Lavish, intricate illustrations are the strong point of this retelling of the beloved tale. The story retains the bones of Andersen's original, although some details have been omitted (for example, the poignant deathbed scene when the emperor begs for music from the mechanical bird before the real nightingale appears). But the narrative is rich with descriptive words that match the opulent textures and details in the paintings, which will probably work best at close range rather than for story hours. Children will be entranced by Birkbeck's images of the magnificent, endless garden; the deep, mysterious forest; and a crosssection of the glowing, porcelain palace. A lovely offering.

Elaborate, richly detailed illustrations give this "Nightingale" a stately air; the Emperor's porcelain palace is thick with ornaments and architectural frills, his gardens with solid masses of exotic flora, and most scenes are viewed through a bluish light that gives them a "willow plate" look. Other than dropping most of Andersen's coy asides, Waters leaves the text more or less intact. It's not the first picture book rendition of the tale—by a long shot—but it is one of the most handsome and readable ones. (Picture book. 9-12)

K-Gr 4-Waters retells Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale in clear, crisp language that captures the essence of the story without rendering it sterile. She chooses the best and most vivid images in the original story, and her writing is graceful and lucid. She makes a few changes, the most significant of which is that she omits the image of Death crouching on the dying emperor's chest. Instead, the ruler reflects on his good and bad deeds himself. While purists may disagree, the power of the story is not diminished by the change, and it extends the age range that would be receptive to it. Furthermore, the characterizations rely less on stereotypes and are allowed a degree of humanity not present in Eva Le Gallienne's translation in The Nightingale (HarperCollins, 1965), illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. Birkbeck's jewel-toned tapestrylike illustrations are lush and rich with detail, employing light and shadow effectively. They also contain deft touches of humor, as when the courtiers are tearing the palace apart to look for the nightingale. Unlike Burkert's illustrations or those by Lisbeth Zwerger (North-South, 1999), they do not emulate Asian art. Children and adults alike will enjoy poring over the distinctive and striking pages.-Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster Area Library, PA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.