Tales from Around the World

K-Gr 2—Some of the 13 stories in this volume, such as "The Amazing Tea Kettle" and "The Fly," are likely to be new to the target audience. Others, like "Three Balls of Yarn" and "The Rose of Pity," are variations on more familiar tales ("Rapunzel" and "Beauty and the Beast," in turn). No source notes are included. The selections are a bit uneven in their appeal, ranging from charming and lively ("The Rabbit and the Barrel") to abrupt and unsettling ("The Girl Who Married a Lion"). The prose is competent but not exceptional, outlining each story with lots of action and minimal description. There are many spot illustrations and decorative touches throughout the book and occasional full-page drawings. These too are competent-colored-pencil art that supports the text without adding very much in terms of interest.—Rachael Stein, Eastern Shore Regional Library, Salisbury, MD