MAGIC IN GROSSLAND

This book should have great appeal for the 8 to 10 crowd, partly because of its slightly outrageous body-function humor.  And parents should applaud its positive values.

The title story features the plight of a shockingly handsome monster boy in a land of ugly monsters.  To his shame, he resists joining in their humorously gross behavior.   Then a beautiful witch (witches in Grossland are beautiful) aids him with a strange but temporary enchantment.  And when he triumphs over the other monsters, he struggles against the urge to seek revenge . . .

Next, “Dr. Pettibone” is visited by a girl and a boy with absurd problems.  The bungling doctor offers little help, but notifies Endingman, a superhero-like character who fixes the endings of stories gone awry.  Each time Endingman appears, the verse narration abruptly shifts to prose, suggesting another dimension.

“Crazy-legs” is based on the Eastern tradition of holy men with magical powers.  The zany monk in this tale may be deemed a sort of Drukpa Kunley (in Tibetan, Brugpa Kunlegs) for children.  He exemplifies what is sometimes called “Crazy Wisdom.”

Finally, “Birbal The Wise” is based on King Akbar of India’s legendary minister Birbal, whose wisdom enabled him to thwart the evil plots of jealous enemies.