THE MAGIC CALLALOO

An Afro-Caribbean retelling of “Rapunzel.”

“Long, long, ago, somewhere far, far, away,” in a small village, a callaloo plant grants wishes to those who eat its leaves. A tan-skinned “greedy, selfish man” steals the plant and makes many wishes, accumulating a huge farm, as well as a barbed wire fence and snakes and a dragon to guard the callaloo. Meanwhile, Mister and Missus, a Black couple unable to have children, make their way to the wicked man’s abode on the advice of a wise old woman. They eat the last leaf from the withered plant and finally have a baby girl, Lou, who has “luscious Afro curly locks.” Seeking revenge, the wicked man kidnaps Lou and forces her to work for him. Many years pass, and the wise old woman offers to braid Lou’s hair after years of neglect. A map forms through the braids on Lou’s head, which aids her in her eventual return to her parents. Cooke’s narrative is lengthy yet absorbing and, along with Bass’ colorful, swirly gouache illustrations, evokes the oral storytelling style of classic fairy tales through repetition. In an author’s note, Cooke explains how she drew inspiration from the stories of enslaved Africans who used similar hairstyles as means to escape.

A vibrant, culturally specific look at a classic fairy tale.