(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Stephen Mackey. Although young readers may find some of the poems challenging--particularly those by Sir Walter Scott, William Browne, and Robert Southey--many of the stories are enthralling. Collected from diverse cultures, the tales feature fairies that are sometimes helpful, sometimes impish, but always magical. Executed in a romantic, painterly style, the illustrations effectively portray the natural world and the supernatural creatures. Bib.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Stephen Mackey. When a girl sees a cat climb a tree, she decides to rescue it with help from passersby. In a series of poems, accompanied by brightly elegant full-page paintings, all the participants express how they feel about catching the cat--including the cat himself, who slips away unseen. While some of the poems are appealing, others seem marginally related to the story, and the language in many is not very accessible to young children.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley