King Khosrow loves the finest things in life xurious food, richly colored rugs, lush gardens, and especially music. His court minstrel, Sarkash, is the best musician in the land, but a young singer named Barbad dreams of being the court musician himself, so he packs up his lutelike instrument and sets off to the city. Jealous Sarkash, worried about losing favor, blocks Barbad from even entering the palace, let alone playing for the king. Barbad is undeterred, however, and during the year he tries to meet the king, he befriends the gardener, who sneaks him into the king's verdant garden. Disguising himself by wearing green clothes and even painting his instrument to match the color of the leaves, Barbad hides in a tree and plays beautiful music that enchants the king, who then banishes Sarkash for his meddling. Based on a thousand-year-old Persian poem, Shahegh's retelling emphasizes the rewards of persistence and passion, and her author's note provides additional background about the tale. Ewart's warm, expressive watercolor illustrations add to the charmingly old-fashioned atmosphere.