This book was first published in 1964 and now, after 50 years, we have the opportunity to read it in Basque.
This initial data is important, since in this type of books today techniques are used to seduce color, large images and eyes, to fascinate the sense of view. This work by Shel Silverstein has no color, is made in black and white and the image is represented by simple drawings and strokes.
The love story between a tree and a child is what the generous tree shows us: “Once upon a time there was a tree… a child he loved. And the boy came every day and gathered his leaves to form with them crowns and become the king of the forest. The boy climbed through his trunk and swung in his branches and ate his apples.” As you can see in the first pages of the book, the protagonists are the tree and the child, their relationship is what the narrator tells us. How they live happily together, how they play each other.
The child, however, comes, stops visiting the tree, playing with it and only remembers it when he needs it. The tree will then give him his fruits. Then he will give him branches to make a house; later on it will be the trunk that the aged guy takes to sail… until the tree is nothing more than an old trunk. Even then, the grandfather, who over time has become a young man, a man and an old man, the friend of the tree will accompany him.
Silverstein's story is moving, a story like that of Oscar Wilde's Happy Prince, in which, as in that case, love will be the basis of all events.
Through brief and simple conversations; using short sentences, the author – thanks to communication between text and image – takes us through history to admire his love with every sacrifice of the tree and to suffer for his pain. However, the human being, without realizing it, takes everything, endangering his partner, the tree, and bringing his death closer.
This story can be a reflection about consumerism in our society, about consumerism that was predicted 50 years ago. But above all, it is a story about love and friendship; the happy Prince gave his golden skin and, finally, his eyes to help the poor. The tree gives everything to her friend. Also a place to rest at the end. For the two to end together as at the beginning. “I don’t need much now,” the youth said. Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I'm very tired. ‘Good,’ the tree said, while getting as timid as possible. Well, this old stump is suitable for sitting and resting. Come, Chico, sit down and rest – and that’s what the boy did.”
Shel Silverstein
Ilustrazioak: Shel Silverstein
Itzultzailea: Manu López Gaseni
Pamiela, 2015
60 orrialde
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