THE GOLDEN HEART OF WINTER

Three sons compete to locate the most valuable object on earth and thus inherit their father's blacksmith's forge, but only Half, the simpleton, is able to complete the task

Grade 1-3-- An original folktale that includes many familiar elements. Three sons of an aging blacksmith are sent off by their father to bring back the prize of greatest value so he can choose his successor. Predictably, the two selfish older sons miss the opportunities presented to them, while the noodle third son Half (as in wit) responds with kindness when called upon. A talking raven whom he frees from imprisonment tells him of the golden heart that returns spring to the Earth each year. Half will save the heart from the power of Death if he can solve a riddle posed by the raven. However, the brothers find the heart first, and the boy must protect it from Death and from his brothers' greed. Rayevsky uses color effectively to reflect the warmth of the heart and the seasons, both in watercolor washes underlying pages of text and in his oddly elongated, angular figures. The settings are generic medieval Europe. The language is appropriately folkloric with occasional slips ("Shut up, foul creature"), but the story line stumbles in two key areas. Death vanishes from the story without explanation, and astute readers may guess the heart is the prize needed to fulfill the quest, but Singer never says so, thus failing to close the circle of the plot. The theme does tie in with exploration of environmental themes or discussions of good and evil, but younger children may find the illustrations of death disturbing. --Barbara Hutcheson, Greater Victoria Public Library, B.C., Canada
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

An elderly smithy sends his three sons on a quest, promising to name as his heir whoever brings back the most valuable object. Wasting no time, the sons--two loutish older ones and a dreamy younger one named "Half" by his brothers--set out. The "something of value" they seek turns out to be the Golden Heart of Winter--symbol of rebirth--buried long ago in a pact between Life and Death. The older brothers rip it from the earth and, in their ensuing fight, plunge the world into bitter winter. Half rescues it, of course, restoring spring, proving his own worth and uniting his family. Singer's ( Turtle in July ) formal, fluid style dovetails neatly with the story's mythlike elements, and the result is an original fairy tale in the grand tradition. Rayevsky ( The Talking Tree ; Belling the Cat and Other Aesop's Fables ) has given his singular, sharply etched illustrations a vaguely medieval setting that helps foster a mystical mood. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A new story in a traditional mode: a blacksmith sends his three sons on an heir-deciding quest for ``something of value.'' En route, the first two scorn a trapped raven; the third, Half[wit], frees her and is rewarded with the story of a magical heart: Life has buried it, but Death would like to find it in order to create eternal winter. The raven gives Half a riddle that he shares with his brothers; finding the heart, the two quarrel, invoking Death and a cruel cold. Back at his father's forge, Half thaws the heart and even offers his own in exchange if only spring will come--thus defeating Death and winning his father's contest. The quickly moving story is different enough from its sources to hold attention, while the powerful images are well realized in Rayevsky's vigorous, finely detailed art. Death looks chillingly like one of the Apocalyptic horsemen; other figures are tellingly caricatured. Some of the symbolism seems a bit muddled (why would Spring's lifeblood be restored by fire?); still, an interesting venture from this versatile author. (Picture book. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.