Bella Magellona, La

The ``beautiful Magellona'' is an unusual heroine to say the least, possessed of ``a small tiny head on a massive torso'' and four feet--two enormous ones of her own and two little ones sewn onto the hem of her dress as camouflage. Magellona is the central figure in a convoluted story the author purportedly heard from a relative when he was a child, a story that features an unconventional cast--including Magellona's jealous and spiteful fiance (whom she doesn't love) and a miniature cavalier (whom she does). The star-crossed--or more precisely, size-crossed--lovers' dilemma is eventually solved through a strange simultaneous dream, but the road of events leading to the conclusion, though not without humor, is bumpy at best. De Mejo's surreal paintings echo the weirder elements of the story but, though skillfully executed, don't hold much child appeal. The book is clearly aimed at the higher end of the age spectrum, if not at adults, and young readers will be hard pressed to work up much enthusiasm for it. Ages 5-9. (Mar.)