I think I should give this 3 1/2 stars. I like it a lot for those 2nd-4th graders who want fantasy and are past CATWINGS but not ready for Lloyd Alexander. The story is very straightforward, and the type is large with lots of white space. The writing is very direct but the details are good, the hero an endearing one and the story ends happily. The cover put me off for several weeks, and I don't think the tone of the art matches the tone of the story, but I know this one, with some hand-selling, will please a lot of kids. -Maeve