New Releases by Barbara Leonie Picard

A contemplative and sensitive young boy, seen by his family to be unfit for the life of a fourteenth century nobleman, is sent to a monastery but he is determined to prove himself worthy of nobility and capable of being a knight. Original.

Riding around his castle early one midsummer''s day, Count Alaric stumbles upon a beautiful maiden. Smiling graciously, she says she does not know where she is from, or where she is going. He calls her Catherine and falls in love with her. And when she agrees to become his wife, Alaric hopes they will live a long and happy life together. Yet every time Alaric looks into his young bride''s eyes, she seems to be thinking of something else. One day he finds her dancing all by herself, with no music playing. Then he notices that every year she disappears from the castle on midsummer''s eve, only to return at dawn with no memories of the night past. He suspects there is a deep mystery in Catherine''s past. What he does not know is that to save her, the Count has to sacrifice his love for her.

A historical tale, set in the 15th century. To avoid a forced marriage, 16-year-old Alison flees from home with her younger brother. She falls in love with a young knight who becomes her protector, but as disaster strikes, the two young people are forced to face the consequences of their actions.

Distinguished author Barbara Leonie Picard says that during World War II she sought to "forget the sad war days by writing fairy tales: simply because I had always liked fairy tales." After the war, she continued to create stories full of adventure and romance and tinged with melancholy in the best tradition of storytellers of old. Now, in this new book, she has chosen her favorites to be gathered together for the first time. The Sea King''s Daughter--the first fairy tale Ms. Picard ever wrote--is a concise and masterful tale of a prince, his new bride, and a scorned and powerful maiden from the sea. Promises are made and broken, and the prince learns the price true love demands. In Count Alaric''s Lady a young man discovers that his lady is not from his world, but from that of the "fairy people." Only by offering her a perfect love will he keep her by his side. Little Lady Margaret lives a lonely life that promises to get only gloomier until she learns to weave herself into her needlepoint tapestry. These stories and 13 others, full of magic and wonder, are distinguished by Ms. Picard''s gracefully simple prose and by the exquisite black and white line drawings of Julia Cobbold. This is a collection that will charm readers of all ages.

Seven original fairy tales imbued with the traditional goodness, honor, and romance.

A collection of fairy tales set in various regimes of the world: Europe, the Middle East and the Orient.

Nine legendary tales brought to the British Isles by the different people who settled there. Grades 6-8.

Presents the legends of the great German heroes, including the story of Gudrun, the saga of Siegfried, and the vengeance of Kriemhild with a lively collection of traditional folk tales.

Historical fiction.

Classic story in Greek mythology of Odysseus'' heroic adventures and long journey home.

Epic poems with prologue recounting events which led to the war and epilogue describing the end of the war and the fate of some who took part in it. Grades 7-10.