The Well at the End of the World

Starred review from November 15, 2004
With a princess who is not only kind but prefers "good books to good looks," San Souci's (The Talking Eggs
) clever adaptation of the classic British fairy tale brims with wit, quotable dialogue and a modern sensibility. Likewise, talented newcomer Walsh visually blends conventional fairy tale trappings with more contemporary, amusing details. Her distinctive style combines royal splendor with ordinary homespun details. On Rosamond's lovely crown, for instance, a cord loops under her chin like a child's costume tiara. San Souci reverses the tale's traditional roles, making his Rosamond plain but practical and her stepsister, Zenobia, a slave to her mirror. Each girl makes a trip to the well at the end of the world and is rewarded (or not) according to their natures. The generous Rosamond receives not only "true love and new wealth" but health for her father, whose illness occasioned her trip. Zenobia's selfishness turns her into a "snag-toothed, long-nosed, sail-eared, cross-eyed" wretch. Welsh wisely transforms the story's trio of macabre heads that float in the well into faces that resemble large coins; she subtly transforms Rosamond's plainness into a beauty that comes from an inner radiance; the artist makes the most of comic opportunities for depicting Zenobia's outlandish downfall. Rosamond's story contains enough wit and gentle instruction to please readers of all ages. Ages 5-8.

November 1, 2004
K-Gr 4-An author's note indicates that this story is loosely based on the British tale "The King of Colchester's Daughters." Princess Rosamond helps her father manage his kingdom. She's smart, but not much of a looker. All is well until the widowed king marries a beautiful yet greedy woman who also has a daughter. The two spend his treasury on clothing and jewels then demand that he tax his people at a higher rate. When the unhappy king falls ill, Rosamond takes off to find a magical well that contains healing water. She is kind to those she meets along the way and is amply rewarded with wealth, beauty, and love. When the stepmother and her daughter learn about her success, they attempt to collect some of the well's bounty. The selfish stepdaughter is rewarded in kind, with horrible ugliness. Upon her return, she attempts to fool a handsome prince into marrying her, but Rosamond saves the day and she and the young man live happily ever after. Done in a mixture of acrylic and watercolor, the richly hued illustrations vary in size from smaller vignettes to two-page paintings. They expand the narrative by imparting a fairy-tale setting and show lots of action and expression. Young viewers will enjoy the numerous small details. Consider purchasing this nicely paced story where fairy tales are popular.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2004
Gr. 1-3. Though stories of feisty, unfussy princesses are no longer in short supply, San Souci's retelling of a little-known British folktale featuring a girl who "prefers good books to good looks" crackles with brio. It begins with a familiar setup: the King of Colchester's homely, but canny, daughter, Rosamonde, finds herself saddled with a harpy of a stepmother and a snooty stepsister. When these dastardly opponents compromise the health of both the kingdom and the king, the compassionate Rosamonde journeys to a healing well. She returns trailing gemstones from her hair--a blessing from the well's guardians--and her jealous stepsister promptly visits the same well, where she's cursed with a permanent bad hair day. In keeping with the "beauty-is-only-skin-deep" message, newcomer Walsh bothers less about painting pretty fairy-tale scenes than she does about expressing characters' inner natures and catching the easygoing humor of San Souci's text; Rosamonde may be the first princess in picture-book history to harness her crown under her chin with a sensible strap.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)