Stories at the Door — Jan Andrews

Jan Andrews draws on folk stories from around the world to build her newest collection of tales, rife with humor and tingling with action. Cleverly threaded together by verses describing the arrival of unbidden stories that enter boldly through the door and stay just long enough to have their say, these tales have been rendered anew by a master storyteller. In “Jesper and the Jackrabbits,” simple wits add up to wonderful wisdom -- and rich reward. “Jacinth Wins Words” will spark hilarity, as two sisters compete with surprising and malodorous weapons. The cumulative “Cat and Mouse Tale” is nonsensical fun while “Jacinth Finds Fear” points up what is really important and worth dwelling on. “Jane Saves the Day” is one-upmanship at its best and demonstrates just how powerful underdogs can be. A wonderful addition to anyone's library, Stories at the Door points up our human foibles in the nicest of ways and reminds us all not to take ourselves too seriously. Highly amusing drawings peppered throughout heighten the experience all the more.