The Secret of the Tattered Shoes

Gr 1-5–A soldier, tired and jaded from all he has seen and done, happens upon a kind and mysterious woman in the woods. He tells her his story and she tells him of a king, his 12 daughters, and a mystery: Although the princesses are locked up at night, they greet each morning exhausted, their shoes in tatters. But why? The king has offered a great reward (a bride) to the individual who can solve the mystery. However, the king has also promised a great consequence (death) to those who should try and fail. Feeling he has nothing to lose, the world-weary soldier attempts to solve the mystery. To this point, the tale stays true to the original, known more conventionally as “The 12 Dancing Princesses.” But when the successful suitor is offered his reward, he leaves to pursue love instead of wealth, by seeking out the woman in the forest. Each full-bleed spread features the intricately detailed panels of Abdollahi’s signature style, which showcases the characters almost as Byzantine marionettes, acting out their roles. The handcrafted paper collages feature a rich array of color and form.