THE GIRL, THE FISH, AND THE CROWN

Another tale of transformations, about a girl who is turned into a fish and then promised by the queen of the fishes to be restored to her human form if she succeeds in retrieving a crown from a wicked giant. To help with the task, the queen gives the girl the power to turn into any creature she wants. The girl does not hesitate to use it, taking the shape of a deer, an ant, a monkey, a parrot, an eagle, and a toad before turning back into a girl. It's hard to imagine a plot with more transformations; similarly, every square inch of Heyer's rich, lush illustrations is densely packed with sharp, colorful details. Her characters come from a world of horrible giants, handsome princes, and beautiful girls; even the animals look romantic. A lively story, with pictures that look like an open treasure chest. (Picture book. 4-8)