The Sea King — Jane Yolen

K-Gr 4-Folkloric motifs abound and Baba Yaga and Vasilisa make cameo appearances in this original folktale. When a king spares the life of a talking eagle, he sets in motion a series of events-the bird gives him a gift that he opens before he should, the sea king rescues the gift but demands his price, and finally the king's son must return to the sea king's crystal palace and accomplish three tasks. Students of folk literature will find a literal treasure hunt as they search for the numerous elements that enrich the story. While youngsters may enjoy the puzzlelike aspects of the tale, stilted dialogue (Give me that which you do not know is in your house) and lifeless characters that function almost as archetypes make it difficult for readers to become fully engaged. Czernecki's masterfully stylized illustrations do little to offset the flat characterization. The bold graphics tantalize the eye, but the round-headed protagonists have about as much personality as old Fisher-Price play people. One tidbit of wisdom is worth noting-after the king spends years avoiding the sea in the hope that the sea king will forget, the authors assert, Years passed. But promises do not.-Jeanne Clancy Watkins, Chester County Library, Exton, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.