A retelling of a Russian fairy tale in which an archer assigned many dangerous quests by the greedy, cruel czar wins a crown and the woman of his dreams.
I-Know-Not-What, I-Know-Not-Where: A Russian Tale
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Little Rooster’s Diamond Button
Little Rooster is happy to find a diamond button-it’s a perfect present for his mistress. Then along comes the King, who snatches the button for his treasure chamber! And when Little Rooster demands the button back, the King is so furious he has Little Rooster thrown into a well. One thing the King doesn’t know: Little Rooster has a magic stomach. Water? Fire? Bees? No problem! Children will cheer for the spunky hero of Margaret Read MacDonald’s sparkling retold tale, which she has been sharing with children since 1965. Will Terry’s vibrant and funny paintings complete the delight. The author lives in Washington State; the illustrator lives in California.
The Tale Of Tsar Saltan
Betrayed by her jealous sisters, a Tsarina and her infant son are marooned on a barren island until a magical swan helps them regain their rightful heritage.
My First Garden
Inspired by hearing that a garden used to grow in the yard in front of his house, a boy recreates it with loving care.
Varenka
Papa Panov’s Special Day
Vassilisa The Wise
A clever and beautiful woman uses her wits to get her husband out of Prince Vladimir’s prison.
First Snow, Magic Snow
A little girl made from the magical first snow lives with a lonely man and his wife through the winter, and when she disappears in the spring, the couple set out in search of her.
The Spider’s Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story
Katrusya is devastated that her family cannot afford Christmas presents this year, but it simply wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree. She soon finds the perfect one in the deepest part of the forest and decorates it with homemade ornaments. But the next day the tree is crawling with spiders! Luckily, Katrusya convinces her mother not to throw the tree away. When the family returns from church that evening, they discover that the spiders have left a dazzling Christmas miracle.
Cat And Mouse In The Night
Their inattentiveness strands a little mouse and a little cat in the meadow after dark, where their fear turns into a wonderful discovery, in a fable that confronts children’s fear of the dark.