7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #633: Featuring Farshid Mesghali
April 7th, 2019 by jules
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
Today I’m showcasing some artwork from Samad Behrangi’s The Little Black Fish, illustrated by Hans Christian Andersen Award winner Farshid Mesghali and first published in Persian in Iran in 1968. An English version was translated last year in the UK by Azita Rassi, and in mid-April a version will be on shelves here in the States (Tiny Owl Publishing).
When first published, as noted in a closing note in the book, the story was seen as an allegory “for a nation in which it was dangerous to dare to be politically different.” In fact, the book was banned in pre-revolutionary Iran. In the story, the titular fish dismisses his mother’s warnings about leaving the stream that is his world — and the world that belongs to his friends and family. The Little Black Fish is curious and longs for more. “I don’t want to spend my life swimming up and down and around,” he tells his mother, “and then grumbling that there isn’t anything more to life.”
When he does venture out past the stream, he ends up in the river and, ultimately, the ocean. This story is about the creatures he meets along the way, the advice he is given, and the dangers he faces, including a pelican and then the dark stomach of a seabird. The story is told by a grandmother fish to her many grandchildren and even ends on an open-ended note, the elderly fish telling the over eleven thousand fish she’s entertaining that the fish’s fate is the subject of a story for another night. Evidently, the book, this tale of breaking away from what is expected by one’s family and community, is considered the most famous children’s book in Iran. Here are some more spreads. (Note: The text in the UK version, which is what I have, varies slightly from the U.S. version, pictured here.)
making him start with a splash.”
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
the wider and wider the stream became. …”
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
A very tiny little fish was curled in a corner, crying.”
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
(Click to enlarge and read text in its entirety)
THE LITTLE BLACK FISH. First published in Persian in 1968 by Kanoun Parvaresh Fekri, Tehran, Iran. This edition published by Tiny Owl Publishing Ltd in 2017. Translated by Azita Rassi. Illustrations © Nazar Publisher. The moral right of Samad Behrangi to be identified as the author and Farshid Mesghali as the illustrator has been asserted. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher.
Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.
1) Lunch with a friend yesterday.
2) And it was a new (to me) café.
3) Watching some episodes of Cheers with the girls.
4) Listening to Marc Maron’s interview this week with the producer T-Bone Burnett, who used to produce Sam Phillips’ albums (and used to be married to her). She’s my favorite, and I mostly listened to see if he’d mention her (though that man has some great stories to tell about music and should write a memoir). And he did mention her. He praised her songwriting skills. But of course. She is the fifth Beatle.
5) My girls’ impressive abilities to pun.
6) Finding out that a dear friend of mine (and a fabulous librarian) was named Metro’s Librarian of the Year (Metro, as in Metro Nashville Public Schools). So well-deserved!
7) Counting down …
What are YOUR kicks this week?
Thank you for showcasing this book. I think it’s stunning in art work and its message, just wow.
Jules, are you counting down for summer break? A super surprise? You last kick is a mystery.
My kicks:
1. Spring-break-not-spring-break week. Now that I’m retired…no official spring break. I treated it as if it were spring break.
2. A day with college friends…tulip fields, lunch, dinner, laughter.
3. A drive to the coast for lunch.
4. Poetry prompts from Two Sylvias Press. They are so fun.
5. Bread making class with Chuck.
6. Michael Bublé concert. (beyond expectations)
7. The trillium I planted last year bloomed. (See Sunday Solace this week for a photo)
Have a great week.
Jone, counting down to a trip AND to summer. (My girls are ready for school to end, and it’s not THAT much longer.) … I like your plan of action in your first kick. Such good kicks. You’re living the good life. … I will go look up your photo.
Hello, Imps! Hello, Farshid! Hello, fish!
Jules: High-fives to your witty daughters! T Bone produced Sara Bareilles’ brand-new album.
Jone: Here’s to music, flowers, and friends.
My kicks from the past week:
1) Hydration
2) Reading
3) Pacing
4) Simplifying
5) Assured
6) Music
7) Considered
Gorgeous illustrations and wonderful story.
Jules -hooray for lunch with a friend, your punny girls, and T-Bone Burnett.
Jone – a drive to the coast is such a wonderful kick, as is the Michael Buble concert – looked like it was a great concert!
LW – love kicks 4 and 6 this week.
My fly by kicks:
Work has been hectic and nonstop, so looking forward to things slowing down a bit soonish.
And Daisy being her sweet silly self – always a kick.
Have a great week everyone!
LW: I love number 1. Trying to be mindful of hydration and number 2 Reading, always reading.
Rachel: Daisy is a sweetie, I hope the week slows.
Amazing illustrations! Thank you for sharing. I meant to send this yesterday, but got distracted by Easter egg madness.
My kicks include:
1. Super cute Easter egg hunt for kiddos in our neighborhood yesterday
2. beautiful new picture book biographies
3-7. spring break for both my Littles for 2 weeks. Laying low.
Hope all are well.
Here I am! It was a busy Sunday and then a busy Monday.
Little Willow: Yes, I read that about Sara’s new album! I haven’t heard it yet. Have you?
Rachel: At least work is fulfilling for you. But I do hope you get a breather soon.
Allison, enjoy the down time of Spring Break!
Have a good week, dear kickers.
[…] book blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast have featured our classic tale The Little Black Fish! Read the review […]
[…] book blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast have featured The Little Black Fish! Find out more about this classic children’s book and the […]
[…] Ltd and translated by Azita Rassi. I highly recommend that you check out Jules Danielson’s blog post on the book, which includes copious internal spreads. She also gives you background information on why the book […]
[…] Ltd and translated by Azita Rassi. I highly recommend that you check out Jules Danielson’s blog post on the book, which includes copious internal spreads. She also gives you background information on why the book […]
[…] Ltd and translated by Azita Rassi. I highly recommend that you check out Jules Danielson’s blog post on the book, which includes copious internal spreads. She also gives you background information on why the book […]