Fairytales

An ordinary title masks this stellar collection, with exquisite paintings. Tales from six countries have familiar fairy-tale elements but aren't as well known as those in other books. In France's ""The Magic Thread,'' a daydreamer has the ability to pull a thread and hurry through the bad episodes in his life, but finds himself gray before his time. Italy's ``The Seven Doves'' is about a girl who literally stops the old woman Time in her tracks. England's ``Cap O'Reeds'' conjures up the same dramatic themes of King Lear, and a princess in Germany's ``King Turnip Counter'' outwits a dwarf king and ruins his reputation with mortals. There are also tales from Spain and the U.S.S.R. Ustinov's classical paintings, swept in light and shadow, fancifully combine realistic and enchanted elements of the stories; the lovely winding borders, valiant steeds, members of court with ivory complexions and medieval dress and children frollicking on a lawn bring immediacy to these scenes from the land of the imagination. Ages 5-8. (September)