Grade 3-6 This new edition of Browning's classic poem joins one other that is in print, Kate Greenaway's (Warne, 1889), a classic in its own right. Ivanov's edition is beautifully set in black italic type, and his realistic pictures are quite effective in depicting action, setting and character. There are 15 dramatic, vividly painted scenes giving varied perspectives, each spread over two pages. The gentler Greenaway illustrations, done in warm, softer colors, are smaller but more than twice in number and place more emphasis on children. That book remains in print for good reason, as it is one of her best efforts; her children who follow the piper really appear to be dancing in a trance. But Ivanov is successful in different ways. The medieval atmosphere and the avarice of the burghers come across better, as does a sense of what a truly disgusting plague the rats were. Because of the difficulty children will have in reading the italic typeface, Ivanov's version is more suitable for reading aloud than for independent reading. Ronald Van de Voorde, Graduate Library School, University of Arizona, TucsonCopyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.