Ruth Sanderson

The Crystal Mountain — (1999) Publisher: The youngest of three sons outwits the fairy thieves who stole his mother's tapestry and marries one of the fairies he has rescued.

The Crystal Mountain: Just lovely!

If it were up to me, I'd make sure every single children's bookshelf had at least one of Ruth Sanderson's wonderful books. Her stories are simple, sweet, and yet thought-provoking, and her illustrations are clear, uncluttered and utterly beautiful. The Crystal Mountain is no exception, and is definitely up there as one of her best works.

As she did with The Golden Mare, the Firebird and the Magic Ring, Sanderson ingeniously combines more than one fairy or folk tale to create a story that is both new and familiar. In this case she borrows from the Chinese story "The Magic Brocade" and the traditional Norwegian tale of "The Princess on the Glass Hill," to tell the tale of Anna, a famous seamstress who has a dream that she is determined to create on her loom. When the beautiful tapestry of her Eden-like house and garden is complete, it is unfortunately stolen away by the fairies so that they might make a copy. Anna is desperate to have her precious tapestry back and so sends her three sons Leon, Blaine and Perrin out after it. Though Leon and Blaine soon give up on their quests, Perrin journeys on with the aid of three magical horses till he reaches the Crystal Mountain, and the fairies within...

The Crystal Mountain has not simply a mere 'happily ever after' finish, but ends on a note that lets one's mind drift on the possibilities, and for a nice change it is the female who decides her own fate (ie the Fairy of Red chooses to stay with Perrin, rather than him just carry her off) and the two elder brothers aren't punished for their sloth, but rather are forgiven.

The Crystal Mountain is a must for fairytale lovers, a wonderful addition to a children's library and delight for those who love beautiful picture books. —Rebecca Fisher

Where Have the Unicorns Gone? — (2000) With Jane Yolen.  Publisher: Long ago, unicorns lived in a haven of sun-dappled glades and flower-filled dells. But as civilization spread over the ages — with its fierce knights, its chugging trains, its thick smogs — unicorns had to find a new sanctuary. Where? Jane Yolen finds a magical answer in the traditional unicorn myth. Her rhythmic, rhymed text is irresistible to read aloud. And Ruth Sanderson's brilliant artwork gives unicorns a bold reality in everything from ancient cave paintings to their secret, present-day home. After reading this tribute to the mystical, mysterious unicorn, children will enjoy looking for these elusive creatures in the world around them.

Cinderella — (2002) Publisher:  Kind Cinderella, forced to wait hand and foot on her cruel stepsisters and stepmother, has almost forgotten that she, too, was once a lady with fine clothes and a soft bed in which to sleep. But when Cinderella is left at home on the night of the royal ball, her fairy godmother turns pumpkin into coach, mice into horses, lizards into coachmen, and Cinderella's rags into a beautiful ball gown. At the ball Cinderella captures the prince's heart, but she must flee before the stroke of midnight. Now the prince must find the true owner of the delicate glass slipper Cinderella has left behind.

The Snow Princess — (2004) Publisher: Sanderson tells a romantic tale of the daughter of Father Frost and Mother Spring. The Snow Princess can call snow at will, but her parents remind her that she must never open her heart to falling in love. She goes off to see the world-the forests, the animals, and most of all, the people. When it's time for the winter fair, she's enchanted by the dancing, singing, and merriment, and touched by the attention of one Sergei. Although she runs away, and a great snowstorm comes up, her heart is full of him. She finds Sergei, lost in the melting snow, and her heart melts, too. It is easy to underestimate the power of Sanderson's exquisite oil paintings, with their glowing textures and near-perfect detail. Most of the full-page, full-bleed illustrations are done in every shade and tonality of blue, from ice to midnight, and she uses the washed gold of winter sunlight to pick out other effects. The page spread of the Snow Princess in her snowflake-studded, ermine-trimmed cloak, her dark hair afloat, with her hand resting on a striding polar bear, will make little girls in particular swoon.