TASHA TUDOR'S SAMPLER

Three of Tudor's quaint holiday tales, first published separately—which would seem a more appropriate format for a seasonal goodie. Most insipid is the first story, "Waiting for Easter," about the dream of a wee fawn, little lambs, ducklings, etc., that "you" will have on the night before—"But. . . only if you have been good and can find the dust on daffodils with your eyes tight shut." That leaves most of us out. Though still mincing, the Halloween story (from 1938) has a pinch of old-fashioned humor and genuine coziness: "Pumpkin Moonshine" (you might call it Jack-O-Lantern) is what a good little girl named Sylvie Ann wants to make—and does, but not till the pumpkin she finds in a field rolls away (Bumpity Bump Bump!) down the hill, through the barnyard and "right into Mr. Hemmelskamp who was carrying a pail of whitewash!" "The Doll's Christmas," all about the preparations Laura and Efner make for the Christmas tree, dinner, gifts, etc., of their lavishly housed dolls Sethany Ann and Nicey Melinda, is the only one of the three cast in then (1950) modern dress—but Tudor can't resist putting everyone into "old-fashioned clothes" for the climactic marionette performance. Ruffles and lace, for other adults who equate children's holidays with sweets and nostalgia.