Windows of Gold and Other Golden Tales - Hardcover

Grade 1-3-- Seven stories from various cultures, all dealing, in some way, with the magical properties of gold. The influence of the oral tradition is heard in the rhythmic quality of the prose, which makes these tales easy to learn and tell. "Window of Gold" tells of young Harry, who gazes up the hill each day and sees a cottage like his own--except that it has windows of gold; he later discovers that its windows are made of glass--"exactly like his own." "Nine Wise Men of Gotham" befuddle themselves when they try to locate the ninth man they believe is missing because each one neglects to count himself. "Puss in Boots" and "The Small Rabbit Who Wanted Everything" are told with their usual humor and charm, but the illustrations of the animal protagonists are small and fail to capture the characteristics that make them so appealing. The telling of "King Midas and the Golden Touch" is longer than many, ending with an elderly Midas telling the story of that terrible day to his grandchildren. "The Milkmaid and Her Jug" is not as cleverly told as alternative versions that depend on the growing cadence of her desires and expectations, building up to the shattering climax. "The Golden Bird" is much more complex than other versions, and thus more difficult for storytellers to learn and for young listeners to follow. The illustrations for these stories are in the hues of the earth and the sky and are saturated with a golden light, reinforcing belief in the power of gold. Unfortunately, they are often too dark and muddy to be seen by an audience, and the selection of what is illustrated doesn't seem to have been done with children in mind. The concept of gold is stretched almost to the breaking point in some of the stories, and the illustrations, although appropriately earthy, do not truly enhance the text. --Kay E. Vandergrift, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Rutgers Univ . , New Brunswick, NJ
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