THE SALT PRINCESS

In this retelling of a Pakistani folktale, a spirited princess teaches her father a lesson about love.

In the Kingdom of Zammarud, four princesses live with their father, the king, beneath “a sky studded with diamonds.” While the elder three are graceful models of conventional femininity, the fourth, Princess Amal, is mischievous, clumsy, and quick with a witty retort. One day, the king asks his daughters to describe their love for him. While the eldest princesses compare their affection for their father to sugar, honey, and sherbet, Amal says that her love is “as plain and simple as the salt on this table.” Humiliated that his daughter would so publicly compare him to “something as common as salt,” the king banishes Amal. After fleeing to the forest, Amal befriends a prince with “kind, worried eyes.” After the two fall in love and contemplate marriage, Amal decides to play a prank on her estranged father—one that might repair their relationship. In an author’s note, Syed explains that “The Salt Princess” has been retold by cultures all around the world; with her version, she wanted to grapple with the king’s desire for social approval—something common in many South Asian communities. Amal’s playfulness, wittiness, and independence come through clearly in Syed’s elegant prose, while her jewel-toned illustrations, surrounded by intricate borders or set against vivid backdrops, are a visual delight.

Breathes radiant new life into a classic story.