THE ENCHANTED BOOK: A Tale from Krakow

Harcourt Brace, 1987. 1st US Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. As New/Very Good+. Jan Brett color illustrations. CONDITION: Gently perused 1987 Harcourt Brace large (tall) hardcover (maroon boards with gilt design) & dust jacket (in mylar cover IF I can find one big enough), first US edition, first printing. DJ shows light edge wear top edge with some light "aging." Remainder mark bottom edge at spine. Translated from the Polish by Bozena Smith and color illustrations by Jan Brett. CONTENT: In this Polish tale, familiar mythic patterns are well represented. The miller has three daughters, each of them beautiful, and "each one wanted different things in life"the two older ones have frivolous wishes, while the youngest desires only to work hard and help her parents. When an old beggar woman is treated kindly by the family and teaches the daughters to read, only the youngest works hard at it. An evil enchanter hears of the daughters and decides to marry one of them. He tricks each of them into going to his castle, and the youngest daughter, with her ability to read, saves all three. Brilliantly colored illustrations inspired by Polish paper cuts and folk motifs lavishly complement the tale. Ages 5-9.