The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend [Hardcover]

Aaron Shepard (Author), Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)

Book Description

 

Sadko the musician loved his city of Novgorod, the richest and most free in all Russia. With its great feasts, its white stone churches, its merchant visitors from many lands, Sadko felt there was no better place to be. Yet he was lonely too, for the rich young ladies who danced to his music would never favor anyone so poor.

 

One night he takes his twelve-string gusli and goes alone to play by the River Volkhov. Suddenly from the water rises the Sea King, who invites the astonished musician to play at his underwater palace. But how will Sadko get there? And how will he get back? And will he want to return at all, when he meets the Sea King's lovely daughter?

 

One of the most popular legends of Russia, Sadko's story is found in medieval epic ballads, as well as in a popular opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. It is retold here in elegant prose, complemented by the entrancing illustrations of a modern Russian master.

 

1997 New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year 

1998 American Library Association Notable Children's Books 

1998 NCSS/CBC Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 

1997 Aesop Accolade, American Folklore Society 

1998 Honor Title, Storytelling World Awards 

1997 Cincinnati Enquirer Best Illustrated Children's Books 

American Bookseller Pick of the Lists 

Starred review, Publishers Weekly 

Featured on CBS This Morning

 

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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Maiden of Northland," "Lady White Snake," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. 

 

Gennady Spirin, with a style he describes as "fairy-tale realism," is one of the world's most esteemed children's illustrators. His honors include five gold medals from the Society of Illustrators, the Golden Apple from the Bratislava International Biennial, First Prize at the Bologna and Barcelona international book fairs, and four appearances on the New York Times list of Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Born and trained in Russia before moving to the United States, Gennady already knew well the legend of Sadko and welcomed the chance to contribute his sumptuous art to this retelling. 

 

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"Emotionally authentic prose and jewel-like illustrations make this an exquisite volume. . . . [A] mood of eloquent enchantment." -- Publishers Weekly, Aug. 25, 1997, starred review

 

"The telling is descriptive yet very accessible. . . . The pictures are gorgeous and resplendent with extraordinary details." -- Stephanie Zvirin, American Library Association Booklist, Nov. 15, 1997

 

"Aaron Shepard proves once again that he is one of the finest authors working in the field of folktales today. Meticulous research and a respect for the story, as well as those who have told it, characterize all of Aaron's works. Set off by illustrations that are as wondrous and detailed as the story, this is a book that begs to be read aloud." -- Kip Nead, Growing Up, Nov. 1997

 

"Involving. . . . Stunning." -- Susie Wilde, WUNC-FM

 

"Lush language and Gennady Spirin's intricate watercolors make The Sea King's Daughter a feast for ear and eye." -- Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent, May 1998

 

"Rich. . . . This book will delight students of all ages." -- The Mailbox Bookbag, Aug.-Sept. 1998

 

"Shepard masterfully brings this story to a new audience." -- Janet Marnatti, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 15, 1998

 

"A satisfying story, beautifully illustrated." -- Marilyn Courtot, Children's Literature, June 1998

 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6. A poor but gifted musician draws the attention of the King of the Sea, who invites him to visit his palace under the sea. The ruler then becomes so taken with the young man's music that he insists Sadko stay and marry one of his daughters. The Sea Queen, however, whispers to Sadko that if he kisses or embraces his sea-wife, he will never be able to return home again. That evening he lies next to his bride, the Princess Volkhova, but never touches her. The next morning he awakes beside the River Volkhov in his beloved city of Novgorod. He becomes a rich merchant, marries, and raises a family, but whenever he plays his music near the river, he thinks he sees the Princess Volkhova raising her head out of the water to listen. This retelling retains the flavor of Old Russia. Shepard includes detailed notes about the story, his sources, and a brief pronunciation guide. Spirin's full-page watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations are lavish, highly decorative, and somewhat formal in their execution. Done in a palette of sepia-toned browns, reds, and blues, the pictures are highly stylized and reminiscent of a late 19th-century illustrative style. The depiction of the Sea King's family is interesting; while some of the undersea creatures are depicted as mermaids, the Sea King and his family wear traditional Russian dress and have legs and feet. Overall, this is a fascinating spin on mermaid/human interaction and should appeal to an older picture-book audience.?Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Exquisite. -- The New York Times Book Review, Oct. 26, 1997

Knock-your-socks-off-beautiful... Will stay in a family's library forever. -- Valerie Lewis,

Retains the flavor of Old Russia.... A fascinating spin on mermaid/human interaction. -- Denise Anton Wright, School Library Journal, Dec. 1997 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; First Edition edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689807597
• ISBN-13: 978-0689807596
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > European

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite artwork by Gennady Spirin of a Russian legend, March 6, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend (Paperback)

The story of the legendary Russian hero Sadko comes from a byliny, an epic ballad, composed by a minstrel during medieval times, although today it is better known as an opera by Rimsky-Korsakova. The story is set in the city of Novgorod, which was on the banks of the River Volkhov on a major trade rout that made it the greatest commercial center of medieval Russia. "The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend," reflects the Russian legend that every river has its own nymph, who is the daughter of the great Sea King into whose water all rivers flow. At the start of this story Sadko is but a simple musician who lives in river port city of Novgorod the Great who spends each day attending the feasts of the city's rich merchants where he plays his 12-string gusli as the guests dance. But while many a fair maiden catches his eye, they all belong to rich families that would never accept a poor musician.

However, one night Sadko's music reaches the ears of the Sea King himself, who had come to the River Volkhov to visit his daughter, Volkhova. The Sea King insists that Sadko must come and play his wonderful music in the great hall of the huge palace beneath the sea. Even if the title of this legend was not "The Sea King's Daughter" you would already have an idea of where this story, retold by Aaron Shepard, is going. However, there is a very interesting twist to the tale and one which provides a nice insight in the Russian character. This is not a predictable story and young readers will be struck by how different it is from the other fairy tales on which they have grown up.

Regardless of what you think of the story, the illustrations by Gennady Spirin are worth picking up this oversized storybook. The front piece claims that these are watercolors, which I find hard to believe, but I am in no position to question the assertion. These are finely detailed illustrations that remind you of some of the most exquisite Renaissance paintings that you have seen, although these are clearly part of the folk art tradition as well (you do not see lobsters wearing armor on their legs in high art). The two-page spreads of the feast in Novgorod and the court of the Sea King are marvelously detailed. My favorite is the painting of the Sea King first appearing to Sadko. The cover painting of the title character is rather subdued in comparison and does not prepare you for the wondrous art you will find inside this book. .

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, May 5, 2003

By 

mom of 3 (Pottstown, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend (Library Binding)

As the mother of 2 adopted Russian children (and one biological), I am working toward putting together a collection of Russian story books that my children will treasure in years to come. The Sea King's Daughter, in addition to being a feast for the eyes, is also rich with history. In the beginning of the book, there is a whole history of Russia and where the story originates. It is fascinating and really gives a depth to the book that is hard to find in other children's fables and fairy tales.

The pictures are so amazing that it really generates discussion when we read it to our 6 year old. She likes to choose her favorite dress in the centerfold!

A delightful book - I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys richly illustrated and different children's books.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning and Awesome, June 6, 2001

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend (Hardcover)

The Author Aaron Shephard gave me this book and I treasure it, since I am very keen on the classics and books that have excellent and engrossing.

It is a Russian tale of ancient heroes like the merchant musician Sadko which are as the book notes preseved in epic ballads known as byling (pronounced BIL-lin-ee) a term meaning "what has been". This is one treat that I like about the book. Beginning on page 30 Mr. Shepard explains the roots of the story and in doing so the reader is exposed to a rich culture of the legends.