THE FLYING SHIP
adapted by Andrew Lang & illustrated by Dennis McDermott
Aided by a platoon of magically talented companions found along the road, a simpleton has little trouble wresting the hand of a princess away from the grip of her reluctant father in this illustrated edition of a story from The Yellow Fairy Book. McDermott's elaborate, golden-toned paintings have an antique flavor, with figures in rich medieval dress and affected poses; the princess, a mere child, stands coyly by until the wedding feast, and is last seen gazing rapturously into her new bridegroom's confused face. The pictures, though superficially appealing, are not as lyrical as Uri Shulevitz's Caldecott winners in Arthur Ransome's Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (1968), yet capture the tale's mildly comic air nicely, mostly in eyes and facial features. It's just not enough reason to give this rendition preference. (Picture book/folklore. 7-9)