A retelling of a Russian fairy tale in which an archer assigned many dangerous quests by the greedy, cruel czar wins a crown and the woman of his dreams.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In folktales, simple acts of kindness can have enormous consequences. Here, in a fairy tale told in eight chapters, Frol, a humble archer, spares a white dove, and is rewarded with "the most wonderful story," its wondrous characters including a beautiful princess with magic powers, turned into a bird by an evil wizard's spell; a dead czar in a fiery pit; and a giant cat as big as a mountain. The miracle of the dove raconteuse is only the beginning, for bird and archer must then contend with a cruel and paranoid czar and his chief minister. They see Frol as a threat and Frolya the dove only as a desirable marvel. To eliminate Frol, they send him on impossible quests, sealing their own doom, for he thus enacts Frolya's prophetic tale, releases her from the curse and overthrows them. Kimmel (see The Three Princes , above) spins a complex, substantial tale with a peasant's acidic perspective on unjust rulers (most notably when Frol meets the dead czar); Diane Wolkstein's agreeable adaptation of the same story, Oom Razoom , is by comparison a lighthearted fantasy. Sauber ( Gray Fox ) provides suitable if skimpy accompaniment, contributing to each chapter one richly colored illustration decorated with Russian folk motifs. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-Desperate for food, Frol, one of the czar's archers, shoots a dove and is amazed when it begs for mercy. He nurses the injured bird back to health, and she in turn tells him, "It is time to set your destiny in motion." She helps him to attract the attention of the czar's evil minister, who sends him on an impossible mission to fetch "I-Know-Not-What" from "I-Know-Not-Where." The young man defeats three greedy and bloodthirsty giants and takes their magical treasure: a club, a sword, and the precious Water of Life. He restores the white dove to human form, but must face the czar's army before he and Frolya can live in peace. When the soldiers are unable to find any trace of the despot or his minister, Frol becomes the new czar. Kimmel bases his text upon a story found in Charles Downing's Russian Tales and Legends (Oxford, 1990) but elaborates on it. Kimmel's retelling possesses a lyrical quality suitable to this magical tale. Less consistent, however, are Sauber's full-page, gouache and acrylic illustrations. Hats and crowns fit poorly, hands appear rubbery, and the foreground and background of the paintings battle for focus. The artist also mixes too many styles and in the process destroys the clarity of the pictures. With its lengthy and detailed plot, this illustrated chapter book might have difficulty finding a wide audience. While the story is essentially the same as that told in Diane Wolkstein's Oom Razoom (Morrow, 1991), Kimmel's version may appeal to older fans of folklore.
Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Read Aloud Treat from Russia,
By Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: I-Know-Not-What, I-Know-Not-Where: A Russian Tale (Hardcover)
Eric A. Kimmel retells this classic Russian fairy tale with such lively language that you are immediately drawn in to the story of a noble archer and his adventures with a magical dove. He faces all kinds of perils including a jealous and treacherous czar. He is given some help along the way by Baba Yaga and Grandmother Frog. In the Land of Nine Times Nine he faces Kot Buyan, a huge and monstrous black cat. He solves difficult puzzles and fights impossible battles with his wits and the magical help of I-Know-Not-What. This rich story is told in chapter format and is accented with the wonderfully evocative illustrations of Robert Sauber. The colorful images are filled with folksy charm and the one of Baba Yaga in her house set on chicken feet captures this traditional Russian witch with delightful humor and a pleasant sense of thrill. This is a fun book to read aloud over a period of several nights, taking time to go over the costumes and details of the pictures and to talk about czars and enchantments and magical spells. It is a super book for cultivating a child's imagination.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful,
By A Customer
This review is from: I-Know-Not-What, I-Know-Not-Where: A Russian Tale (Hardcover)
This is a really good book. The illistrations are beautiful and I keep on re reading this book. It is one of the few books that doesn't bore me if someone reads it out loud.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
