cover image Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas

John Mason Neale, J. M. Neale. Dutton Books, $11.95 (24pp) ISBN 978-0-525-44420-6

In this rhythmic Christmas ballad, a good king looks out of his castle and sees a poor man gathering fuel. ``Yonder peasant, who is he?'' he asks his page. The king makes his way through the snow, loaded with gifts, to share his wealth with the poor man. Henterly's majestic illustrations, in opulent colors, convey the difficulties of the peasant's search for fuel as well as the generous measures of the king. The carol's delicate text is left intact, and the melody appears on the end page; some readers may wish that further piano or guitar accompaniment also had been included. All ages. (September)