THE CLAY FLUTE

In a story originating in Sweden but set in Persia, a desert witch turns Abeli, a gifted young musician, into a monkey. In this form, he gradually rises in the world, finally playing his lute for the Caliph himself. The Caliph's daughter, at first charmed, grows weary of his music's sorrow, while the Caliph resents its power; it remains to a Bedouin's daughter to recognize the melody's beauty and restore Abeli with a kiss. Inspired by Persian miniatures and the rich hues and patterns of oriental carpets, Rehnman's attractive stylized illustrations nicely convey the pathos of the little musician's folk-like tale.