Princes' Gifts

Magic and enchantment abound in this rich collection of stories from around the world. Drawn from places as diverse as China, New Mexico, Norway, Tibet, Portugal, Romania, and the West Indies, each tale is a spellbinding mix of fantasy and fable that has been told and retold for generations. Here are tales of the courageous and the clever, and the greedy and the mean-spirited. We meet a jealous witch-boy who changes his friend into a coyote, an old man who outwits a powerful genie, and an innkeeper who serves her guests magic cakes. And there are strange animals who repay acts of kindness with miraculous favors, and wondrous gifts received with unexpected consequences. Throughout, Quentin Blake's spirited illustrations capture the wit and wonder of these truly marvelous tales.