Children's Book Reviews, 5 and up

[Wendy E. Betts]

THE WEB ONLINE REVIEW ISSN 1072-6020
An electronic journal of book reviews. Copyright 1994 Wendy E. Betts.
Reproduction for personal and non-profit use is permitted only if this
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Vol. 2, No. 44 Picture Books, ages 5 and up 4/26/94

__ The Princess and the Lord of Night_ by Emma Bull. Illustrated by
Susan Gaber. Jane Yolen Books, 1994 (0-15-263543-2) $14.95

Good original fairy tales are in short supply, so lovers of the genre
will relish this enjoyable and well-told tale about a princess with a
most unusual curse upon her: if she ever wants something she can't
have, her kingdom will be ruined and her parents will die. When the
princess wakes up on her thirteenth birthday and discovers herself
wanting something, she resolves for once to go out and get it for
herself. And so she does, in a most thoughtful and delightful way.

Bull's strong feel for the language and conventions of fairy tales
makes this story comfortably at home in the genre, while still
decidedly new and fresh. The Renaissance-inspired illustrations
were a little disappointing at first glance, but after several
readings, they definitely grew on me; although not as stunning as those
Gaber did for _Zeee_ (reviewed volume 1, number 23) they are attractively
romantic without being overpoweringly lush.

__ The Cat, the Crow, and the Banyan Tree_ by Penelope Lively.
Illustrated by Terry Milne. Candlewick, 1994 (1-56402-325-7) $14.95

What's it like to _really_ get lost inside a story? That depends on
the teller, of course, as a cat and a crow discover when they tell
each other two "extra special stories," starring themselves. The
cat, who tells stories that are "elegant and entertaining," draws the
crow into her story through a secret stair in the Banyan tree, up to
the mountains of the moon, where they can look at "the beginning of
the story" through a telescope. Next the crow, who tells stories that
are "fast and furious," carries the cat through a fantastic chase from
all manner of strange beings. Finally they see the end of the crow's
story - or do they?

This intriguingly self-referential book has some enchanting moments,
but is curiously unsuccessful: it is _about_ stories, but not a story.
Nothing happens, nothing changes; nothing really begins or ends.
Essentially it is a mood piece and a puzzle, and though enjoyable on
those levels, ultimately it is unsatisfying. The illustrations are
appropriately elegant and mysterious, yet also wind up seeming somehow
bloodless.

__ Wolf comes to Town_ written and illustrated by Dennis Manton.
Dutton, 1994 (0-525-45281-8) $13.99

When the "biggest, baddest, greediest wolf of all" comes to town,
nothing is safe - not people's property, their pets, or even their
children! This wicked wolf is a master of disguise, able to sneak in
anywhere and make off with what he wants. And when a bratty little
boy named Bernard declares "I'm not afraid of a mean old, bad old
wolf!" he soon discovers that he should have been.

The sly, subversive humor of this story, enhanced by suggestive
details in the cartoonish illustrations, will probably work better
with independent readers than as a read-aloud, especially since it
might touch a disquieting nerve with parents. This image of the wolf
in modern times seems (perhaps intentionally) too reminiscent of the
very real dangers children may face; personally, I found the book
upsetting. I strongly recommend a careful read-through before
purchase.
--
Wendy E. Betts For a list of ways to access the WEB Online
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