The Hidden Folk: Stories of Fairies, Dwarves, Selkies, and Other Secret Beings

Goblins and ghosts are not the only elusive phantoms this season. ""Like whispered rumors of strange happenings,"" the eight tales in The Hidden Folk: Stories of Fairies, Gnomes, Selkies, and Other Secret Beings by Lise Lunge-Larsen, illus. by Beth Krommes, were ""originally told as fact,"" according to the author's source note. The tales of mysterious Northern European creatures inspire enchanting scratchboard illustrations in a folk-art tradition, featuring ruddy, rotund humans while brightly clad fairies lurk among leaf fronds and selkies take refuge in the sea. ( Aug.) .