GREENCOAT AND THE SWANBOY

A slight French tale, also retold by Ernest Nister at the turn of the century, about a humble boy who is tricked out of his flock by a mysterious visitor; following them, he's led to the palace, where he's identified as the princess's long-awaited bridegroom by the gold band he's always worn. DeChristopher's lush paintings are eye-catching, even ``glowing'' (as the jacket boasts), but their effect isn't matched with real substance: figures are often clumsily formed and derive from sources as varied as the elongated nobles of El Greco and the robust young of 40's Coca-Cola ads, while the idyllic landscape is depicted in an impressionistic style. Not bad, but trite and rather pretentious. (Picture book. 4-8)