When a fortune-teller foresees that the newborn child of a commoner will grow up to marry a princess, the king isn't happy. No royal daughter of his is going to marry "nobody special." The king's attempts to outwit fate are hilariously superseded in this snappily told story that is one of the lesser known tales from the Brothers Grimm. The lack of specific source information for this rendition of the tale is puzzling. But Natalie Babbitt's witty text and Fred Marcelino's amusing full-color illustrations that mock the king while casting the young here, Marco, in an aura of goodness are a winning combination. (Ages 7-10)