THE KING WHO TRIED TO FRY AN EGG ON HIS HEAD

A Russian tale retold by a popular picture-book author (Mushroom in the Rain; Two Greedy Bears). Hoping to provide for his hungry family, a penniless king throws himself on the mercy of Sun, Moon, and Raven: If the Sun will warm him, if the Moon will give him light, and if the Raven will help him gather grain, he'll let them marry his three daughters. When the king goes to visit the happy couples, he comes home boasting of tricks learned from his sons-in-law—e.g., cooking an omelette on his head, like the Sun. Watching raw egg trickle down her husband's neck, his long-suffering wife remarks, ``I married a fool'' and cooks hers on the stove. After three such failures, he groans ``Never again'' and resolves to live by his own wits. Hillenbrand's illustrations for this comical head shaker employ royally rich colors and patterns, whimsical, skewed shapes, and wisps of line that deftly characterize the winsome daughters, put-upon queen, and feckless king. No source given. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-8)