Firebird (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In a certain land, in a certain kingdom-as they say in old Russia-on the far side of a certain tangled wood, a garden shimmered like..." (more)
Key Phrases: Prince Ivan

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This gracefully structured picture book introduces readers to the famous Firebird ballet (choreographed by George Balanchine to Igor Stravinsky's music) and the Russian folklore that inspired it. Accomplished hunter Prince Ivan becomes lost in a strange, tangled wood where the only living creature is the magnificent Firebird, which he snares. In exchange for her life, the magical bird offers Prince Ivan one of her glorious feathers and a pledge of help if ever he should call upon her. The feather and Firebird serve Prince Ivan well when he battles evil wizard Kostchei the Deathless and frees the maidens imprisoned in Kostchei's garden. Yolen (How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?) crafts her well-paced tale from a variety of sources (listed in an author's note), including her own childhood memory of seeing Firebird danced by Maria Tallchief in 1949. Employing a design that is both stylish and informative, Vagin (The King's Equal) depicts a ballet performance in a panel that runs across the lower portion of each page, while the larger, top portion of the pages contain his dramatic interpretation of the story. From the brilliant, red-plumed Firebird to the sumptuously decorated house of the wizard, Vagin's crisply rendered paintings evoke czarist Russia. The elegant costumes and poses in his ballet scenes may well leave many readers eager to view a live performance. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A well-known character in Russian folklore, the fierce and beautiful Firebird, is also featured in the ballet, set to the music of Igor Stravinsky. It is the ballet version of the story that Yolen and Vagin present in this richly hued picture book. Young Prince Ivan is hunting near the castle of the terrible demon Kostchei when he captures Firebird. In exchange for its freedom, the bird gives Ivan one of its feathers, which eventually helps him to defeat the demon and marry the beautiful princess imprisoned in the castle. The text makes the story clear and exciting, faltering slightly at the rhymed incantations: "Wave the feather in the air- Firebird will be right there." Yolen has based her telling on George Balanchine's choreography, which varies slightly from other versions. The Fokine version, found in Louis Untermeyer's Tales from the Ballet (Golden Press, 1968; o.p.), adds a magical egg holding the powers of Kostchei. The illustrations are especially useful in explicating the ballet. In the large painting at the top of each spread, the action is played out in the forest by the hero, villain, and bird. In the long, narrow artwork below the text, the scene on stage is shown, with costumed dancers portraying the Firebird and demons. Even the pit orchestra is given a scene in the beginning. Not to be confused with two stunningly illustrated titles of different folktales, Demi's The Firebird (Holt, 1994; o.p.) and Ruth Sanderson's The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring (Little, Brown, 2001), Yolen's Firebird will be most appreciated as an introduction to the ballet.
Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064436004
• ISBN-13: 978-0064436007
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully told, cleverly illustrated, August 8, 2009

By	Mom of four (Maryland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Firebird (Hardcover)

With one reading this book became my four year old's favorite. After fifty readings it still is. The story is short enough for a bedtime story, yet detailed enough to be interesting, and the drawings are colorful and captivating. Each double page has a panoramic of the story on the top 1/2, text below, and a panoramic of the stage ballet on the bottom. My girls (4 and 6) love comparing the dancers to the story characters, noting how the cosumes make the people look like the characters. It's a perfect opportunity to discuss real vs. pretend. For example, they are quick to point out that although the villain is killed the dancer is only pretending to be.

The story is obviously meant to be told aloud, although in a few places I find the ryhthm awkward. Overall, it is excellent. My daughters' favorite line is, "And Kostchei the Deathless met Death at last." As expected, the story ends happily. And my daughters are happy to hear it - again, and again, and again....