STONE SOUP

Stewig changes the soldiers in this familiar story into a young girl and sets it in a framing tale whose beginning sounds like an updated, psychologically correct ``Three Little Pigs'': Grethel and her mother love each other but they're too poor to subsist, so Grethel decides to set out and try her luck. The central part of the story is close to Marcia Brown's version (1947), often verbatim. The whole reads, or tells, nicely—though the conclusion (```Now I know how to keep food on our table,' she mused,'' trudging home) is a rather abrupt and unconsidered solution to the original problem. Tomes's illustrations are outstanding: her familiar style depicting homely but appealing characters and a few carefully chosen details against plenty of white space is especially appropriate to this peasant tale; her humor is as gentle as her rich, soft colors. All in all, a pleasing new version of a popular favorite. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)