Feathers, Paws, Fins and Claws: Fairy-Tale Beasts

In a collection fit for both academic audiences and younger readers curious about the history of tales they thought they knew, Schacker and Jones gather 10 animal-centric fairy tales from around the globe, altering the stories as little as possible—many of these translations and retellings date to the late 19th century, though the tales themselves can be older. Among the most familiar stories are “The Story of the Three Bears” (this version dates to 1890 and features a rude old woman instead of a nosy blonde girl) and the Norwegian tale “East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon.” Kusaite’s expressively drafted pencil illustrations lavish attention on the fur, feathers, and scales of the majestic, mysterious creatures at the heart of these stories. Ages 8–15. (Sept.)