In the grand tradition of fairy tales, clever and beautiful Katarina must solve the king’s riddle in order to become queen, or risk her dear father going to prison. She must get to the castle — not clothed, yet not naked; not riding, yet not walking; not on the road, yet not off the road. Will kindhearted Katarina be able to solve the riddle and save her father from his fate?Renowned storyteller Ken Setterington has borrowed from European folk traditions to tell an enchanting story of a young girl — intelligent, observant, and pure of heart — whose sensitivity and acumen saves the day. Nelly and Ernst Hofer’s delicate cut-paper art of scherenschnitt makes this storybook an exquisite addition to any collection.
Europe
Materials from Europe
King Midas
Distinctively beautiful illustrations using gold foil illumination highlight a rich new retelling of the classic tale of the greedy King Midas and his golden touch.
Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland
Whether it’s to add to a collection of classics or to introduce new readers to Alice, this handsome large-format edition is a must-have for all ages. Lewis Carroll’s original text is illustrated as never before by Oleg Lipchenko to create a spectacular gift book. Sure to transport everyone down the rabbit hole and into the extraordinary realm of Carroll’s imagination, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, invites all readers to join the tea party and take their chances with the Mad Hatter, the Mock Turtle, and the boisterous Queen of Hearts.
Papa Gatto: An Italian Fairy Tale
The feline advisor to the prince, Papa Gatto, learns not to judge by appearances when he hires the beautiful but neglectful Sophia to take care of his kittens. Sophia’s plain but loving stepsister Beatrice proves herself a more worthy caretaker.
The First Marathon: The Legend of Pheidippides
Twenty-five hundred years ago, in ancient Greece, a small band of Greek soldiers faced the mighty Persian army on the plain of Marathon. A runner named Pheidippides ran to neighboring Sparta, one hundred forty miles away, to ask for the Spartans’ aid. Afterwards he sped back to the battle, where he helped defeat the enemy. Then the weary runner did his duty yet once more; he ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver the miraculous news of the Greek victory. The legend of brave Pheidippides has inspired the running of marathons worldwide.
The Twelve Wild Geese
The Celtic myth recounts the story of a brave princess who risks everything to rescue her twelve brothers from their magical enchantment.
The Adventures of Polo
Equipped with a backpack full of supplies, Polo sets off on a little boat–and on a series of delightful adventures that take him across (and under) the ocean, to an island and a frozen iceberg, to space and home again, with a world of magical encounters along the way. Polo’s journey is packed with incident and expression.
The Hero of Bremen
Retells the German legend in which a shoemaker who cannot walk helps the town of Bremen, aided by the spirit of the great hero Roland.
Atalanta’s Race: A Greek Myth
In ancient Greece, the gods control every life, from peasant to King. When newborn Princess Atalanta is left to die on a mountainside because her father wanted a son, the gods send a bear to care for her. Adopted by a woodsman, she grows into a great hunter and athlete, and is eventually reunited with her father, the King. But as she gets older, Atalanta has no use for the gods and gives them no credit. When she must run the most important race of her life, on which her future happiness rides, the gods intercede once more–and Atalanta learns they will not be ignored forever.
Aesop’s Fables
Brad Sneed brings his zany and creative talents to the world of Aesop. In his signature style of tricky perspectives, amusing exaggerations, and rich, delicate watercolors, his animal characters are beautifully realistic and yet humorously human, as they mimic a wide range of human feelings . . . and foibles. The stories of Aesop have been told and retold over the centuries; in his lively adaptation Brad Sneed updates the language and infuses these fifteen stories with a sense of humor that children will enthusiastically enjoy. And once again, as in his popular alphabet book Picture a Letter, Brad has included a wordless bonus for sharp-eyed readers of all ages-a sixteenth tale told only in pictures is hidden somewhere between the covers.