WALTER THE GIANT STORYTELLER’S GIANT BOOK OF GIANT STORIES

While the middle “giant” in the title is hyperbolic, as this is only rather longer than the average picture book, it is indeed a collection of stories about giants told by a giant (or at least, according to the flyleaf, a very tall man). The author puts himself in the dual position of character and narrator, contriving a frame story in which he is shipwrecked on an island populated by small people and tied up, Gulliver-like, to stand trial as scapegoat for the crimes committed by giants. In his defense, he and Paul Bunyan (called to the stand as a witness) tell stories of harmless and helpful giants, including a revisionist “Jack and the Beanstalk” that portrays Jack as a common thief; the American tall tale of Stormalong; an original tale involving a meeting between Walter and Atlas; and a tale of Finn M’Cool. Both the design and O’Malley’s cleverly engaging illustrations change style to suit both frame and internal stories, frequently incorporating comic-book elements. Their inventiveness and the sheer geniality of the overall concept make up for the occasional flat note in a rather overlong text. (notes, bibliography) (Fiction. 6-10)