Gilly Martin the Fox

Although the cast of this centuries-old Scottish tale includes a prince, a princess and a multi-headed giant, the real mastermind is, intriguingly, a shape-shifting fox. When the Witch of Alban casts a spell on the Prince of Alban to bring her the Blue Falcon, Gilly Martin the Fox comes to his aid. He quarterbacks the Prince's quest, which evolves into a series of quests involving a Giant with Five Heads, the Seven Big Women, the King of Erin and the King of Lochlann, whose daughter the Prince falls in love with. In the end, the Prince proves his bravery, the spell is broken, he and the Princess are to marry, and he promises Gilly Martin that ``forever and always, the law of Alban shall be that none of you foxes shall ever come to any harm.'' Composed in a classic fairy-tale style, McDermott's watercolors match the mood of this lighthearted Scottish adventure--comfortably familiar, but with a welcome twist. Ages 5-9. (Apr.)