Childe Roland: An English Folk Tale

This ``original English folk tale'' is an addition to the Folk Tales of the World series. Childe Roland makes a dangerous journey to the Dark Tower in Elfland to rescue his sisters and brother from enchantment. He follows Merlin's directions explicitly and during his dangerous trip lops off the heads of the horse-herd, cow-herd and hen-wife who each direct him to the Dark Tower. Eventually, he subdues the King of Elfland who restores to Roland his brothers and sisters. Although the tone of the story is somber, the text is straightforward and often sprightly. The sketchy watercolor illustrations and the Celtic designs on the endpapers are well-executed and appropriately eerie; unfortunately, they do not always match the action and description in the text. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)