SION'S MISFORTUNE

A man loses his horse and gains wisdom to share in this import from China via India.

Inspired by a millennia-old Chinese folktale that gave rise to an enduring proverb, this picture book retells the story of Sion (pronounced “Sai Ong” and meaning “Old Man Sai”), a fortuneteller whose horse wanders across the border into enemy territory. Rather than dwelling on his loss, Sion ponders it as perhaps not a bad occurrence, and he is proven right when his horse returns some time later with more horses in tow. Sion’s characteristic openness to alternative interpretations of events and his tendency to reserve judgment baffle those around him, especially as he muses on his own son’s serious fall from a horse as possibly “a very good thing!” When enemy armies attack and most other young people are drafted into battle, Sion’s son is spared due to his broken leg, once again demonstrating that misfortunes—like blessings—are not always fixed or immutable. The lively illustrations use a mixture of Chinese painting styles and techniques in depicting characters, scenes, and landscapes. The varying layouts of spreads reinforce the story’s underlying concept of change-as-constant and help to pace the page turns for a stimulating read-aloud.

A philosophical tale cleverly highlighting the shifting nature of perspectives as they evolve over time.