Three brothers set out to win their fortune in this Hungarian folktale, eventually finding their way to an enchanted castle, whose inhabitants have all been turned to stone. Each brother attempts to break the spell, but it is the kind-hearted youngest brother - whose compassion for the doves and loons his brothers wished to shoot, and the flowers they wished to pluck, has won him some much-needed assistance - who succeeds, winning three beautiful princesses for himself and his brothers...

An engaging story, illustrated with Diane Goode's charming artwork, The Good-Hearted Youngest Brother will appeal to folk and fairy tale readers of all ages. I was fascinated, as always, by the many familiar folk motifs, from the triumph of the youngest of three brothers, to the breaking of a terrible enchantment. The sparing of animals by hunters also seems to be a recurring theme in folklore, and I always wonder if it is meant to communicate the importance of compassion, or if it hints at some deeper observation about the human connection to nature. However that may be, Emöke de Papp Severo's book was a pleasure to read. ( )