This is a new New Zealand picture book, by Judith Raymond-Penney, illustrated by Bruce Potter. The story of a princess setting difficult tasks for prospective husbands is an old one, with many twists in the telling, and here’s another version. Marika is a beautiful princess, and when her father decides that the time has come for her to marry she declares that she will only wed someone who fulfils her heart’s desire. So the suitors come, bearing  exquisite gifts from faraway places. She hears each one out and then says to each, I will be your bride if you bring me a wedding cloak that twinkles like the stars in the night sky.” The first four tell her that is impossible and leave their gifts, but the fifth, who has not brought a gift, asks her to follow him. He leads the royal party to a cave where he tells her to close her eyes, and when she opens them he has placed around her a cloak with glow-worms in its feathers. Beautiful illustrations and lovely language make this a book which will be treasured by those who appreciate beautiful old-fashioned storytelling.