The Adventures of Tom Thumb

This is a beautiful rendition of the traditional fairy tale, faithfully told, with an endnote telling a little about the folkloric history of the story. Tom Thumb overcomes tremendous odds and defeats enemies much larger than himself through courage and intelligence, endearing himself to small listeners for generations. The gorgeous illustrations are "loosely based on those of twelfth-century England, and the borders and ornamentation are inspired by manuscripts of the same era." Craft's unique paintings are lush and full of movement, and they add a significant aesthetic quality to an already pleasing story. One quibble is that the queen of the fairies is depicted at the baby's christening leaning over the baby in an off-the-shoulder gown that is just this side of modesty. Still, the book makes an excellent addition to a fairy tale collection.