3.5 stars A little surreal, but just as billed, 'an original fairy tale.' The illustrations, by Wayne Anderson, of the green people (the little people of the forest) are pitch-perfect - just a little creepy, with a vibe of ancient wisdom & power but also the ability to be compassionate. The design was creative too, with some full page panoramic pictures of the village, some smaller images framed by drawings of flowers and vines. The text was a little bit wordy, with some awkward bits, but not enough to detract from the value of the story. Recommended to those of us who can't get enough of [a:Andrew Lang|18393|Andrew Lang|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1226677754p2/18393.jpg]. ( )

"Only Jack, the poor swineherd, dares go into the forest by moonlight when the Green People are abroad. One stormy night he ventures there to answer a desperate cry for help. Jack is well rewarded for helping one of the Green People. He receives a magic ring and the promise of a wife through whom he will enjoy all the secrets of the forest. But that is not the end of Jack's strange adventures..."