KING WINTER'S BIRTHDAY

Hooray! It’s King Winter’s birthday!

King Winter wants only one thing: to celebrate with his siblings, all monarchs devoted to the various seasons, whom he hasn’t seen since childhood. They convene at King Winter’s home to feast, lovingly depicted in a warm, vibrant spread full of food and flora. With all the seasons in one place, however, chaos ensues outside the icy fortress. Leaves and plants quickly bloom and wither away, confused animals are unsure when to hibernate, and conflicting weather patterns cause both too much water in some parts of the world and not enough in others. After realizing that their reunion is the cause of the pandemonium, the siblings quickly disperse and things go back to normal. Though King Winter realizes that he and his loved ones can’t be together, he’s comforted by the memories of their gathering. Inspired by an original fairy tale written by author Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz while fleeing persecution from Nazi Germany, Freedland tells a straightforward but complex story that speaks to both the inevitable changing of the seasons and the extenuating life circumstances that keep many families apart despite their love for each other; this is a much-needed tale in today’s world. Sutton’s intricate art showcases vast landscapes, affected by the monarchs’ celebration. King Winter and Queen Spring are pale-skinned; King Summer and Queen Autumn are dark-skinned.

A modern fairy tale that speaks to our unsettled times.