FORRI THE BAKER

Forri, the best village baker in the town of Ettai, makes some pretty oddly shaped loaves—they look like keys, fish, roots, roses. For his inspired efforts he is spurned by the townfolk. But he proves himself a crack military tactician when the underarmed town is beseiged by barbarians. Forri concocts lances, spears, swords, and shields of bread; to the invaders looking on in early morning's half-light, the place is simply bristling with weaponry. They retreat and the townspeople break bread (the weapons) together. A superb book in both word and art; Natchev's watercolors marvelously summon the Middle Ages. Creative types and/or sensitive readers may balk at the moral, that acceptance is gained only after heroic feats are performed. Still, it's nice to see the underdog pull one off, and the work on the whole resonates with good humor. (Picture book. 4-8)