Rechenka's Eggs [Hardcover]

Patricia Polacco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 1988 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Babushka, known for her exquisite hand-painted eggs, finds Rechenka, a wounded goose, and takes her home. When she's ready to try her wings again, Rechenka accidentally breaks all of Babushka's lovingly crafted eggs. But the next morning Babushka awakens to a miraculous surprise. Full color.

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.

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Philomel; First Edition edition (March 25, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399215018
• ISBN-13: 978-0399215018
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Ducks & Other Waterfowl
  • #80 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Easter

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

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful depiction of love and compassion, December 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rechenka's Eggs (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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, colordul read-aloud book, January 14, 2004

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rechenka's Eggs (Paperstar) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for Children of ALL AGES!!, April 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rechenka's Eggs (Paperstar) (Mass Market Paperback)

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!