Nine of the most popular Andersen tales are retold with no particular finesse, to say nothing of style or flavor (from ""The Snow Queen"": ""When a good or pious thought passed through anyone's mind, it was shown in the mirror in such a way that the devil chuckled at his own cleverness""); and the combination of large print and long type-lines gives the book an old-fashioned, mass-market look. But the point, presumably, is Michael Hague's also old-fashioned, full-page, full-color illustrations--the kind of minutely detailed, realistic paintings, with strong outlines, that accompanied the introduction of full-color process engraving c. 1900. All the scenes have the same glazed appearance, all the people look posed; only the few animals have the least vitality. But there are those who will find this to their taste, regardless.