OLD LETIVIA AND THE MOUNTAIN OF SORROWS

This challenging fantasy by Mohr (The Magic Shell, 1995, etc.) will appeal to more able readers. The long story concerns a curandera, or healer, her whistling turtle, Cervantes (who is a magician), and a tiny boy, Simon, found floating in the river. When the village is besieged by terrible wind, the villagers go to Letivia for help. Letivia, Simon, and Cervantes travel to the faraway Mountain of Sorrows, enduring many perils along the way until they confront the wind who, as it turns out, has gotten stuck in the mountain by mistake and would like nothing more than to be free. Letivia accomplishes this and is granted four wishes in return. The story's rambling structure has less to do with the typical folktale than with the quests found in fantasy books for older readers. Gutierrez's pictures, too, are somewhat reminiscent of the work of fantasy artists, with bizarre and ferocious creatures. While the tale is not suited to all tastes, it should please attentive readers. (Picture book. 3-8)