This illustrated presentation of a Redwall celebration will please Jacques's fans despite its flaws. The text inexplicably shifts back and forth between prose and verse as it describes the antics of a traveling band of performers and an appearance by the legendary Snow Badger, who brings winter to the land. Although the muted earth-tone palette is appropriate for a woodland story, the result is somewhat dull. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 2-4-The inhabitants of Redwall Abbey are celebrating Autumn's final day and the coming of Winter. When the entertaining and feasting are over, the Abbeybabes are taken to the nursery dormitory and told the story of how Snow Badger comes to earth every winter to coat the ground with snow. Only Bulbrock Badger still believes in him, and wears a parchment scroll around his neck as the souvenir of their meeting long ago. Early the next morning, as Snow Badger is just finishing coating the windowpanes with frost, Baby Bungo pokes his head out to meet him. Of course no one believes the mole-babe, until Bulbrock notices that he now also wears a parchment scroll around his neck. Solving the riddle on it will prove Snow Badger's existence. The narration disconcertingly bursts into rhyme often, sometimes with poetic asides and sometimes just continuing the story. Some of the creatures speak in dialect, which would be wonderful to hear but is difficult to read. Denise's illustrations are reminiscent of the color plates in the original book, done by Troy Howell, but with major changes. The earth-toned palette is cranked up to maximum brightness, the focus is softer and less detailed, and all of the creatures look fat and happy, perhaps reflecting a more peaceful time. It is hard to imagine the audience for this book. It is too long, rambling, and descriptive for preschool storyhours or beginning readers, although it could be shared as a lap-book with one or a few children. Older children who love the "Redwall" series (Philomel) for the excitement, conflict, and danger will be disappointed to find none of those elements here. Of course, true fans will need to read it, if only because it's here.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In A Redwall Winter's Tale, a picture-book follow-up to The Great Redwall Feast, a troupe of traveling entertainers visits the abbey to commemorate the arrival of Snow Badger, Lord of Wintertide. But a fanciful bedtime story leaves Bungo the molebabe wondering what is real and what is fantasy. Christopher Denise's illustrations capture the waning sunlight and complement the alternating prose and verse. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Gr. 2-5. Bungo the molebabe and his friend Tubspike the hedgehog maid welcome a troupe of traveling players that arrive to entertain the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey on the last day of autumn. Matthais the Warrior Mouse and his wife, Cornflower, preside as the performers sing, dance, juggle, and execute magical tricks. Following a sumptuous banquet, the Abbey's residents and guests fall asleep and Lord Wintertide arrives, bringing the Snow Badger and his legions of snow hares to blanket the earth. As he did in a companion volume, The Great Redwall Feast (1996), Jacques offers a shorter, less complex story (some of it rhymed) in a picture-book format aimed at younger readers. Denise's appealing, cozy illustrations perfectly capture the feel of the text. This has a larger cast of characters than found in most picture books, and listeners who are unfamiliar with the other Redwall titles may be somewhat confused. Children who have heard some of the tales may be the best audience here, and they'll appreciate finding a story that is easy enough for them to manage. --Kay Weisman