Gr 3–5—A varied collection of animal stories and poetry. Ray's great strength are her illustrations, and her etchings are truly beautiful, demonstrating a range in design, composition, and texture that reflects the cultures represented in the accounts. Some of the selections have been reproduced verbatim, while others have been retold by Ray (appended is a list of sources). These entries are not all folktales, as work by Ogden Nash, a reworking of a Rudyard Kipling "Just-So" story, and the title nursery rhyme are included. Ray's narrative style is not nearly as distinguished as her artwork, however, and the book seems more of an excuse to provide an outlet for her pictures than for her storytelling.
VERDICT A handsome gift, but not a necessary addition to library collections.
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