HOW A SHIRT GREW IN THE FIELD

A 19th-century Russian ``classic,'' originally published in this adaptation in 1967 with illustrations by Yaroslava. The story makes an interesting contrast to Beskow's Pelle's New Suit (1929) and de Paola's Charlie Needs a Cloak (1973): Little Vasya, far from doing the work himself, has no idea how flax is planted, harvested, and processed until he watches his mother and sisters labor through a whole year to complete his beautifully embroidered garment. The details are fascinating (the linen is left out all winter to bleach and soften), as described and as depicted in the gracefully composed illustrations; Weihs's particulars, selected with admirable economy, evoke the Russian setting while her figures and landscape are rendered with a lovely simplicity. An outstanding new presentation for a fine story. Useful note on flax. (Picture book. 4-8)