Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave (Hardcover)

by Marianna Mayer (Author), Kinuko Y. Craft (Illustrator) "At the far edge of Baba Yaga's forest there lived a mean-spirited woman with her two ill-tempered daughters and her stepdaughter, Vasilisa..." (more)
Key Phrases: Baba Yaga

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The creators of The Twelve Dancing Princesses offer an elaborate interpretation of this Russian folktale, which incorporates elements of Hansel and Gretel as well as the Cinderella story. Craft's paintings (reminiscent, in their ornate detailing, of those of Gennady Spirin) are embellished with florid borders, inset illustrations and fancy dropped-capital letters at the start of the text block on each spread. Her startlingly hideous depiction of Baba Yaga the crone makes the pointy-hat-and-warted-nose witch found in most fairy tales seem downright cute by comparison; the impact, however, is gravely inhibited by a legend at the bottom of the painting: "Smoking After Meals Is One of Baba Yaga's Many Bad Habits . . . " Mayer's stately retelling is equally formal, but maintains a natural buoyancy that enhances the book's read-aloud appeal: "It should be no wonder, then, that Baba Yaga lives alone. Even so, from time to time, there is the occasional visitor, the stray traveler, the hapless wanderer. Few have survived the visit." Similar in style to Elizabeth Winthrop's Vasilissa the Beautiful , this adaptation focuses on the heroine's bravery rather than her beauty, a distinction that may be important to some. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-An engaging text and accomplished paintings set this version apart from the recent crop of retellings of this popular Russian variant of the Cinderella tale. After the death of her father, Vasilisa is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters; her only comfort is the magical doll made by her mother before she died. Sent to Baba Yaga's house to fetch a light, the girl becomes the witch's servant and is given a series of impossible tasks to perform. With the help of her doll, she pleases the demanding hag, who sends her home with the precious light. After it destroys her stepmother and stepsisters, Vasilisa goes to live with an elderly woman and learns to spin and weave. She creates an exquisite piece of cloth that catches the attention of the tsar. He seeks out its maker, finds the heroine, and asks for her hand in marriage. Mayer's graceful prose conveys both the wonder and power of the tale. Complementing the text are Craft's illustrations done in a mixture of watercolor, gouache, and oils. The palette of red and gold set against a dark background resembles Russian folk-art paintings on black-lacquered wood. The pictures are often dark, and the depiction of Baba Yaga is not for the weakhearted. The use of decorative capital letters, elegant typeface, and small drolleries add to the visual appeal of each page. A stylized and classy offering that's ideal for older picture-book audiences.
Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 19, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688085008
• ISBN-13: 978-0688085001
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,637 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Horrifyingly Graphic!!! Use Caution With Little Kids, December 14, 2003

By	Kelly "kelly-lcce" (Kennesaw, GA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is a re-telling of a Russian fairy tale illustrated by KY Craft [far and away the best illustrator I've ever encountered]. This is a Cinderella type tale turned graphically gruesome.

We bought this book for our daughter's 5th birthday. She has several other KY Craft books and adores them all. However when I recieved this one from amazon and opened it up my husband and I both worried that it was not appropriate for our children. [They have enough nightmares as it is!]

While the illustrations are beautifully detailed and absolutely amazing [as always with KY Craft], the story is about a horrible witch, Baba Yaga, who eats people and lives in a house made of bones [graphically illustrated in great detail]. She has a hideous frightening appearance [also rendered in great detail] and the entire book is extremely dark and frightening. This is definitely the stuff of nightmares and horror movies.

So, it was with much trepidation that I read the book to my 5 year old and 2 year old... I expected them to be very frightened. To the contrary, they found Baba Yaga *fascinating* and LOVED the story... they want me to read it again and again.

As an adult I appreciated the level of detail and the amazing art work, but I was amazed that my young children could read this book and not be terrified. They truly adore it though... who would have guessed?!!

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Baba Yaga--the world's most frightening witch, January 11, 2001

By	Erin (Michigan) - See all my reviews

BY&VtB is a Russian Cinderella-tale of sorts featuring Vasilisa, whose only companion is a talking doll made by her mother. Sent by her wicked stepmother to the hut of Baba Yaga for a light, Vasilisa escapes only by completing vast quantities of houswork. My main problem with this story is that Vasilisa doesn't actually do any of the work--the doll does--leaving Vasilisa only to cook dinner for her (very scary) captor. Why does this earn Vasilisa the epithet "the brave"? A better name for her would be "Vasilisa the Complacent" since she never actually takes control of the situation or shows any will of her own. From the moment her father dies to the time her wicked stepmother is destroyed, she bends to the will of any imposing figure that commands her if for no other reason than she can't think of an alternative (see page 2 of the story)! Don't let the title fool you... Vasilisa is not an example of a strong, clever heroine like you'd expect!

On a more positive note, the illustrations are wonderful. Richly ornamented, finely detailed paintings occupy every other page. The text is decorated by orientalized landscapes and persianesque illuminations. Oh, and the paintings of Baba Yaga are terrifying! I spent a long time absorbed in the artwork of this book. It truly is enchanting!

Bottom line: Don't look to this story for a strong female protagonist. Enjoy it rather for its fine illustrations--they will be reward enough.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Love, February 21, 2006

By	Viola (Ontario,Canada) - See all my reviews

Anyone who has ever read "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle would likely appreciate this book. Although the heroine, Vasilisa, never denies her grief and despair, she graciously accepts whatever Life presents her with; as a result, she is richly rewarded. Near the end, she is perfectly happy and content with a life situation that is hardly glamorous. She is truly a light in the world and the most spiritual heroine I've ever encountered in a story for children. I've never seen my daughter so drawn to a character in a book. Vasilisa's strength comes from within and the message in this story is timeless. The doll is a beautiful symbol of the power of a quiet yet powerful love. Unlike most fairy tales the doll is always with Vasilisa as a constant reminder of her deceased mother's love and is actively engaged as a guiding force in her life. This book could be helpful to a child who has lost a mother. My daughter was not scared by the story or the illustrations. Recently, I purchased a book "coincidentally" from Amazon by Kris Waldherr, "Embracing the Goddess Within". Waldherr says that Baba Yaga, who is often presented in Russian fairy tales as an evil witch who eats children, was originally a goddess who represented the life cycle, from birth to death. I don't know how Amazon does it (and I don't want to know; I'm content to keep it as a mystery) but they manage to bring my attention to books that are perfect companions to ones I've already bought or previewed.
Last but not least, Mayer and Craft are a dynamic duo. This book is a work of art and thank goodness they are out there writing and illustrating such exquisite books for children.