Shannon is best known for her intense sympathy for all of nature. Her careful observation and vivid, precise imagery bring the natural settings to life. Like Dobry, she considers the moon and the mountains her companions, and she sees human personality traits in the storks, the pig, the goat, and the bear.

Shannon also provides detailed descriptions of village life. The reader becomes an observer at the pepperstringing party, the Christmas celebration, the snow-melting contest, and the parade welcoming the gypsy bear. The completeness of these portraits creates a sense of immediacy, adding to the reader's interest in and acceptance of the characters and their customs.

Shannon's works reflect her talent as a storyteller and lend themselves well to reading aloud. The tales that Dobry and his grandfather tell are in the oral tradition of the legend and the tall tale. In fact, the entire novel...