RUMPTY DUDGET'S TOWER

When the evil dwarf Rumpty-Dudget captures young Prince Henry, Henry's courageous sister and brother set out to rescue him before Rumpty-Dudget can seize control of the kingdom

Grade 2-4 Unbeknownst to Princess Hilda and Princes Frank and Henry, their neighbor is the evil Rumpty-Dudget who collects children to fill every corner of his tower, for once the tower is filled, he will rule all the realm. When little Prince Henry is caught to fill the last corner, his siblings and Tom the cat must fulfill several magical tasks to free him and save the land. Julian Hawthorne's original fairy tale, last published in 1928, was initially published in St. Nicholas magazine in 1879. Goode's colorful cross-hatched illustrations for her adaptation enhance the story and capture the spirit of the characters, especially the mischievous Rumpty-Dudget. The mud-spotted royal children are adorably round-faced, and Tom the cat is fittingly wide-eyed. The spirit of the tale and its characters have great appeal, and it is refreshingly free of the didactic elements so often found in ``authored'' fairy tales. Some overly long sentences and somewhat archaic syntax may deter some young readers, but Rumpty-Dudget's Tower will make for excellent reading aloud. Jeanne Marie Clancy, Wolfsohn Memorial Library, King of Prussia, Pa.
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