The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks

Katherine Paterson. Puffin Books, $6.99 (40pp) ISBN 978-0-14-055739-8

A one-eyed samurai is unjustly forced to be a servant in this Japanese folktale; PW praised Paterson's retelling as ``rich with magic, compassion and love,'' and the Dillons' pastel and watercolor illustrations as ``exquisite.'' Ages 5-8. (Nov.)

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