When a farmer sends his sons on three quests to determine who will inherit the farm, Ivan, who is small and simple, finds good luck and wonderful treasures in a castle filled only with cats in fancy costumes and wigs.
The Castle of the Cats
Folklore and Fairy Tales
Bearhead: A Russian Folktale
Bearhead succeeds in outwitting the witch Madame Hexaba and a frog-headed goblin. Half-bear and half-man, he outwits an evil witch by being totally honest.
Onions and Garlic
The youngest of a merchant’s three sons proves that he is not as foolish as he was thought to be when he trades a sackful of onions for a fortune in diamonds.
One Eye, Two Eyes, Three Eyes
To honor her father’s promise, a beautiful young girl agrees to become the slave of a witch and her two daughters, enduring their cruelty with the help of her talking pet goat.
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
When the Czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck.
Curse in Reverse
After a witch places a curse on them, a childless couple lives in fear for many years before coming to understand that the curse is really a blessing in disguise.
Tsugele’s Broom
Despite the urgings of her well-meaning parents, a self-sufficient Polish girl insists she’ll never marry unless she meets a man who is as reliable as her broom.
The Tale of the Firebird
When Prince Ivan sets out to find the Firebird for his father the tsar, he must complete a series of tasks before obtaining the Firebird and winning the hand of a beautiful princess.
The King Who Tried to Fry an Egg on His Head
A poor and foolish king marries off his three daughters to the Sun, the Moon, and the Raven and then tries to copy their special talents.
Night of the White Stag
On Christmas Eve, a young boy enters an ice-webbed forest, where he encounters an old blind man who is hunting the wonderous and elusive white stag.