The Foolish Husbands

Humor and wisdom abound in this Norwegian folktale about two friends, Gunhild and Margit, who love a good argument. The one says her husband is as stupid as a troll; the other says, ""Your husband is a genius compared to mine.'' So each agrees to make good her claim about her husband's imbecility. Gunhild convinces her husband that he's ill and dying, while Margit makes a suit for her mate by ``spinning at an empty wheel.'' The funeral is not cause for grief, however, but tears of laughter, and the two ladies wonder attheir own stupidity for marrying such unsuitable husbands. Hall's adaptation of this old wives' tale is terse and to the point. Her illustrations reflect the mood of ridicule and triviality in stylized forms and color combinations; they conjure up images of folkloric costumes with florid, almost abstract patterns. Ages 5-8. (September)