The Emperor's New Clothes, illustrated by John Alfred Rowe.

Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale of a fashion-conscious emperor who falls victim to two swindlers, who convince him that they can weave cloth invisible to the stupid and professionally unfit, is adapted and illustrated here by John Alfred Rowe, whose quirky style is unmistakable. A red-cheeked emperor (a doll, a clown?), is attended by mice and monkeys, while the two cheats are depicted as sly foxes. Bright, contrasting colors, and humorous details - the monkeys cover their eyes with their hands when the emperor is trying on his new "clothes," the emperor himself cavorts about naked (backside only, parents!) - create an energetic, entertaining visual counterpart to the text.

Unfortunately, although I liked Rowe's artwork here, his retelling was somewhat less pleasing. Three of the first four sentences end with the words "new clothes," a deliberate repetition that serves as an early warning of a narrative trying just a little too hard to be winsome and fresh. The conclusion goes a little further than the original, having the emperor clown around in his birthday suit in front of the crowds (thereby winning their approval), and declare "The Emperor's No Clothes Day." These changes felt unnecessary and forced to me, adding little to the appeal of this retelling. All in all, an adaptation sure to appeal to the artist's fans, thought perhaps not to Andersen's. ( )