Ouch!

Based on a lesser-known tale from the Brothers Grimm called "The Giant with the Three Golden Hairs," Ouch!, written by Natalie Babbitt (Tuck Everlasting) and illustrated by Fred Marcellino, offers up a devilish tale about a young boy named Marco who is born with a "crown" birthmark, leading his parents to believe that his destiny points towards the king's court. Unfortunately, this belief is not shared by the king, a nasty piece of work who wheedles the baby away from his folks, pops him into a wicker basket and plops him in the water for a Moses-style cruise. Rescued by a miller, the boy is christened Marco and grows into a strapping young lad whose path once again crosses the evil king's--only this time, the king's murderous plan backfires considerably and Marco ends up marrying the king's daughter. Determined to rid himself of his new son-in-law, the king sends Marco on a mission to hell--literally--to retrieve three golden hairs from the head of the Devil. In a surprising and truly delightful bit of literary derring-do, Marco receives assistance from an unlikely quarter: the Devil's kindly grandmother. Although it might not sit well with the brook-no-scriptural-hanky-panky fundamentalist crowd, Ouch! will be a genuine treat for most others. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)