MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

Yolen introduces a grand collection of 14 tales with a letter to her sons and grandsons. Each features clever males as heroes who stick to their word and never resort to force. The young lad in “The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs” uses his respectful behavior to enlist the Devil’s own grandmother’s help with obtaining the hairs as well as the answer to three questions for which he’s richly rewarded. In a lesser-known Israeli tale, “And Who Cured the Princess?,” three brothers work together to use their cleverness to cure the princess and win, for one of them, her hand in marriage. Several tales have new twists, such as “Jack and His Companions,” reminiscent of the Bremen Town Musicians, but here the treasures are returned to their rightful owner. Yolen, an undisputable queen of storytelling, shines with these retellings. Colón’s black-and-white scratchboard drawings are scattered throughout, presenting a troll just menacing enough, a shepherd just confident enough, and a princess just—well, just demure. A stellar read-aloud volume as well as just right for independent readers. (Folktales. 8-12)