The collection “Three Short Stories”, including “Red Apple of Susan”, “Yellow Train of Mazdak”, and “Blue Whistle of Sohrab”, written by Farhad Hassanzadeh, has been recently published by Astan Quds Razavi Publications with illustrations by Zahra Nabiei.
This book comprises three stories in which the author, using humor, aims to establish a connection with the readers.
The common thread in these stories, at first glance, is the color-coded titles: “Red Apple of Susan,” “Yellow Train of Mazdak,” and “Blue Whistle of Sohrab.” In each of these stories, the author creates childlike characters inspired by imaginations and adventures that might happen in real life, engaging children in household incidents. Through narrating captivating and instructive adventures, the book sheds light on kindness to animals, the importance of order and precision at home, and how to behave when encountering strangers.
“Red Apple of Susan” narrates the story of a kind girl named Susan who wants to help a worm that has lost its home, leading to interesting conversations between Susan and her mother about this adventure.
In “Yellow Train of Mazdak,” we encounter the intriguing story of a mischievous boy named Mazdak, who has no interest in tidying up his room. He experiences chaotic dreams due to the disorder in his room, which is filled with trains and toys.
“Sohrab’s Blue Whistle” is a didactic story about a simple and stubborn boy named Sohrab who receives a whistle from a stranger. He plays various roles such as a referee, swimming coach, and police officer with the whistle, creating disturbances for Sohrab’s family. However, the whistle unexpectedly helps them in a strange event.
In a section of this book and the story of “Yellow Train of Mazdak”, we read:
“The train, with a clattering sound like a wild horse, thundered on, destroying everything in its path. The dolls, who were on board the train, screamed and sought help. The gray bear clutched its face. The pink panther had turned red. Everyone shouted and said:” Stop … Stop…”
