ANDERSEN, Hans Christian. The Steadfast Tin Soldier. retold and illus. by JooHee Yoon. 64p. Enchanted Lion. Nov. 2016. Tr $22.95. ISBN 9781592702022.

Gr 2-4 –The steadfast tin soldier has only one leg. There was not enough tin to fill the mold, but this soldier can stand just as well as the others. The soldier falls for a beautiful paper ballerina in the child’s playroom and catches the wrath of a frightening jack-in-the-box troll. This tale has love, envy, adventure, and the traditional tragic Andersen ending. Yoon has retold the story for a new generation of readers and illustrated it with her distinctive graphic-style mixed-media art. Done with a limited palette, the intense visual elements complement the high drama of the plot, and the detail and use of perspective are exquisite. There are many other picture book versions of this story, yet Yoon brings a fresh look and an accessible narrative. VERDICT This imaginative and appealing interpretation of the classic story is a must-have for any fairy-tale collection.–Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH

This review was published in the School Library Journal December 2016 issue.