The Golden Goose

In this traditional folktale, three brothers are each given the opportunity to share food and drink with an old man. The first two selfishly refuse and fall victim to bad luck. Simpleton, on the other hand, is rewarded for his generosity and discovers a golden goose. Jealous strangers attempt to steal some golden feathers and one by one become stuck, until they form a long procession that grows even longer as more hapless strangers try to help. The sight of this silly string is enough to make even a gloomy princess laugh. Saunders's funny tale is not to be confused with the more famous The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg. Seltzer's pictures are graphically bold and colorful against a white background, and help provide much of the merriment hereat a good price. Ages 4-7. (January)