Once Upon a Time

Garner ( The Owl Service ; Elidor ) retells three unusual folktales with verve--his words take on a magic of their own. In the first tale, a fox outwits a hare and steals her home, singing out a terrifying rhyme to keep other animals at bay. Only a cock with a sickle and a song of her own sets the intruder running. The second tale tells of a girl's search for her brother through a land of speaking ovens, trees, rivers and gastronomic challenges. The final story gleefully romps through the impossible (a needle becomes a steeple, a pumpkin houses an entire town). Imbued with spirit, these uncommon tales jaunt along, ideal for reading aloud. Graceful muted illustrations and playful layouts stress the cumulative elements in the first two stories while celebrating the extraordinary in the third. With their smooth sheen and intricate detail these images extend Garner's vision of the fantastical. A book full of surprises. Ages 4-up. (Nov.)