In the Meadow of Fantasies

by

Translated from by

Published:

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By Hadi Mohammadi

Illustrated by Nooshin Safakhoo

Translated from the Persian by Sara Khalili

 

A young girl, who spends her day in bed and in a wheelchair, gazes up at a mobile of spinning horses. As she watches them prance about, the tufted snout of a real live horse peeks through her bedroom door. Soon enough, our protagonist is out and cantering on an adventure with seven majestic horses. The first six are easily understood: their colors, dreams, families, and origins are described and accompanied with exquisite drawings. The seventh horse, however, is an enigmatic creature with no clear hue or history, a lack that is soon filled in by the loving offerings of the other ponies. A story about dreaming and about caring for others, In the Meadow of Fantasies will stir reveries in young readers and conjure new fantasies of friendly creatures in far off lands.

Coming on November 2nd, 2021
This book was made possible with the generous support of the Jan Michalski Foundation.

Praise

  • When you pick up this book, you are holding something precious in your hands—a velvety, folkloric tale of seven horses and the young disabled girl who dreams of them from her bedroom. Of the seven sweet, beautiful horses, one is without a color, a home, a dream. But the other six horses share with the seventh, and everything is lovely, and the little girl is happy. Nooshin Safakhoo's breathtaking illustrations left me sighing in awe and contentment. A dream of a book!

  • Between the captivating art, the lyrical narration, and the fantastical story, readers will be swept away into a little girl's wonderland . . . In the Meadow of Fantasies is an ode to imagination and a celebration of beautiful creation.

  • This fantastical adventure draws readers in with lyrical text and mesmerizing illustrations. Each page turn reveals a new layer of fantasy . . . Deft composition pairs slightly rough, stonelike textures with exquisite details . . . Though the story is ultimately joyous, there’s an emotionally compelling sense of longing that thrums just under the surface.

  • Delicate pen-and-ink drawings filled with watercolor wash relate a dreamy story of a little girl confined to bed . . . The girl’s legs are encased in splints, but a spinning mobile of horses overhead provides comfort and diversion . . . I especially enjoyed the animals arrayed at a dinner table with plates of grass, each with their fanciful dreams erupting from the heads.

  • I was in love with Nooshin Safakhoo’s drawings from the first time I saw them. Every line she draws is hers and no one else’s.

  • Poetic language, repetitive phrasing and glorious illustrations evoke ancient Persian literature. This story about the value of generosity and sharing will appeal to young children today. Moreover, this is a delightful book to be savoured more than once.