_PageM14_ May 30, 1990, This Week BOOKS Children’s books designed to attract young-at-heart n Ottawa, the city where I spent at least part of my childhood and ado- lescence, there was (and may still be) a very special focus for those of us who thought of The Outdoors in terms so reverential as to de- mand capitalization even in thought. The Laurentian Trading Post was, for fishermen, hun- ters and young boys steeped in the bush lore of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, Radisson and Groseilliers, nothing less than mecca. Renowned as it was for boats and bows, traps and rifles, snowshoes and other such paraphernalia, the Post’s main claim to fame was its selection of fishing lures: 65,000 (the advertisements claimed), hung from floor to ceiling in glittering ranks of rainbow enamels, winking scales and stainless steel. But would they, I asked with awe the first time I be- held this miracle, all catch fish? “No”, my father replied with amusement, “but they do catch fishermen.” It’s funny the things that stay with you over the years - and the things that trigger those memories. The stimulus for that particular one was the latest batch of children’s books to come my way. Now let’s be honest here: is there any child, barely post- potty yet, who is so intellec- tually advanced that he or she can fully appreciate the artis- tic talent that gives many children’s books their visual impact? Of course not. So whom are they meant to at- tract? Why, adults, of course. Here, by way of proof, are a few that proved effective at hooking this reviewer's atten- tion and admiration. The Magic Fan is an ingeni- ous storybook written and il- lustrated by Seattle author Keith Baker. What makes The Magic Fan (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich; $14.95) so eye- catching is that the illustra- tions are fan-shaped and serve text on opposing pages. -Books West By MIKE STEELE The reader need only flip the vibrantly colored ‘leaves’ of the fan to see the brilliantly vibrant images that accompa- ny the next section of text in this story of a young Japanese boy who saves his village from total ruin. Dennis Nolan, illustrating Jane Yolen’s Dove Isabeau, has chosen a softer, waterco- lor feel for much of the art- work that adorns this fanciful tale of jealousy and sorcery. In Dove Isabeau (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich; $13.95), a young girl is transformed into a dragon through the black magic of a witch embittered by rejection. Can anything short of a pure heart and a love- struck suitor save the helpless Dove? Nope - that’s why they call this fantasy. The Mare’s Egg also de- serves a rave or two and not just for the quality of its art- work (although Vancouver- born Kim La Fave has done a superb job with every one of his images). No, The Mare’s Egg (Firefly; 57 pp.; $9.95) is an amusing story plucked from the realm of Canadian history and folklore. Author Carol Spray, a Fre- dericton children’s librarian, creative writing instructor and mother of two, has spent years collecting tapes of East- ern Canadian folklore. Sever- al of these tales were collected in her previous book, Will O’ The Wisp and one other is the inspiration for The Mare’s Egg. This latest Spray tale tells the story of a newly-arrived pioneer who sets about creat- ing a home in the Canadian wilderness. Being somewhat gullible, he accepts at face value the claim by a local farmer that pumpkins are ac- tually the source of horses - mare’s eggs in fact. Naturally the farmer is loathe to part with any of his but, for a price, he is eventually persuaded to do so. What follows is a series of comic episodes as the trusting immigrant attempts to hatch the ‘mare’s egg’ himself - with no success. Without a doubt though the most involved and detailed artwork to grace any of the new kids’ books is that to be found in Jill Barklem’s The High Hills (Harper & Collins; $8.95). The High Hills continues the Brambly Hedge series be- gun by Barklem in 1980 with Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story and Winter PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT DRUGS Plan to attend this 1-1/2 hour free seminar. | am so confident that PHYSIOFIELD will help relieve your pain that | personally offer an un- conditional money-back guarantee! * We are a distributor of a medical appliance and as such, do not give treat- ments. Thursday, May 31 VICTORIA - Executive House, 777 Douglas St. SAANICH - Royal Oak Inn, 4680 Elk Lake Drive FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 275-2296 PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL PHYSIOFIELD LTD. 4479 Colchester Drive, Richmond, B.C. V7R 4R3 TPO MPOREPORORE GG Gee eee ee Friday, June 1 Mel Gerling, President BONUS DISCOVER how you may be able to get relief from the pain of: -ARTHRITIS -BACK PAIN -INJURIES =SINUS | -HEADACHES =STRESS =SCIATICA =-VARICOSE VEINS -POOR CIRCULATION 2:30 PM and 7 PM i_| Enter draw for ag Therafield AB Unit @ awarded weekly! 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM , Story. Having exhausted the seasons but not readers’ inter- est, the author then produced The Secret Staircase (1983) and The High Hills (1986) but in a larger format than the 1980 originals. Both of these latter titles are now available in the smaller and apparently more popular size employed for the first four books. But for sheer humour, you can’t beat Werner Zimmer-- mann’s drawing of Farmer Joe in Nancy Richards’ fun- filled Farmer Joe Goes To The City (Scholastic; $12.95). Intent on buying a birthday present for his wife, Farmer Joe sets off in his pickup truck for the city (which looks suspi- ciously like Toronto) along with an assortment of chick- ens, a cow and a pig. But finding anything, let alone the right gift, is a daunting task for someone from the country even if this metropolis was once known as Hog Town. Farmer Joe perseveres as we knew he would and enjoys a happy ending in this hilari- ous yarn. And by the way: Farmer Joe Goes To The City, is the second Richards- Zimmermann collaboration featuring this appealing rural character. Farmer Joe’s Hot Day began the Farmer Joe phenomenon and established a niche - or furrow - for this talented pair.