Breaking the Spell: Tales of Enchantment - Hardcover

Sally Grindley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1856973514 ISBN 13: 9781856973519

Publisher: Kingfisher Books Ltd, 1997

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From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. Open this book and step into a world of enchantment in which seven well-crafted tales join forces to weave the spell of story. These are original selections, several of which are based on old myths, or are retellings of folktales by respected authors such as Jane Yolen, Joan Aiken, and Vivian French. Tales take place around the world?in Spain, dancers take to the air; in Japan, a paper garden blooms and dies; in India, a snake princess bewitches a prince; in ancient Egypt, true love breaks the curse of a goddess. The stories, though very different, follow one another in a fluid manner. Field's folksy illustrations, which appear on nearly every page, sustain the mood and provide continuity. The paintings are lively, thick with color, and vary from small decorations to full-page interpretation. Several of the selections have a familiar tone to them, yet they are fresh and satisfying. Perfect for bedtime reading aloud, or for reading alone, this collection will find a welcome place in libraries, and can add substance to the multicultural niche.?Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. Seven folk and fairy tales, set in a variety of exotic and international places, showcase the writing talents of a diverse group of authors, both new and established. In "The Prince with Three Fates," Ann Turnbull retells a story originally found on an Egyptian papyrus fragment, in which a devoted wife tries to shield her husband from his destiny, and in the process, creates it. Of particular note is "Chantelle, the Princess Who Could Not Sing," Joyce Dunbar's highly original tale of a princess who, owing to a malicious spell, loses her beautiful singing voice and undergoes a series of bizarre animal transformations to find it, with unusual and funny results. Both decorative and explanatory, Susan Field's beautiful, elegant color-washed illustrations are respectful of place, both real and imaginary. Although events in some stories may be challenging for younger readers (Jane Yolen's fascinating but sophisticated tale is told in dialect and features a witch who turns her husband into a horse to ride to nightly meetings), the collection is fresh and goes beyond the expected. Shelle Rosenfeld

About this edition

• Publisher: Kingfisher Books Ltd
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1856973514
• ISBN 13: 9781856973519
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 80
• Illustrator: Susan Field