Four stories, each with at least one seriously annoying character. Little Saint Elizabeth is (through no fault of her own, admittedly) incredibly sweet and dumb - and the fact that she got through her adventure as lightly as she did was entirely auctorial fiat. Fairyfoot isn't bad, though also rather too sweet - and I have to say, using Fairy as an insult in a world where fairies actually exist is probably a really bad idea. Robin Goodfellow, on the other hand, is incredibly annoying...and I have no idea what the whole thing with the girl fairy is, but it doesn't make me like him any better. The proud grain of wheat is also quite stupid, and boring. The story of Behind the White Brick is mildly cute, but having Baby - rude, self-centered, and obnoxious - as the guide made it quite unpleasant to read. I didn't really enjoy any of the stories. ( )

A short book of short stories for children which I read on my Kindle. The first features the rather-too-good-to-be-true Elizabeth, brought up by a rigidly religious aunt in France and then, on the aunt's death, transferred to the luxurious home of her uncle in the USA. Elizabeth is determined, naively, to help the poor of her neighbourhood and runs into danger. The other three stories are more like fairytales: one about a prince whose feet are too small, who meets some fairies; one about a proud grain of wheat who (so to speak) eventually meets his just desserts, and one about a girl who imagines exploring the chimney. Lightly amusing, fine to pass the time on an aeroplane. ( )