Jack in the Green

Yes, please ignore that scathing review! I had no shortage of children's books growing up, including some of the classic illustrators among picture books: Graeme Base, Steven Kellogg, Jan Brett, Erick Ingraham, and others. This book became a favorite among favorites for me. The illustrations are exquisite and I, at least, found the story to be charming rather than "stiff" and "tired," both as an enthralled child, and later as a reminiscing adult. The elements of the story could be described as "overplayed" only in the sense that many authors create their own takes on classic legends and themes. This would make a wonderful addition to any child's bookshelf, especially those with a love of fairy tales.

This is one of the most beautiful children's books ever written. Period.