Fairy Tales from Many Lands

A king's golden apples disappear every night, sending his three sons out to guard the tree in turn. Katharine Pyle opens this illustrated fairy tale collection with a puzzle that becomes a story of seven shining peahens, a princess who changes her shape, and a prince searching across mountains and seas. His brothers' jealousy leads him to a costly decision, while an enchantress urges him to marry her daughter. The contents also include tales named for a lake magician, a wise gazelle, a faithful dog, and the sun and moon.

In another story, Maria di Legno finds shelter at a palace and works with the pots and pans while concealed inside the figure of an old woman. At carnival time she steps out of her disguise and appears at the ball wearing a dress of stars. These episodes offer readers magical transformations alongside familiar feelings of envy and affection. The contrast between kitchen labour and royal celebrations gives Maria's story a particular point of interest within the collection.