Reynard the Fox

Consummately witty pictures of fabulist animals in sumptuous court attire propel this lavish story-within-a-story based on a French folktale. A young monarch summons a mysterious hermit in the hopes that the hermit's stories will reveal the ``secrets of being a good king.'' The hermit, ever hooded in monastic cloak, describes the exploits of the cunning fox Reynard and his contests with a lion king. Vaes, who designs sets and costumes for ballet, provides a visual counterpart to the intertwining narratives by ``doubling'' the art: large panels enact the main story, with animals imaginatively arrayed (seagulls and doves in the diaphanous garb of angels, the dogs of war in a multiplicity of helmets, etc.). Smaller panels simultaneously show a painterly mouse, either standing before an appropriate work-in-progress on his easel or engaged in a action parallel to the story. No ``prettying up'' of the characters' misdeeds mars the spiral of the story, which tucks in neatly at the end with a clear indication that the shadowy hermit is none other than Reynard. The text falters in spots (why does an ape help the friendless Reynard?) and gratuituous moments add to its already ungainly length, but the breathtaking visuals make repeat visits likely. All ages. (Oct.)