The Giantess

This German import takes the point of view of a giantess, a kind young woman who just happens to be exceedingly tall and who keeps herself in isolation so that she will not frighten others. When her neighbor, a woodsman, invites her to a carnival, she is delighted to find that she blends in with the witches and pirates and gypsies, and that even when she reveals her true identity, people do not fear her; rather, they imagine how her height can help them fix a roof and see over the crowd at a circus. Hasler's (Flying with Wings of Wax) story flirts with being a happily-ever-after romance and, as such, is a bit clumsy: the giantess is bitterly disappointed to discover that the handsome ""giant"" with whom she dances at the carnival is only her neighbor on stilts, and his compliment ""You remind me of my friends, the trees. They're tall too!"" is not one which would warm every girl's heart (especially coming from someone who chops down trees for a living). Nonetheless, the two walk off hand in hand in the end. Seelig's illustrations add a sly charm. Proportions everywhere are pleasingly askew (the giantess's house, for example, is oddly tall and narrow), and the wonderful costumes of the carnival-goers create a fanciful visual panorama. A tall tale that is by turns gawky and disarming. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)