Fables and Fairy Tales Books

This beautifully written, lyrical book is genuinely scary in a way that puts much modern children's literature well and truly in the shade. Grandmother Oldknowe is protected by all the good things of the earth - stone and water, and all the deep things of nature - in her struggle with the horrible Melanie Powers. Aided by Tolly and Ping, it's a battle for the soul with moments that will make adults draw their breath sharply.
Not a book for those who are easily scared, nor for those with strong prejudices against the supernatural - but for the bravehearted reader, an truly thrilling ride awaits.

Why is this book out of print?

In this, the fifth Green Knowe book, Tolly AND Ping come to spend the summer with Tolly's great grandmother, Mrs. Oldknow, and do battle with the forces of evil as personified by a newneighbor, Melanie Powers.

Absolutely wonderful -- my favorite part is the very end, where everything comes together serendipitously to defeat Miss Powers, leaving you to feel that all is right with the world.

After "The Children of Green Knowe," this is my favorite of the five central books of the sequence. It includes all the elements that make the series immortal: the mysterious old Norman manor house with its lush garden and bordering river, the wise and wonderful Mrs. Oldknow who often seems to have more than one foot in any time but her own, her young great-grandson Tolly (now probably about 12) to provide the spark, tales of the mysterious past of the house, and magic--some of it not very nice. Kids who enjoy identifying with the juvenile protagonists of R. L. Stine's horror tales may be well served by being introduced to Tolly and his friend Ping, the Chinese refugee boy, and following along as they slowly become aware of the character and lack of scruples of "Dr. Melanie Powers," the sinister lodger at The Firs, who wants to acquire a gramarie (book of spells) said to have belonged to a tutor employed at the house in the 17th century. While Mrs. Oldknow quickly comes to agree that Dr. Powers is both powerful and evil, it's left up to the boys to beat off her nastier efforts and, ultimately, find a means of defeating her utterly. (Ping has an excellent heroic role when he summons the shade of the slain gorilla Hanno.) Mrs. Oldknow's lodger, the scholarly Mr. Pope, also has his moment of glory when, reciting an ancient Hebrew spell for his tape recorder, he unknowingly halts a spell that threatens to literally ruin the manor. Even the time-travelling blind girl Susan makes an appearance, though I wonder that Tolly's first ghost-friends, Toby and his sibs, are conspicuously absent, this being as much their house as Tolly's--perhaps more: they've been there longer! The one question that itches at me is what has become of Tolly's stepmother: her husband, his father, is mentioned and even arrives at the end of the book, but she isn't and doesn't.

Children like to be deliciously frightened, and this book is a superior title to frighten them with--though not one you'll want them reading alone in their rooms late at night! A superior entry into the series.

I remember reading these books on my summer vacations to my grandparents...I was bored and the local town librarian recommended them to me. Many years later, looks for books on mysterious houses for a nephew, I remembered and re-discovered them. My favorite is An Enemy At Green Knowe. The story is full of twists and turns and quite frightening events, with the excitement lasting just long enough to tantalize the reader. You feel the house itself is a living breathing character, as is true of the entire series. This is the kind of book an adult needs to put in the hands of the student -- as is true with A Wrinkle In Time -- and sit back while the child becomes wrapped in the world of Green Knowe. A superior children's book!

The fifth book in Lucy Boston's "Green Knowe" series finally brings together our two main protagonists: the house's blood relative Tolly and the Chinese refugee Ping, both of whom have featured in the previous books, but never together. Unfortunatly we do not see their meeting, but instead join the story half-way through the summer, by which time the two are already best friends.

As always, the mysterious Green Knowe is filled with ancient and semi-magical artefacts (all of which are actually real relics that belong in the author's home on which she based the books) and Grandmother Oldknow tells the children stories concerning the past inhabitants of the house. Now for the first time, she tells them a story that holds a more sinister edge to it. In the 17th century a young boy had a tutor that was said to dabble in alchemical practices, and have a number of magical books with which he created his spells. An author with astonishing vision for her time, Boston highlights the unfairness of such a man being thought of as noble and intelligent for following such a practice, whilst harmless women were often prosecuted for dabbling in herblore. Grandmother Oldknow tells the children that Doctor Vogel eventually burnt all his equipment with the help of the local minister (whose testimony was found in "The River of Green Knowe", but only now translated), but it is rumoured that one book of dark spells may have escaped the flames.

In typical Green Knowe fashion, in which the past regularly surges up to greet the present, it is not just a coincidence that directly after this storytelling a new neighbour comes to call: Melanie Powers, whose interest in the house and in the legend of Dr Vogel hints at her true intentions. She is after the missing book, and begins a systematic assault on Green Knowe as its first truly evil antagonist, whereas up until now the worst the children have faced is meddling adults. Like the Twelve Plagues of Eygpt, Ms Powers sends nasties crawling into the Green Knowe: maggots, snakes and bird-snatching cats.

But of course, Tolly and Ping have their own spells and allies, and with this comes wonderful reappearences from previous characters, including the spirit of the gorilla Hanno and the ghostly past-resident Susan. Even the starlings, who have been pests in previous books, prove their worth. It is stirring stuff to see the children fight passionatly for the home they love and attempt to reach the book before Powers does. I only wish Boston had taken the opportunity to include more characters: what about Ida and Oskar? Toby, Alexander and Linnet? Boggis and Feste the horse?

It is the first Green Knowe book to instigate a good against evil theme, and for that reason is sure to be a favourite among most readers since all the other books make more meandering and whimsical reading. In fact, one should be warned that this installment can get a little scary at times, and even gruesome, as in the case of Powers hanging dead birds on a clothesline or the sight of a horned ritual stick, which was described so evocatively that it sent shivers down my spine: "they recognized it at once as absolutely evil." I should also warn New-Agers and modern day "witches" that Ms Powers is a witch in the medieval description of the word - with black magic and links to Satan.

A great addition to the "Green Knowe" books, though often mistaken for the final installment. This is false, as there are six books in the series, and the last title is "The Stones of Green Knowe", an essential part of the collection. Boston claims that she wrote these books for her own amusement, and that has never been more apparent than in "An Enemy at Green Knowe" since many questions are left unanswered concerning the background of Mr Powers and the real intentions of Dr Vogel, yet despite that, this book is one of my favourites.

And as always, Peter Boston's illustrations are excellent, and I love Brett Helquist's new covers; let's face it, these books were in need of a face-lift.

This is an exquisite book. A child will want to get lost in the beautiful stories. As a collector of late nineteenth and early twentieth century illustrators for their stylistic beauty, it is thrilling to come across a book where people are just people. Berlie Doherty and Jane Ray are unafraid to deliver childhood magic in it's purist form, before we get our nasty little "them or us" hands on their inborn innocence. Often it is just social laziness. We read to our children the books that were read to us. I don't think anyone would deny that the great fairy tale writers meant their stories for all the children of the world. I don't think we should reject the past. People are products of their time, experiences and influences. But we should celebrate and encourage the good things in the present. There are enough bad ones to worry about. This is a lovely,lovely book. Princes and Princesses come in all colors with eyes of all shapes. There is not a jarring note to be had. I would encourage everyone to buy a copy and get lost in the borderless world of Berlie Doherty and Jane Ray.

This is really the best collection of fairy tales that I've ever seen, and I have seen a lot of them. First, the illustrations are simply exquisite. The heroes and heroines of this book are a seemingly multicultural bunch, and there is a dreamlike quality woven through the art. It's an unusual approach, and it makes this collection so appealing to see dark-haired, brown-eyed princesses. I love it, and so do my daughters. And the stories themselves are well told. It's as if the author sifted through all of the versions of these stories floating around, and put down the very best of them -- the ones that you would pick yourself. I don't like it when I am reading a classic story and parts of it just seem simply wrong. But that is most definitely not the case here. If you are looking for a collection of fairy tales, stop. You've found it. Buy it, and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

This is a physically beautiful volume, medium sized and easy to hold while you have your arm around another person. The illustrations are unique and creative and accented with gold which adds to the magical ambiance. The pages have colorful decorated borders and the interesting use of silhouettes is striking. The text is true to the original tales while being melodious, fresh and inviting. Don't miss the enchanting picture of Cinderella that goes with this text, "She heard a fluttering as if all the leaves were unfurling at once, and the birds of the tree flew down carrying a silver dress and slippers that glittered like stars." Now isn't that a little better than Bibbity Bobbity Boo?

The artwork initially caught my eye with this book. Jane Ray's enchanting combination of watercolor, ink, and collage drew me in completely. The design is reminiscent of a beloved scrapbook, and it is truly beautiful. Text blocks and illustrations are bordered with gold accents, creating the illusion that they have been "mounted" on their exquisitely designed backgrounds. The colors are rich and the images range from simple silhouettes to intricately detailed landscapes and portraits.

Ray adds to the book's charm with her multicultural representations of characters. In addition to traditional (Caucasian) depictions, readers encounter a Black "Beauty," a Chinese "Aladdin," a Moroccan sorcerer, a henna-tattooed Indian princess, and a variety of other diverse characters. While the stories all hail from Western Europe, the illustrations and character portrayals add an element of multiculturalism and diversity.

Although many of the story titles are familiar, they are by no means ordinary or generic. Berlie Doherty has traced them back to their roots in order to maintain the original "essence" of the classic tales she has chosen. In a generation where many fairy tale classics have been altered and homogenized by the entertainment industry, Doherty's return to the original versions is both refreshing and pleasantly nostalgic. Fairy tale novices and veterans alike will be enchanted and intrigued.

This book has quickly become a valued treasure in my collection for its unique appeal and beauty. The text is candid and honest, incorporating elements of humor, sadness, joy, and more while still maintaining the original "magic" of the tales. A great book for yourself or as a gift - I highly recommend it!

As a longtime lover of Fairy tales, I've gotten rather picky about which picture book versions I pick up. And I wanted to buy this book the first time I flicked through it.

This one includes a variety of stories, all well known, from the obvious choices, like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, to Aladdin, and the Wild Swans. The stories are told well, though without any newness - these are familiar, comfortable stories.

Ah, but it wasn't the tellings of the stories which had me sold on this book. Jane Ray's illustrations are utterly beautiful. Normally, I am a fan of neo-renaissance illustrations - almost realistic, almost three dimensional, and full of elegant landscapes (See Kinuko Craft's work) The illustrations in this book are flat, far more stylized - but they're full of movement and feeling, and they look like they came from the best of medieval manuscripts. The touches of metallic gold only add to this impression. The full colour full page illustrations are also complemented by silhouette illustrations and border images along many other pages. This is inspired art, lovely to look on, and perfectly matches the feeling of fairy tale stories.

The editorial review laughably misses the rhythm and the deeper layers of this story. May I gently suggest that it was reviewed in haste?

This book is a tour de force in higher order thinking, randomness and unforeseen outcomes.

A story for children at first glance that is actually a blueprint.

Children get this story. Why can not some adults even begin to scratch the surface of what is available here?

Let your child decide! Buy this book for them, read it, ask questions as to what is occuring in the tale. Then watch and listen to your child.

You may be surprised at the insights of your youngster!

This must be a book for pre-readers because the plot's extremely simple. I got it for a 3 year old and it's perfect -- the kind of story with a repeating pattern of words that the reading adult can embellish on. It's a joy to look at, almost magical. The story is interesting too, with a subtle lesson in patience (I think) and enough whimsy to keep a tired adult awake.

This book is delightful. What a great concept to introduce to young minds. Not just that if you keep at something you might persevere. But also that our ultimate success often comes by way something or someone outside ourselves - when we least expect it!

Tragedies like Columbine are a wake-up call. It's clear that we need to provide our kids ...with tools to counter the violence and knee-jerk aggression ubiquitous in popular culture. These children's stories by Idries Shah are just this kind of tool. They're not preachy. They don't offer simplistic lessons or moral platitudes. They're more like exercises for "mental muscle groups" grossly underdeveloped in this culture: A strong sense of one's own value. Empathy. Flexibility in thinking and responding. Appreciating that not everyone is the same, not every outcome is predictable. Seeing that there are more than two sides to a situation. A sense that patience and perseverance can pay off, sometimes in unexpected ways. Not demanding easy answers. A sense that things are not always as they seem, that the viewpoint of "experts" — or even the whole community — is not always right. The experience of seeing something that even adults don't see, of creating clever solutions. The sense that taking positive action is possible and rewarding—even when one has to buck the tide. That help can come from where and when we least expect it. The sense that life has interesting "loose ends" for us to reflect on. And so much more. At least one of these books should be on every child's book shelf.

This is a new twist on the types of stories that kids love to read and hear over and over. It begins with a lady making a simple request...she just wants her apple. The chain of events that results though, teaches cause and effect in a fun way. What really makes the book a lasting treasure is the art work. We found ourselves going through the book both from front to back and back to front just exploring the colorful and playful art. I highly recommend this book for kids or even adults who like the playful prose and pictures. Two thumbs up for Mary Rose Santiago and Idries Shah. I look forward to seeing more of their works.

I loved reading this book aloud to my second graders. It is delightful to see how Flossie outwits the fox. Have fun reading it to your children at home too!

Little Red Riding Hood is essentially a British folk tale. Flossie is a quintessentially American product. She's smart as a whip, cute as a button, and clever without being obnoxiously sassy or brash. She minds her manners while protecting her basket of eggs. She lives in the rural south of sometime past. Big Mama sends her to take some eggs to a neighbor because a fox has taken all the neighor's eggs. Big Mama warns Flossie to watch out for the fox because they surely do love eggs, and off Flossie goes in her pigtails and pinafore. She does meet up with the fox, and she cleverly outsmarts him, but you aren't sure she's going to do it until the last page, when she reveals what she's known all along. Patricia McKissack says this is one of the stories told her as a child. I can't find the source, but I read something else this gifted author wrote once about this 'black Little Red Riding' story. As best I recall, what she said is that this isn't a 'black Little Red Riding Hood story," it's a Flossie and the Fox story, and there's no need to have 'African American' substitutes for the traditional tales which we all should know, because we all should know them. She didn't write this story as a substitute- it's just another really good, ripping yarn that we *also* all should know. I hope I'm not misrepresenting what she said, but that's how I remember it. At any rate, I agree that this is a really good story for all children and their parents, and it stands boldly on its own merits, and Flossie is a little girl I'd be proud to know.

Flossie Finley, the smart and feisty heroine of this book is one of my favorite characters in all of childrenÕs literature. The story is an African American variation on Little Red Riding Hood, but Flossie is no wide-eyed innocent who has to be saved in the end by the big, brave woodcutter. She can save herself, thank you very much. The way she tricks the fox who wants to devour her basket of eggs is delightful. Every little girl (and probably every boy as well) ought to be introduced to this brave and resourceful child.

And Flossie is not the only great thing about this book. Patricia McKissack based it on a story her grandfather told her and she tried to reproduce the way he told it, in "the rich and colorful dialect of the rural south." The language is lovely, musical and poetic Ð a joy to read aloud. And the illustrations are equally gorgeous. The pictures of sun-dappled wood remind me of Impressionist paintings.

Great story, great writing, great pictures, great character Ð this is one of the best childrenÕs books IÕve ever read.

This has become my favorite children's book! I bought it for my "almost" three yr old son and he was captivated by the story and the beautiful pictures. Flossie is so innocently sly! She will not be out-witted by some ol' fox! The idea that this regal creature is being insulted by a mere child is absurd to him, yet he can't get past his own ego to see he is being out-foxed! I adored everything about this book.

Flossie And The Fox is a story that is absolutly loved by my children, one you will be asked to read again and agian. When flosie is asked to run an errand for her grandmother, the curios girl runs into a fox on her way, yet not the typical fox. In order to keep her eggs from being eaten she must keep the fox's mind of those eggs. Through her journey in the woods she is able to use her qaint childlike cleverness to entertain the foxes ego. Great story! Brilliant plot! Should be made into a movie! Exellent anti bias story as well, flossie speaks as a young african american girl would growing up in the country in Tennese, The fox uses proper Engish, and the narrator uses the language of the day. Highly recomended!

Brian Wilcox captures in this lovely book the true majesty of New York. The magic the city evokes is splashed upon these pages. His incredibly detailed, beautiful drawings are just wonderful. They're facinating to adults, as well as children.

Anyone who has been fortunate to have a groovy grandmother in their lives or who just digs that Big Apple should buy this book.
A great gift for all ages.

A young boy searches for a lost grandmother as he's transported on a magic journey through nighttime New York City. A magic crystal globe transports him in this beautiful story, which holds black and white illustrations by Wilcox throughout.

Full Moon is a different enrty in the vast field of children's books. Black and white pencil drawing force the reader's mind to come alive as a vivid yet simple story is told that every child can relate to. Each page of Brian Wilcox's Full moon is a work of art sure to capture the rapt attention of any child with whom you share this short story. For a first work, Wilcox has a sure winner. I bought this book for my two-year old god-son and plan to buy several more for my nieces and nephews this Christmas.

The illustrations are full of incredible detail such that you discover something new each time you read it. The story line is reminiscent for any grandmother that influenced a grandchild during the child's lifetime.

My seven and four year old children enjoy reading this book at bedtime. We live far away from my kids grandmothers and this book keeps their grandmothers' presence alive in their daily lives. We visited New York City this summer and Brian Wilcox' creative interpretation of America's most vibrant city is truly a delight for their young minds.

In the wake of the World Trade Center disaster last September 11, I couldn't think of a more appropriate children's book to showcase New York City.

I am a former fifth grade instructor, a National Board Certified Teacher, and a college professor in Teacher Preparation. I highly recommend the Grandmother Stories series to elementary and early childhood instructors and parents who are homeschooling their children. The books have appropriate vocabulary and tell stories that explain nature in a creative manner. I learned several things I did not know about nature and its interactions from these books. Children love to have the books read to them and to read them to themselves. Duvall and Jacobs are a wonderful creative force as they merge their talents to produce books that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

This review by Melanie Tait appeared in the Spring, 2005 issue of the Journal of the Association for Childhood Education International: This is a delightful retelling of a Cherokee legend explaining how the rabbit lost his long, luxurious tail and how the otter learned to love swimming. It also teaches valuable lessons about pride, deceit and justice. The story is told in language simple enough for young independent readers, but would make an entertaining read aloud as well. The beautifully detailed black-and-white illustrations capture the essence of the story and set the scene for the traditional tale. Even the cover background and endpapers are intriguing. This book would be of particular interest to young people learning about or celebrating Native American cultures. Ages 6-12.

Stories abound in the Native culture about how the rabbit lost its tail, but few are so elegantly presented as this one. The dialogue and the story line keep a child's interest piqued, page after page, and the illustrations are a feast for the eyes. And of course, there is a happy ending for Ji-Stu the Rabbit. Now he can run through the woods much faster "without that troublesome tail!"

Deborah Duvall and Murv Jacob have brought the old Cherokee animal tales back to life with their How Rabbit Lost His Tail and their other titles in this series from the University of New Mexico Press. The old tales, recorded previously in mostly pedantic prose for dusty scholars to peruse, have been rewritten by Duvall in lively and very readable English for young readers and old alike, and they are lavishly illustrated by Jacob. The tales involve Ji-Stu, Rabbit, the Cherokee Trickster, who embodies all the characteristics of man: pride, arrogance, greed, deceit ("The path to the dance grounds followed the river that ran through the Cherokee lands. In some places where the river curved, the water formed deep pools that reflected the river bank above. Each time he passed such a pool, Ji-Stu stopped just long enough to look at his reflection, for he was very proud.") He even occasionally shows courage.
You can't go wrong in picking up How Rabbit Lost His Tail or any of the other beautifully illustrated books in this series, for you will enjoy them, your children will marvel at them, and you may even learn something about Cherokee culture or about human behavior from reading them. (...)

The Grandmother Stories are eloquent, beautifully illustrated tales that recapture the imagination of Native America. Debbie Duvall and Murv Jacob have done a brilliant job of revisiting the mythic world of Rabbit, Bear and Otter, and introducing them to a contemporary audience. These characters are timeless, as are their stories, and readers of all ages will delight in their antics and unique insights. - Teresa Miller, Center for Writers and Poets, OSU Tulsa

My 7 year old son loved this book, which was irreverent enough to keep his attention. Anything with a dragon is usually a plus. After reading this one, he went on to another Heroic Misadventure of Hiccup book without missing a beat.

Very difficult to find good, interesting books for boys in middle school, and this was one that he really liked very much.

Cressida Cowell cannot write enough books for my kids. Her stories are light easy reading with a lot a kid humor. Both my kids, a 9 year old boy and a 7 year old girl just love these books. The stories that center more on Toothless the Dragon are their favorites. The chapters are short and kids can't wait to hear the next chapter. Half the battle in getting kids to read is to find books they WANT to read and any of Cowell's books will do the job and then some. Fun for parents too!

This book is appropriate reading level for second to fifth graders, although mom enjoyed the story too! The character's names are unusual, Hiccup the Horrendous the Third, Gobber the Belch, Snotlout, but the names appeal to the kids. Hiccup is a Viking who doesn't fit in. He is a small kid who is kind and thoughtful. Most of the Vikings are large, tough, gross and ill mannered brutes. Hiccup's father must come to terms with his son's unusual ways. There are also three important dragons in this story. Character traits of loyalty, self reliance, honesty, persistence, empathy and friendship empower Hiccup to prevail.
We have also enjoyed other books about Hiccup.

We have a seven year old who is far from enamoured with reading, but he LOVES to sit and listen to these funny and clever books. There is much in each book that parents will enjoy as well as children, and we often laugh out loud when reading. My advice? Start with book one and get ready for your children to become addicted to these wonderful misadventures.

Originally purchased this book for the illustrator (Sowa), whose work is remarkable. When the book arrived, I intended to scan the text and set the volume aside: and every time since, the same thing has happened...I read it through.
A delightful parable for any age, I was surprised to see how amenable it was to a thoughtful consideration of old age.
A graceful, witty and thoroughly surprising way to revisit every grownup's "boogeman": we don't die, we just get little!

Michael Sowa's illustrations, as usual, are superb. And each time I read Little King December new layers of meaning are revealed. It is a book I'll keep always. Looks like a children's book, and I suppose children will enjoy it, but it is also for adults. Somehow it speaks directly to your imagination and just resonates there.

A few years ago a German relative sent me an audio tape of "Der Kleine Koenig Dezember". I enjoyed it immensely and wished I could share the story with my nieces and nephews. I did search for an English version at that time and was disappointed.

This year somehow I came across an English translation of the story on the Amazon website quite by accident and quickly ordered six copies. The translation does not quite do justice to the original and is somewhat abbreviated, but the spirit of the tale is there and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

I mainly bought this book because of the illustrator; michael sowa, but i read through the book anyway. this is a GREAT book. very creative, and makes you laugh and think at times. short but enlightling book!

I bought this book last year for myself. It's so ponderous and mysterious, and is full of truths in hiding. The character who sees King December is a dull man with a dull job, and it's never clear if the King is part of his imagination. There is a lingering sadness throughout the book, but it's so beautiful that I cry everytime I read it.

Lymeria is a fantasy novel for young adults about four friends - kitchen maid Wynne, Princess Avariella, Prince Jared, and stable hand Aric - who embark on a grand adventure in the magical world of Lymeria, in order to stop the evil machinations of the dread wizard Cepheus. Their strength of their bond, as well as their wits and ability to cooperate, will all be tested in this imaginative saga especially recommended for preteen and teenage girls. Also of interest is author Kristina Coia's previous novel for young readers, "Falcon's Prey".

What an imagination Kristina Coia has!!! And for someone so young! This book would make a great movie. Look out Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings... A wonderfully enjoyable read.

Great fun, easy to read fantasy. Loved the adventure and loved the characters. Would definitely recommend this book!

I didn't know what to expect when I started to read this book. I loved the first book by Kristina Coia so I knew I would enjoy this book too. She writes good descriptions so when you are reading you feel like you are there and it is exciting. My friends have read this book too and we all like it alot.

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. We could not put it down. Kristi Coia is one talented young lady and I hope she writes more books!

This is a beautiful little story about a princess named Daffodil who was given a gift from a fairy to grow flowers wherever she would go. This caused some problems with the king, so she was not allowed to walk on the pathways like other children. She was not a happy princess until she was given a hill upon which she could run and be a child like other children. The story has absolutely beautiful illustrations, but the story left my daughter wanting more and wondering what happened next. There is no "and she lived happily ever after" ending to this story and misses a bit on the moral aspects - it could have been a nice story about "the grass is always greener" but just doesn't quite hit the mark. For a nice little fairy tale with outstanding illustrations, this would make a terrific gift to a child in the 4 to 8 year old range - especially if they love princesses in fancy pink dresses.

In 1925 A.A. Milne wrote this charming story and now Isabel Bodor Brown has added her utterly delightful illustrations and the people at Dutton Children's Books crafted all this magic into a darling of a book. The book itself is a beauty, a compact little volume with lavender covers that are speckled with little yellow flowers and a spine stamped in gold. The dust jacket is embossed with gold letters and features the sweet little Princess Daffodil framed in flowers with a beautiful pink dress and a smiling face. Before we even get to page one we are captivated by this engaging child. The story is at times gently humorous and at others it is wistful.
Daffodil's christening gift from her Fairy Godmother is the ability to grow flowers wherever she steps. The King doesn't think this is too practical and limits her access to the grounds. She wants to run and play freely like other children and in the end a happy solution is found. The illustrations are just brimming with delicate beauty and glorious colors. Daffodil is a little wonder and the fairies in the book are satisfyingly magical with gossamer wings and hair, while the Queen is a delicate beauty as a Queen should be. I love everything about this book.

A beautifully written, wonderfully illustrated work. My daughter and son both loved it.

The Magic Hill is a marvelously illustrated fairy-tale, the perfect Easter gift, and a refreshing, charming story. Your child will want to read it over and over and will love the pictures cover to cover. I highly recommend it.

The Magic Hill is an old fashioned fairy tale, complete with a happily ever after ending about a young princess who makes flowers grow wherever she walks. A.A. Milne wrote this delightful story 75 years ago, but it is as fresh and charming now, as I'm sure it was then. The illustrations by Isabel Bodor Brown are very special, beautifully drawn and compliment the text. An old story that will become a new classic. The Magic Hill is a treasure for the whole family to enjoy again and again.