The central issue of "The Face in the Cloth," the carrying of the mother's image by the daughter, is more a personal issue than a social one, and it transcends topicality— it is a universal issue that crosses cultures and social classes. That Yolen has chosen a princess to bear the burden of her theme rather than a commoner is more a result of her interest in fairy-tale king and queen figures than any reflection of social distinction. In fact, the symbolism of the story is such that every daughter is a princess to her father, and every mother a queen to her daughter. This generalization may not truly stretch to cover everyone, but it is likely that young and old readers alike will tacitly recognize these relationships. Further, it is typical of fairy tales to cut wide swaths of generalizations with their symbolism, and...