When a fortune-teller foresees that the newborn child of a commoner will grow up to marry a princess, the king isn't happy. No royal daughter of his is going to marry "nobody special." The king's attempts to outwit fate are hilariously superseded in this snappily told story that is one of the lesser known tales from the Brothers Grimm. The lack of specific source information for this rendition of the tale is puzzling. But Natalie Babbitt's witty text and Fred Marcelino's amusing full-color illustrations that mock the king while casting the young here, Marco, in an aura of goodness are a winning combination. (Ages 7-10)

This tale from Grimm -- far less familiar than many of the others -- has been given a brisk retelling by Natalie Babbitt and witty, spectacular, sumptuous pictures by Fred Marcellino. The story tells all about young Marco, who leads a charmed life if anyone ever did, starting off as nobody special and ending up king. Not that it's an easy path, the most dangerous part being an errand that takes him down into Hell. But thanks to the Devil's grandmother, as good an old girl as grandmothers everywhere, it all comes right in the end.