Lost & Found

Garner (The Ingenious Edgar Jones) retells 15 classic and lesser-known fairy tales in this charming collection. The opening tale, “The King of the Birds,” in which many species put forth arguments as to why they should rule all of bird-kind, sets the lyrical, enchanting tone. Each subsequent tale highlights a moral message, most explicitly in “Stealing the Moon,” which sees trickster hero Jack lure members of his village into jumping down a well to get a fictional treasure by preying on each individual’s moral failings. Jack returns at regular intervals, appearing in “The Riddles of the Crossroads,” “The Wits of the Whetstone,” and “The Coal Companion” and becoming something of a mile marker as readers work their way through these stories. Many of the tales also contain religious undertones, with appearances from Satan himself and dealings with the similarly untrustworthy Fair Folk. While all 15 stand strongly on their own, reading them together enhances their power, drawing readers into a magical world. Folk and fairy tale aficionados won’t want to miss this. (Mar.)