East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Jean Free, formerly an elementary-school teacher-librarian, is currently
a library consultant in Ontario.

Lбszlу Gбl’s retelling of the Norwegian folk tale follows Ingrid,
the youngest daughter of a poor woodcutter, as she goes to live in the
castle of the giant white bear. After returning from a family visit, she
decides to follow her mother’s advice and look at her bed companion
while he sleeps. When the bear must then follow his destiny by marrying
an ugly troll who lives “east of the sun and west of the moon,”
Ingrid is heartbroken. After many great adventures, she is finally
reunited with her beloved prince.

Lбszlу Gбl expresses the legendary tale with precise and graceful
language, perfectly in keeping with the narrative. His remarkable
paintings enhance and capture the splendid story as the reader is taken
into a magical world of fantasy and mystery. Surely destined to be a
children’s classic, one to be enjoyed by parents and
primary/junior-grade students alike, this book would be an outstanding
choice for a storytelling unit for any grade, one to inspire artistic
interpretation and serve as a model for fine language, intrepid
heroines, and heroic adventures. Highly recommended.