BOOTS AND THE GLASS MOUNTAIN

A restructuring of Asbjornsen and Moe's ``The Princess on the Glass Hill.'' Martin modernizes the language, prunes descriptions and repetitions, and adds unnecessary explanations, a romantic source for Boots's tinderbox, and the threat of a troll groom if the princess's suitors fail. The result is acceptable, though hardly an improvement: more accessible, but without the wonderful folkloric cadence of the traditional Dasent or Lang versions. The extraordinary Russian illustrator provides sumptuous paintings in a meticulous classical style, more ornate and detailed than Thomas Locker's work but also livelier. Elegant borders, beautifully patterned fabrics, and other minutiae combine for a rich, decorative effect. Most of the faces here are too small to reveal much character (too bad: Spirin's a gifted caricaturist), but the horses are magnificent. This Cinderella variant doesn't really need such a lush setting, but many will enjoy it. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)