《哈梅林的魔笛手》发生在1283年的德国北部。圣诞节快到了，镇上的人正准备庆祝节日时，这个时候泛滥成灾的老鼠干扰了他们的日常生活。市长宣布了一项看似简单的提议：谁能把这些老鼠赶出城就能获得一千枚金币。一个叼着小烟斗的陌生人引诱老鼠穿过了城门，但是市长却拒绝给他奖赏，他受到了不公平的待遇，这个时候故事发生了意想不到的的转折。

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is set in the north of Germany in the year 1283.   It is nearly Christmas and the townspeople are ready to celebrate when a rodent infestation interrupts their everyday lives. The mayor announces a seemingly straightforward proposition: rid the town of the rats and be given one thousand gold coins.   A stranger with a small pipe entices the rats beyond the town gates, but when he is unfairly denied his reward, the story takes an unexpected turn.

Fictional or historical, the medieval legend of the Pied Piper has long-fascinated generations of readers with its swarm of rats drawn away by a cloaked stranger and his magical melodies. Now, the beloved tale is given new life with Thomas Baas’ contemporary illustrations in a vibrantly dark palette of blues and reds. The mysterious tale helps teach and reinforce the importance of keeping one’s word and the consequences of broken promises.