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 Tale of the Firebird
Magic
Vasalisa and Her Magic Doll
A retelling of the old Russian fairy tale in which beautiful Vasalisa uses the help of her doll to escape from the clutches of the witch Baba Yaga.
The Dream Mouse
The Dream Mouse drives his cart with its load of sleep through the darkening village, bringing wondrous dreams to all the children.
Dragon Feathers
This spirited folktale from Austria’s Ziller Valley tells the story of a poor woodcutter’s son who learns that he must pluck three feathers from the wings of a terrible dragon in order to win the hand of his beloved.
The Treasure Chest
A rainbow-colored magic fish helps Laifu protect his bride-to-be from the evil ruler Funtong.
Joha Makes a Wish: A Middle Eastern Tale
Joha finds a magic stick and learns that you don’t always get what you wish for.
Tiger, Tiger
A bored young boy uses a magic feather to form a tiger, and then must use the feather to save his village when the tiger gets hungry.
The Magic Tree: A Folktale From Nigeria
Although Mbi, an orphan boy, is constantly asked to “do this” and “do that” by his many unkind relatives until a special tree grows, just for him.
Bubble in the Bathtub
Tiny dynamo Nilly and his friend Lisa, first introduced in Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder (S and S, 2010), return to save the day (and the doctor). At the end of their last outing, Doctor P. headed back to Paris to save the love of his life, Juliette Margarine, from having to marry evil Claude Cliché. A mysterious postcard from the past sends Nilly and Lisa on a mission to rescue him, both helped and hindered by the doctor’s crazy inventions, including a time-traveling bathtub and translating nose plugs. A whirlwind tour of French history ensues, including stops at the Moulin Rouge, the Tour de France, Waterloo, the Bastille, Monsieur Eiffel’s workroom, and Joan of Arc’s jail cell, with our heroes changing history right and left. Chasing them through time is Raspa, Proctor’s one-legged former assistant, inventor of time-travel soap, who makes the ultimate sacrifice to atone for past misdeeds.
Up and Away with the Little Witch!
When Trixie comes to visit, Lizzy, the Little Witch, decides to conjure up a magic carpet for them.
“Abracadabra, abracaduss,
Carpet, oh, carpet,
Fly away with us!”
She chants, and PRESTO! they’re up and away on an all-night adventure! Fly with Lizzy and Trixie as they visit the Caravan Witch, the Boat Witch, and, most fantastic of all, the Balloon Witch.