Snyder's third picture book, following upon the earlier The Princess and the Giants (1973) and Come On, Patsy (1982), The Changing Maze is an original fairytale concerning the shepherd boy Hugh, who sets out to rescue his favorite black lamb from a treacherous maze created by a embittered wizard-king.

Read as part of my Zilpha Keatley Snyder "reading project," which I undertook in 2005-2006, this cautionary fable about the importance of pure-hearted love, and the dangers of greed is notable chiefly for the lovely illustrations contributed by Charles Mikolycak. The story itself was interesting, but the text is rather awkward, and does not read particularly well. ( )

appropriate for ages 6-10; grades 1-5 or equivalent reading level and/or comprehension; some poetic styling and very stylish prose; stunning illustrations; highly recommended ( )