Preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival, Old Babushka takes in Rechenka, an injured goose, who shows her that miracles can really happen, in a story that is enhanced by illustrations of Ukrainian painted eggs. Reprint. Reading Rainbow. PW. AB. NYT.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
An old woman named Babushka always wins first prize in the Easter festival for her exquisitely painted Ukrainian eggs. When she finds a wounded goose outside her house, Babushka takes her in, cares for her until she is strong again, and names her Rechenka. The goose lays an egg each morning for the old woman, but as she begins to heal, she flies around, knocking over Babushka's jars of colored paints and breaking all her Easter eggs. Babushka is miserable, until Rechenka miraculously lays brilliantly colored eggs; the old woman wins first prize once more. Polacco's story is truly rewarding; Babushka's gift for coloring eggs comes across in a splendid array of folkloric patterns, minute detail and batik-like paintings. Babushka is given credit, but the artistry is Polacco's. Intricate designs and opulent colors shade every page, right down to the onion-shaped domes and peasants' festival garments. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3 Babushka, a kindly, stout old woman, lives in a little house in the country near pre-revolutionary Moscow. She is renowned for the gorgeous Easter eggs that she paints so painstakingly during the long, cold winters and brings to the Easter festival in Moscow. As she is feeding hungry caribou one day, she rescues a wounded goose, names her Rechenka, and tenderly nurses her back to health. While exploring the cottage, Rechenka accidentally smashes Babushka's eggs and subsequently lays 12 beautifully decorated new ones to replace them. While Babushka is in Moscow winning a prize, the goose flies away, but she leaves one last egg in her basket. From it a gosling hatches that becomes Babushka's companion. The writing has a slightly mannered, fairy tale quality. It reads aloud well and is filled with love for the natural and sweetly supernatural miracles which take place. Vivid, extremely decorative paintings enhance and amplify the text. The intricate, colorful patterns of the Ukrainian-style Easter eggs are echoed in areas such as dresses, snowflakes, rugs, and city spires, giving joyous and vigorous life to the illustrations. As a contrast, the faces of Babushka and her friends are done in realistic, gently-caricatured black and white. Patricia Pearl, First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, Va.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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More About the Author
Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. Her school year was spent in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers. "My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping corn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about their homeland and the past. We are tenacious traditionalists and sentimentalists.... With each retelling our stories gain a little more Umph!"Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons. As a participant in many citizen exchange programs for writers and illustrators, Patricia Polacco has traveled extensively in Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. She continues to support programs that encourage Russo-American friendships and understanding. She is also deeply involved in inner-city projects here in the U.S. that promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and encourage art and literacy programs.The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This delightful story touched my heart and made me smile . . . It is truly a tale of unfailing loyalty between an unlikely pair: Babushka, an elderly woman and a wounded goose she befriends. The kindness that both show for each other is an important lesson told in the simplicity of Ms. Polacco's writing. A sweet, sweet story that children and adults will both love.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a terrific book for reading aloud to one child or many. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is lovely. An old lady lives in the Russian countryside and works all year to enter her painted eggs in the easter contest in Moscow. One day she saves an injured goose. When an accident destroys the woman's painted eggs, the goose lays a beautifully decorated egg each morning until it's time for her to fly away once more -- but not before leaving one more miraculous gift.
This is a lovely story that will excite children's imagination, and the beautiful illustrations will charm young and old alike.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHILDREN'S AUTHORS BEST WORKS...A beautiful, beautiful story.
April 17, 2011
Format:Paperback
"Babushka lived in a dacha, a little house in the country, but she was known far and wide for the fine eggs that she lovingly painted. Her eggs were so beautiful that she always won first prize at the Easter Festival in Moskva."
And so begins one of my favorite books written and illustrated by the prolific Ms. Patricia Polacco. What a sweet and beautiful book this is! I will tell you right now that the illustrations in this work are not only unique, but executed with great skill and caring on Ms. Polacco's part.
This is the story of an old lady who paints Easter Eggs. She is quite well known for it and her fame is wide. The story takes place in prerevolutionary Russia (more about that later) and the author has captured the flavor of that time and place perfectly.
In brief, Old Babushka finds an injured goose..."A hunter did this," Babushka grumbles". She takes the injured bird home and begins nursing it. Through an accident the goose breaks the basket of eggs the old lady has worked so hard on. Both Babushki and the goose, Rechenka feel bad about this as they have become close friends and companions.
The next day Babushka finds that her friend has laid a most wonderfully decorated egg. Day after day a new and more wonderful colored and decorated egg is laid until the original basket of eggs are replaced. All is well. Then day the eggs are to be taken to the fair, the goose returns with a flock to the wild. Ah, Babushka will be lonely. But upon her return she finds that her friend the goose, Rechenka, has left her the most wonderful and astounding gift............!
The art work here is a feast for the eyes. The text is skillfully written and the author has thrown in the most wonderful Russian words in here and there to tantalize the reader. The text goes perfectly with the art work.
This is a wonderful work to read to a class of students between the ages of 4 and 8. It is also a wonderful book to read to any child near the time of Easter. As I said, it is one of my favorite works by this author.
A NOTE AND A RANT: I read at least one review here, and two reviews of this book on other review sites. It seems there is some confusion, due for the most part I think, to a lack of understanding of Russian history.
Psanky is indeed (although there is some arguments to be made otherwise if you so wish) a Ukranian Folk Art, not a "Russian" Folk Art, per se. What you must remember and note is the fact that the setting of this story is in prerevolutionary Russia. The borders at that time were vague to the extreme...to say the least. Russia was and is a country of many, many cultures...it is vast and its boundary throughout the years has shifted time and time again. The many cultures mixed over the centuries and many origins of many customs and crafts have been lost in the mist of history. I do not know the family of this author, nor much about them, but I do understand that they were from the Ukraine. At the time of this story that area of the country could quite well have been included within the Russian realm and indeed, probably was. To throw brickbats at this work simply due ones ignorance of the history of this part of the world is certainly not doing this author justice or this work.
Rant over...okay?
Don Blankenship
And so begins one of my favorite books written and illustrated by the prolific Ms. Patricia Polacco. What a sweet and beautiful book this is! I will tell you right now that the illustrations in this work are not only unique, but executed with great skill and caring on Ms. Polacco's part.
This is the story of an old lady who paints Easter Eggs. She is quite well known for it and her fame is wide. The story takes place in prerevolutionary Russia (more about that later) and the author has captured the flavor of that time and place perfectly.
In brief, Old Babushka finds an injured goose..."A hunter did this," Babushka grumbles". She takes the injured bird home and begins nursing it. Through an accident the goose breaks the basket of eggs the old lady has worked so hard on. Both Babushki and the goose, Rechenka feel bad about this as they have become close friends and companions.
The next day Babushka finds that her friend has laid a most wonderfully decorated egg. Day after day a new and more wonderful colored and decorated egg is laid until the original basket of eggs are replaced. All is well. Then day the eggs are to be taken to the fair, the goose returns with a flock to the wild. Ah, Babushka will be lonely. But upon her return she finds that her friend the goose, Rechenka, has left her the most wonderful and astounding gift............!
The art work here is a feast for the eyes. The text is skillfully written and the author has thrown in the most wonderful Russian words in here and there to tantalize the reader. The text goes perfectly with the art work.
This is a wonderful work to read to a class of students between the ages of 4 and 8. It is also a wonderful book to read to any child near the time of Easter. As I said, it is one of my favorite works by this author.
A NOTE AND A RANT: I read at least one review here, and two reviews of this book on other review sites. It seems there is some confusion, due for the most part I think, to a lack of understanding of Russian history.
Psanky is indeed (although there is some arguments to be made otherwise if you so wish) a Ukranian Folk Art, not a "Russian" Folk Art, per se. What you must remember and note is the fact that the setting of this story is in prerevolutionary Russia. The borders at that time were vague to the extreme...to say the least. Russia was and is a country of many, many cultures...it is vast and its boundary throughout the years has shifted time and time again. The many cultures mixed over the centuries and many origins of many customs and crafts have been lost in the mist of history. I do not know the family of this author, nor much about them, but I do understand that they were from the Ukraine. At the time of this story that area of the country could quite well have been included within the Russian realm and indeed, probably was. To throw brickbats at this work simply due ones ignorance of the history of this part of the world is certainly not doing this author justice or this work.
Rant over...okay?
Don Blankenship
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Easter Gift for Great Granddaughter
The book was described as used, but I would defy anyone to show me how one could tell. It was in prisitine condition. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Barbaraadamschristie
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sweet story
A beautiful book with incredible art work. My grand kids are going to love it. This may stay in Grandmas book shelf!!!
Published 22 days ago by Kati M Muhlhauser
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pysanky Goose
A wonderful story and beautiful pictures. I got it at Easter for my grand daughter. We were making ukranian eggs so it fit right in.
Published 1 month ago by Theresa Logan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rechenka's Eggs
Delightful folktale involving pysanke, decorated eggs. The illustrations are charming, and it is a great addition to my small collection of books about egg art, one of my hobbies.
Published 2 months ago by Ruth Ann Meszaros
4.0 out of 5 stars
Goose folklore
Heartwarming story of a goose, Russian grandmother and granddaughter. The beautiful artwork almost tells the story. Will hold any child's interest.
Published 3 months ago by Annie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rechenka's Eggs
This is a wonderful book. My class loved the story so much we had to read it a couple of times. Patricia Polacco's artwork and story is always great. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Marie A. Cannon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rechenka's Eggs (book)
After hearing this story just before Easter, I knew I had to buy it for my great granddaughter. It is has a story that illustrates how often we have to lose something before... Read more
Published 13 months ago by K. Millspaugh
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Favorite Book
This has been a favorite book of mine ever since I saw it on Reading Rainbow many years ago. It tells a touching story of giving and unconditional love. The pictures are vibrant. Read more
Published on February 25, 2010 by K. Redd
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book for easter or christmas
Levar burton had this book on reading rainbow episode, and the guest star make ukranian eggs on the show. Read more
Published on August 16, 2009 by L. N. Crouthamel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rechenka's Eggs
My kids love this book so much they wore out their first copy. This author is truly gifted.
Published on November 2, 2008 by Theresa
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