(4) PS A collection of traditional Christian prayers and poems includes material from a variety of authors such as Robert Browning, William Blake, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Howell's gentle, pastoral art depicts children, lambs, baby birds, and flowers. This is an attractive if sentimental gift book. Index of first lines.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Troy Howell. This animal-hero story focuses on Percheron horse Goliath, who suffered severe burns while fulfilling his fire-horse lead-position duties during the Baltimore fire of 1904. The text, with strained invented dialogue, is informative but choppy. Detailed paintings in subdued browns, reds, and grays are stiff but evocative of the time period. Glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Tales from the Odyssey series. Illustrated by Troy Howell. Using elementary language and an open design with short chapters and a minimum of text on each page, Osborne retells the final books of the Odyssey, Odysseus's homecoming and battle against the suitors. Although the story has been simplified, Osborne retains much of the language and all the emotional immediacy. A softly sketched map and portraits of the gods decorate the endpapers.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Tales from the Odyssey series. Illustrated by Troy Howell. Using short, simple sentences and a small amount of text per page, Osborne continues to retell the story of Odysseus's return in disguise to his island and his plan to attack his wife's suitors. Although the illustrations are disappointingly few and limited to ornaments and endpapers, the well-shaped story's fast pace, emotional relevance, and easy vocabulary should attract young readers. Glos.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Tales from the Odyssey series. Illustrated by Troy Howell. In simple, accessible prose, with the text on each page kept invitingly brief, Osborne recounts a few episodes from Homer's Odyssey: the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the cattle of Helios. Foreshadowing helps readers keep track of their place in the narrative. However, the illustrations (a map, portraits of the gods, and a chapter-head ornament) are disappointingly meager. Pronunciation guides are included.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Tales from the Odyssey series. Illustrated by Troy Howell. In accessible, easy language, with the text kept to a minimum per page, Osborne retells the Odyssey scenes in which Penelope and her son Telemachus fend off the suitors in Ithaca. The story has been arranged to help young readers follow along, although the illustrations (a map, portraits of the gods, and a chapter-head ornament) are disappointingly meager. Pronunciation guides are included.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Tales from the Odyssey series. Illustrated by Troy Howell. In these series books, Osborne skillfully relates episodes from Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Brief chapters move these engaging retellings along at a snappy pace, and small vignettes of art open every chapter. Each book contains a note about Homer and the Odyssey and a note on sources. A glossary of gods and goddesses, with pronunciation, is included. [Review covers these Tales from the Odyssey titles: The Land of the Dead and The One-Eyed Giant.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Tales from the Odyssey series. Illustrated by Troy Howell. In these series books, Osborne skillfully relates episodes from Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Brief chapters move these engaging retellings along at a snappy pace, and small vignettes of art open every chapter. Each book contains a note about Homer and the Odyssey and a note on sources. A glossary of gods and goddesses, with pronunciation, is included. [Review covers these Tales from the Odyssey titles: The Land of the Dead and The One-Eyed Giant.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Nine medieval tales, including "Finn MacCoul," "Beowulf," "The Sword in the Stone," and "Robin Hood and His Merry Men," are retold in this elegant volume. Each story opens with a short quote in the tale's original language, introducing readers to the evolution of the English language. Inspired by medieval art and illuminated manuscripts, Howell's paintings complement the well-researched text. Source notes included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.