(2) K-3 Retold by Georghia Ellinas. Illustrated by Jane Ray. Feste the clown/fool is our tour guide in this retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He is uniquely suited to this job because, as he says, he's the only person who knows "what is going on and who is fooling whom." In a prose text, he introduces us to the mix-and-match merry-making, love lost and found, cross-dressing, plots-gone-wrong, and general bewilderment of Illyria, as well as tidily conveying not only the hilarity of the story but also some of its darker emotional implications such as the undoing of Malvolio. At the most tangled moment of the Olivia/Orsino/Sebastian/Viola mix-up, Feste declares: "It was difficult to know whom to feel sorrier for as they were all so confused and upset." This genial introduction to the play is a good choice for young theatergoers but is also a fine picture book in its own right, maximizing the theatrical nature of picture books. The watercolor illustrations in jewel-like colors and energetic compositions are reminiscent of the work of Tomie dePaola, and the casual diversity of the characters is a welcome touch. Like the play, the final scene has its lonely note. We see everybody happily coupled except an aging Feste, who sits secluded with his lute, his hand puppet, and his beruffed dog.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Ray. Davies details the ruby-throated hummingbird's annual migration between Central and North America within a tale of an NYC girl's visit with her grandmother in Central America. Most pages include small-typeface information about hummingbirds, distinguishing expository details from the story. Ray employs the birds' jewel tones to create an airy yet lively backdrop that's full of fluttering motion. Includes a habitat map and an explanatory author's note. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Ray. In sixteenth-century Venice, a glassmaker desperate to cheer up his sullen daughter promises a glass palace to anyone who can make her smile. No one succeeds until one young glassmaker uses a secret formula to create something new: a looking glass. This gentle story's fairy-tale tone is furthered by fanciful watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations, including a striking spread with shiny foil details.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jane Ray. Alternating paraphrased prose with Shakespeare's original lines, this retelling of the story of ill-fated young lovers allows readers to follow the plot without sacrificing all of the Bard's eloquent language. Enhanced with touches of gold, Ray's romantic, jewel-hued art suits the play's tone and setting well. Students will find this straightforward adaptation easy to dramatize. A note on Elizabethan theater precedes the play.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Ray. A storm blows all the possessions of a greedy, gluttonous king over the water and into the backyard of the poor and hard-working washerwoman Mrs. Jewel. This reversal-of-fortune tale ends with the newly humbled king marrying the generous Mrs. Jewel, and everyone lives happily ever after. Crisp, elegant prose and inventive, lively illustrations elevate a humdrum plot.

Reviewer: Kristin Cashore

(2) PS Illustrated by Jane Ray. The verbal repetition in this original folktale underscores its silliness and its wisdom both. A boy cons an old woman, then an old man, and last a young girl into watching his pea (which he has just found), then his hen (which ate his pea), then his pig (which frightened his hen away) as he upgrades his possessions after each loss. He gets his comeuppance, but only briefly, in this tale whose buoyant optimism is reflected in the sunny artwork.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Ray. A dozen familiar fairy tales, selected from the works of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and others, have been compiled in one luxuriously illustrated volume. On each page, the text box is rimmed with gold and set against a richly patterned background, and the intricate details in the accompanying artwork are rendered in vibrant jewel tones. In contrast, Doherty's retellings are simple and straightforward, with few embellishments.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Ray. The lyrics to the song made famous by Nanci Griffith and Bette Midler are accompanied by double-page spreads that show a city scene in minute detail. The town becomes a bombed-out war zone, but in the end, two girls, who can be spotted in almost every picture, are reunited. This earnest effort, which includes a preface by Gold and an afterword by Griffith, will appeal mainly to adult fans of the song.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jane Ray. Dividing her selections into four categories--"Sky," "Sun," "Moon," and "Stars"--Hoffman offers myths, legends, and bits of folklore about the heavens. The brief tales come from around the world, including such countries as Japan, Australia, Latvia, and Egypt. They are accompanied by sumptuous illustrations, appropriately decorated with touches of silver and gold. Source notes are included.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert