title: The Tale I Told Sasha
author:  Nancy Willard 
description: Kindergarten-Grade 3This picture book is a paean to a childs imagination. A young girl follows her mothers gift of a yellow ball through the face of a mantel clock into a world where winged travelers must walk./All those with wheels get to ride. Logic and sequence are forgotten in this lyrical journey where a door opens softly as an egg to reveal a farmer planting the yellow ball for a harvest of golden things. Lost objects are founda dropped needle and a card, pennies and puzzle pieces, and the stars and sheep/my mother counts to fall asleep. Finally, a steamship sails into view on a painted sea, manned by the farmer, now the King of Keys, who tosses the yellow ball back into the reality of the childs home. The books title suggests its origin as a piece written by Willard for her daughter, and the lyrical, cadenced sound of her poetry may bring pleasure. However, the fantasy moves through a series of images like a stream of consciousness without meaning or logic. Christianas dreamy, full-page watercolor illustrations reflect the kaleidoscopic images of the poem and appeal to the eye, but the book will be difficult for most readers.Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ <BR>Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  ## Chapter
  
  
  ![image](../images/line.jpg)
  
  
  ## One
  
  
  NANCY! Wait for us!”
  
  
  Shading her blue eyes from the late-morning sun, Nancy Drew turned and peered
  down the street. Her two best friends, George Fayne and Bess Marvin, were
  running toward her from a block away.
  
  
  Just by looking at their shadows on the sidewalk, it wasn’t hard to tell the
  girls apart. Although they were cousins, Bess’s curvy figure was easily
  distinguished from George’s tall, athletic build.
  
  
  By the time they caught up with Nancy, Bess was breathing hard. “Hi, Nan,"
  Bess said, sucking in a big gulp of air. “Boy, I haven’t run like that in a
  long time.”
  
  
  Nancy brushed a lock of reddish blond hair away from her face. “Hi, and what’s
  the rush?”
  
  
  “We went to your house and Hannah told us you went jogging,” George said,
  