MAXFIELD PARRISH

A slim collection, subtitled ""A Treasury of Art and Children's Literature,"" of some of Parrish's full-color art, matched to abbreviated retellings of the tales for which they were created. The 34 reproductions vary wildly in quality: A few capture his sensuality and clear, golden light, but most are pale, flat, and muddy. In her first book, Gilbert has rewritten some classics, with dismal results: ""The Reluctant Dragon"" is reduced to a page and a half, ""The Frog King"" and ""Snow White"" are treacly paraphrases, and episodes from The Arabian Nights and A Wonder-Book And Tanglewood Tales are fleshless plot summaries. The author includes a brief biographical introduction and a personal memoir about the birth and growth of her fascination with Parrish; it's the only part of this with any value, and that minor.