MOLLY AND THE PRINCE
by Mary Pope Osborne & illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles
A friendly dog leads young Molly deep into the woods, where a summer evening's magic awaits her. A kindly satyr, who emerges from the mist to tell her that the dog is really a spellbound prince, gathers creatures both mundane and mythical for a moonlit circle dance. Sayles uses dark colors, hazily defined figures, and low- angle lighting to create an effective atmosphere of mystery; flowers drift down between twisted, shadowy trees in visual counterpoint to Molly's joy in her newfound companion. At last, Molly's little brother calls her to dinner, and as they sit on the porch with their hamburgers, contemplating the dog stretched sleepily at their feet, she whispers, ``Whoever you think he is, he's not.'' Dog lovers and lovers of magic will respond to this brief but intense idyll. (Picture book. 6-8)