Customer Reviews

Rechenka's Eggs (Paperstar)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

I love Patricia Polacco's books and this one is no exception! This story is great to use both in and out of the classroom. It is great for reading outloud to children or for them to read to you. I have used it in my lesson plans as a teacher to introduce lessons on different ways people celebrate holidays around the world and in the US. I have students grades K-5 and it has been a favorite with all of them...then again all of Patricia Polacco's books seem to be favorites with any child!

"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

Set in Russia, this book tells the story of Babushka, a old grandma who is painting Easter eggs for the big contest in Moscow. She works all winter on her eggs, and also feeds the wild animals that live around her. One day, some hunters shoot a goose; she takes it in and nurses it back to health. She names the goose Rechenka. Quite by accident, Rechenka ruins all of Babuska's beautiful eggs, but she gives the woman magically painted goose eggs in their place. Babushka goes to the contest and wins first prize with Rechenka's fabulous eggs, and when she comes home, she discovers one more very special gift from Rechenka.

Told very simply with large, colorful illustrations, this story is enjoyed by 6-9 year olds. It stresses kindness and gratitude, as well as showing a little about Russian customs. The ending is quite poignant and heartwarming. It's a beautiful book!

Evertything about this book is wonderful...the illustrations, the message, everything! Set in Russia, Polacco delivers another powerful piece of writing with this poignantly beautiful story about a woman who befriends an injured goose. The illustrations are gorgeous and the words go from Polacco's pen directly to your heart.
I teach third grade and use this in my classroom, although my most recent purchase of this title was as a gift for a friend's child. Don't miss this one....would make a wonderful addition to anyone's Easter basket!

Hey. do you like eggs for breakfast? Do you know what you can do with them instead of throwing them away? Well, then you NEED to read this book. It isabout a woman named Babushka. Each day Babushka would take an egg from her basket and paint it. Will Babushka win the egg contest? Will the bird she rescued stop her from winning the contest? Find out by reading this book.

Zaira

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. This is a good story to lead into springtime watercolor projects and art activities using eggs.

Levar burton had this book on reading rainbow episode, and the guest star make ukranian eggs on the show. as a result of watching it with my son that day, i now make between 50 and 75 ukranian style eggs every year for easter. the book is a lovely story and the pictures are unique. if your group or family is of the heritage, the story has more meaning, but if you are a teacher and looking for something special, this would be it. If you need supplies google the ukranian gift shop.I love this story. it's charming, not too long, and is very different.
As a side note, the life of the character is simple and beautiful, and that is also something to discuss in this world were may people have things they take for granted that others do not. I hope you enjoy it as much as me and my family. adding it to your collection is a necessity.

My kids love this book so much they wore out their first copy. This author is truly gifted.