Raphael and the Noble Task

A stocking stuffer with a fairy-tale feel, Salton's slim debut novel is a wholesome but not too sweet tale. The gargoyles, chim res, tomb effigies, mice and pigeons who decorate and inhabit a medieval cathedral all come to life at night, and they take their jobs and physical positions in the cathedral very seriously. A chim re named Raphael, who looks like a dragon but is really a griffin, is restless in spirit. Having been told that he needs a Noble Task, ""a task critical to the continued existence of the Celestial Spheres,"" he thinks he's found his mission when a baby is abandoned at the cathedral. Since a cold and terrible winter has left the monks virtually out of food, Raphael takes the child into the world of the cathedral creatures, learning to love the infant and even risking discovery as he moves out of the cathedral in order to find food. Further suspense derives from the quandaries of the abbot, the baby's mother and other denizens of the town who face their own weaknesses, fears and challenges. Comic relief comes from the chiseled, furry and winged creatures of the cathedral and a ferocious dog who undergoes a change of heart. Salton's moral is gentle: love is sacrifice, and it is in giving that we receive. Written for her son and traditionally read aloud to him at Christmas, this tale should appeal to holiday book buyers. Illustrations by David Weitzman, some reminiscent of Sendak, capture the medieval mood. (Nov.)