THE FOUR GALLANT SISTERS

Freely adapting and combining two of the Grimms' tales (unidentified, but ``The Four Accomplished Brothers'' has a similar scenario) in a long new story sparkling with incident, Kimmel creates a lively saga of four self-reliant sisters who disguise themselves as men and earn skills that are then used to rescue the king's fiancÇe from a dragon. In some delightful byplay, the old queen tries to prove by the heroes' inherent generosity and tidiness that they are women, but it's the rescued princess who clinches it: ``Who but women would undertake such trials without demanding a reward?'' Yuditskaya, a recent Russian emigrÇ, depicts this good-humored update in an opulent Renaissance setting with glowing theatrical backgrounds and figures detailed in vigorously telling line. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-10)