generosity trumping selfishness. Tan Tan, a “very rich boy” with exquisitely embroidered clothing and a chronic scowl, lives in an imposing house, playing by himself with his “very expensive toys” underneath a nearby tree. When he finds a “very poor boy” named Ping, previously seen in Demi’s The Empty Pot (1990), enjoying the shade of the tree one day, an outraged Tan Tan insists that he owns the tree, but agrees to sell Ping its shade. Ping then follows the shade wherever it goes, including inside Tan Tan’s home, inviting his human and animal friends indoors as well, and eventually forcing Tan Tan out of the house entirely. Demi replicates the simplicity and directness of her storytelling in lovely mixed-media pictures that feature miniature-scaled images, framed by unadorned circular borders, drawing clear contrasts between the boys’ temperaments, and between the showy mansion and the simple pleasures offered by the tree. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

The Shady Tree:

"Demi retells a Chinese folktale using artistic elements that reflect the story’s culture. . . . Pair with The Little Tree That Would Not Share (2016), by Nicoletta Costa, for another way to be reminded of the virtues and joy of sharing." —Booklist


The Empty Pot:

"A beautifully crafted book that will be enjoyed as much for the richness of its illustrations as for the simplicity of its story." -School Library Journal

Florence Nightingale:

"Students will linger on each page, soaking in the details and seeing connections with modern-day practices that were inspired by Nightingale's tireless work. Demi's attention to detail and thorough descriptions make this biography one to own." -School Library Journal

"A lovely picture book celebrating the Lady with the Lamp." -Booklist

From the Publisher

2016-07-26
A poor boy tricks a rich one into selling the shade of his tree.Demi returns with another Chinese-inspired tale rendered in her distinct, meticulous watercolors. Tan Tan is a rich boy who lives in a big house shaded by a large tree. One day he spots Ping, a poor boy, sitting under the tree’s branches and declares he owns all of the tree—including its shade. Ping tricks greedy Tan Tan into selling him its shade. Much to Tan Tan’s dismay, Ping and his friends (both animal and human) sit in the tree’s shade wherever it lands: on Tan Tan’s bed and even at his birthday party. Frustrated, Tan Tan abandons his home to move into one with no tree, no shade—and no friends. Ping invites his friends to move into the empty house with him and soon accepts Tan Tan’s return with open arms. Like a folk tale, Demi’s story presents a bad-versus-good scenario with no gray in between. While Tan Tan’s selfishness is hardly admirable, trickster Ping cheerfully takes advantage of their agreement. When Tan Tan’s return is accepted without explanation or apology, readers can’t tell whether this was Ping’s plan all along or whether he just had a sudden change of heart. Demi’s paintings are framed in large medallions on every page, her palette contrasting Tan Tan’s red-and-gold outfit to Ping’s simple white one. An oversimplified tale of greed and generosity. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Review