The Crystal Mountain
Grade 1-4-Taking particular strands from a Chinese tale of a magic brocade, detailed threads from a Norwegian story of a glass mountain, and filaments from her own artistic imagination, Sanderson has woven a new fabric, framed in a 15th-century European landscape (a time of extraordinary tapestry making). The stately text incorporates many traditional elements: the three sons of a widowed mother, the apparently feckless youngest son, magical animal aides, a crystal/glass mountain, and a quest fraught with dangers. Opulent oil paintings in lush detail reflect the turns of the story line as they parade in step with the youngest son on his desperate search for the missing tapestry that holds the fantastic landscape of his mother's dreams. And, while the phrase "happily ever after" is never uttered, delighted readers and listeners can rest assured it applies to the comforting conclusion. Match this story with Marilee Heyer's stunning The Weaving of a Dream (Puffin, 1989)-a retelling of the Chinese tale-and Claire Martin's resplendent Boots and the Glass Mountain (Dial, 1992; o.p.)-a retelling of the Norse story-and you will have both a rich visual experience and the unique opportunity to trace newly interwoven story lines to more original sources. Sumptuous.Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.