EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, THE

This classic tale is a favorite among children; now Levinson and Byrd present a version faithful to the spirit of Andersen's but with a slightly different twist. The retelling retains the tone of the original spare, direct, and fluid. Byrd sets the tale in a world of anthropomorphized animals, and the results are very effective. The role assigned each beast makes perfect sense: the emperor is a lion, the rascals who trick him are foxes, the chamberlain is a goat, the royal minister is a bear, and the little child who dares to say what he really sees is a kitten. Words and pictures blend nicely, with just the right amount of text on each page for sharing aloud. Well-executed watercolor washes with pen-and-ink detailing make use of cool, vibrant colors--emerald green and fuchsia dominate. Drawn in a comic but realistic style, each animal possesses a distinct and consistent personality. The scenes are rich with detail but never crammed or confusing.