From Booklist
Gr. 4^-8, younger for reading aloud. Culling a few select folk and fairy tales from traditional Italian lore, storyteller Caduto crafts original tellings of the tales for contemporary audiences. The title story carries a weighty moral lesson: contrary to her mother's cautions, young Donatella wanders away from her home and is lured to the lair of the dangerous crimson elf. A young man's perseverance and courage are rewarded in "A Mountain of Contentment," another of the lesson-laden tales, and "The Land of Eternal Life" leads youngsters to ponder what eternal life is and how it is achieved. A black-and-white pen-and-ink illustration leads off each of the six stories, which will engage youngsters reading international folklore or story hour audiences. Ellen Mandel
Product Description
A lyrical retelling of lively Italian folk stories provide entertaining and gentle lessons for children in a collection that includes the title story, "The Golden Stone," and "Books of Wisdom."
