Baba yaga & the Little Girl [Hardcover]

Katya Arnold (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1945 | Age Level: 5 and up

This Russian folktale is based on a story from the collection compiled by the 19th-century folklorist Akeksandr Afanas'ev and illustrated in a bold, colorful style inspired by Russian "lubok" art.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-A dazzling picture book, marred by poor design choices. While her husband is away, a conniving stepmother sends her nameless stepdaughter to Baba Yaga's house to fetch a needle and thread. Luckily, this girl visits her wise aunt first and is told how to handle each of the dangers she will encounter. Aided by the animals and inanimate objects under Baba Yaga's power, the child escapes the witch's clutches. Arriving at her own home, she tells her father everything that has happened. In a rage he throws the stepmother out of his house and the two "live happily ever after and were never bothered by Baba Yaga again." This retelling is similar to the Russian folktale often called "Baba Yaga and the Little Girl with the Kind Heart." Arnold assumes readers are already familiar with the hideous hag and leaves out information vital to understanding the plot, such as the fact that she has iron teeth. The illustrations have a vitality that is rare in children's books, but the composition is confusing, and color choices are questionable. The page design ranges from poor to appalling; in one instance, black type is placed against a dark blue background. For text and illustrations that work much more harmoniously, seek out Arnold's earlier Baba Yaga (North-South, 1993).
Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. A wicked stepmother sends her stepdaughter to the evil Baba Yaga for a needle and thread. The cruel witch imprisons her (in preparation for cooking and eating), but the girl uses her own cleverness and the gifts and advice of a friendly aunt to escape and return safely to her father. Dramatic, full-color illustrations, in the style of Russian lubok art, highlight this retelling. Arnold's thick black-line drawings resemble woodcuts; the vivid gouache colors give the artwork a fresh, modern look while remaining true to the story's classic roots. Even the endpapers, intended to look like bold patches in a crazy quilt, match the theme and tone of the telling. Based on a tale from the collection of Russian folklorist Afanas'ev, this will make a popular choice for primary story hours, whether told or read aloud. Slightly older readers will enjoy comparing the tale to Hansel and Gretel. Kay Weisman

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South; 1St Edition edition (July 1, 1945)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558582878
• ISBN-13: 978-1558582873
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,485,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KINDNESS IS THE KEY, January 12, 2001

By 

Soaring Heart - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baba yaga & the Little Girl (Hardcover)

My Mother read me this story around the age of 5 and after just one reading I was hooked. I requested she read it to me nightly for a long time! My Mother did the voices of the characters so great! As I got older, I read it on my own and I wore out the story, reading it countless times. As an adult, I still love the story because it is magical, suspenseful and just a little bit scary but not too much for a child.

This is a wonderful story with many morals. It TEACHES a child RESPECT for elders (definitely always an issue in the world today) and when unsure what to do, to go GET ADVICE FROM SOMEONE YOU TRUST before acting and to LISTEN to that wise advice VERY CAREFULLY. This book teaches a child to be COURAGEOUS and use wise advice along with her WITS, INSTINCTS and HEART to get out of perilous situations.

The Russian illustrations are very different than a typical American book; which I find very refreshing. It has vibrant primary colors and lots of black outlines to set the pictures off. Also the layout of pictures within the story is sheer genius.

The girl was badly mistreated by her stepmother but yet was kind and gentle, not letting it effect her personality. This is the moral from the book I appreciate the most. REMINDS ME OF A WISE SAYING:"YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE SITUATION BUT YOU CAN CONTROL HOW YOU REACT TO IT." Children should be taught this truth from birth!

This is a great book! I highly recommend it. You may have to settle for one of the books in print right now but this one is the classic one to me--if you can get it, I think you will be very pleased.