Thumbelina

Tiny Thumbelina, who measures ""exactly the same size as your thumb,"" pluckily weathers a string of harrowing ordeals in this version of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, a British import. As the diminutive heroine finds herself in the clutches of several unsuitable suitors (an overzealous toad, an aggressive stag beetle and an eager-to-marry mole), Falloon's unhurried storytelling chronicles Thumbelina's fears and worries with a minimum of tension or animation. This relaxed pace allows readers to more deeply consider the size-gone-awry fantasy. The author's occasionally sophisticated vocabulary and a sprinkling of British phrases will keep readers on their toes, but are not off-putting. Clark's distinctive watercolors, awash in much of nature's green and blue, provide pleasant, sometimes humorous accompaniment for the low-key narration. As a clever design element, small vignettes of Thumbelina with her various animal acquaintances far outnumber full-page paintings and liberally decorate the pages, skillfully breaking up lengthy passages of text. Younger readers will appreciate that most scenes are drawn to Thumbelina's scale, and that even the disagreeable characters here do not appear very menacing. The timeless portrait of a determined protagonist capable of surviving any fate but lucky enough to escape unfortunate circumstances will resonate for many contemporary girls. Ages 5-9. (Apr.)