A handful of fall books invite youngsters to gather 'round. Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, trans. by Naomi Lewis, illus. by Joel Stewart, reads like an ode to the writer himself. Lewis gives readers a brief history of the author's life and career, then introduces each of the included 13 stories with details older readers will relish, including first publication date, musings from Andersen about the writing of the tales, and the stories' place in fairy tale history. Stewart models his story openers on the toy theatre so intrinsic to the author's childhood, and full-bleed, full-page dramatic paintings sit alongside whimsical spot illustrations that add flair to each page. A few of the included tales are The Snow Queen, The Little Mermaid and The Goblin at the Grocer's. Collectors and fans of Andersen's work will not want to overlook this anthology. .

for reading aloud. This big, splendidly appointed volume of 13 stories, almost all of them well known, honors the Danish storyteller in form as well as content. Stewart's muted artwork (a mix of large, full-color images and smaller, often sepia-toned decorations) elegantly reflects the qualities of beauty, tragedy, and farce found in the stories. At the same time, many of the images, such as the grotesque witch in the Tinderbox, whose lower lip hung down to her waist, suggest a taste for whimsy that Andersen surely would have applauded. Theatrical motifs can be glimpsed throughout, nodding to the writer's passion for staging miniature performances. Andersen scholar and translator Lewis has published versions of many of these same stories elsewhere, and her foreword and story introductions accessibly highlight Andersen's genius. Libraries looking for more on Andersen in anticipation of the two-hundredth anniversary of the author's birth should have no qualms about adding this noble collection to the shelves.

Hans Christian Andersen wrote more than 160 stories, 13 of which are retold by critic Lewis and revitalized with Stewart's winsome, quirky illustrations in this hefty, beautiful collection. Lewis opens with a four-page introduction to the life of the "unquenchable maverick" of humble origins, also prefacing each story with an engaging, scholarly critical history. She translates well-known favorites such as "Thumbelina" and "The Tinderbox" and, more obscure, "The Goblin at the Grocer's," in a lively, accessible style, retaining 19th-century charm and vocabulary without a hint of stiffness. While adult lovers of children's literature will appreciate the historical material provided, young newcomers to Andersen will relish "The Princess and the Pea," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Match Girl," and other stories that have woven their way into Western literary tradition. The elegant design tips a hat to Andersen's interest in miniature theatre, as the opening story illustrations are flanked by a red velvet curtain. Lovely. (All ages)

In her often provocative introductions to these thirteen stories, longtime Andersen scholar Lewis comments on their histories, allegorical meanings, and links to Andersen's life. The quiet swatches of spot art and a generous format signify serious purpose, while the stylized figures in the illustrations invite readers to dream their own dreams of Andersen's strange, allusive world.

Gr 3-8 Lewis's translations of Andersen's tales have appeared in various collections and picture books over the past 20 years. Thirteen of them appear in this lavishly illustrated volume. In new introductions to each story, Lewis provides background and context, connecting the tale to Andersen's life and offering her own interpretation of its theme. Stewart's digitally created drawings shed fresh light on the stories as well. Each page facing a story's introduction presents a color picture showing a stage, framed with red curtains and footlights, on which the central character acts out an important scene. Many stories receive an additional full-page illustration, and all are decorated with small rectangular sepia illustrations, while other drawings float freely across a page. Balancing astringent wit while plumbing emotional depths, Stewart's artwork is an appropriate partner to Andersen's words. The best short collection of Andersen's stories remains Twelve Tales (S & S, 1994), translated and illustrated by Eric Blegvad, distinguished by the casual precision of its art and text. Erik Christian Haugaard's translation of Andersen's Complete Fairy Tales and Stories (Doubleday, 1973) is still the standard reference. Lewis's anthology, with its insightful art and lively introductions, is certainly a worthwhile addition. Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams