Stories of Gnomes and Goblins

This is a compilation of four short stories from the UK-based publishing house Usborne. Recommended for the 5 to 8 age group, the language is simple, the print is large, and each page has colorful illustrations by Stephen Cartwright that make the story easy to follow. The first two stories are about gnomes and goblins, but the last two deviate from the title of the book and are about other creatures. The Lazy Gnome Goblin Hill A Magic Bridge Willo the Wisp The first story is about a gnome who became an unwelcome visitor on a farm when he refused to do any work and wanted half the crop. The second story is about a little girl who helps a fairy stuck in a spider web, and gets invited to a party. The third tells the tale of a traveler who made a bad decision to sleep on a pixie bridge. The fourth warns about the dangers of following strange lights over marshes. Very attractively presented, the book has a ribbon book-marker and cover art with shiny writing, and would be a good one to get for your favorite young reader. Amanda Richards, October 4, 2008