From the Canadian creator of The Wildlife 1 2 3 (1989), a delightful chain of nine short fables and pourquoi tales from around the globe. Each has two characters, one of which is also a principal in the succeeding story, though its personality may change: e.g., Tortoise is cunning in a West African tale but stupidly vain in one from China. This clever linking device is inverted in the pictures: the ``left-behind'' animal from each tale appears in the background of the illustration for the next one, even though it isn't an actor there. Thornhill's dramatic full-page art features deep, jewel-like colors, firm outlines, and varied textures within patterned borders inspired by traditional designs from the tales' homelands. A map locates story areas; list of sources for border patterns. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)
