Book Description

Sweet, lovely Vasilisa lives with her jealous stepmother and stepsisters on the edge of a dark forest inhabited by the evil witch Baba Yaga. One night the stepmother sends Vasilisa to visit Baba Yaga, an errand from which the gentle girl has little chance of returning alive. "An engaging text and accomplished paintings set this version apart....A stylized and classy offering."--School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Marvelous Pictures/Cute Fairy Tale-Highly Recommended
I had a trompe-l'oil mural done in my breakfast nook, in my Spanish bungalow. The idea was that one eating at my breakfast table would be sitting outside in a garden setting. I checked out various books from our public library and this is how I discovered the illustrator K. Y. Craft. My mural is now Craft-inspired and marvelous. I had to order this book in particular because of the marvelous Russian-inspired pictures. K. Y. Craft puts such amazing detail into everything she does, whether its the border around the page or the picture itself. You could literally design a child's room by framing these pictures. The story itself is a mix of Cinderella and Hansel & Gretel, with the prince being a Tsar at the end.

Horrifyingly Graphic!!! Use Caution With Little Kids
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?!!

The brave girl who returned from Baba Yaga's hut
"Baby Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave" will strike all readers, whatever their age, as a variation on the Cinderella story. This is because Vasilisa's mother died when she way young and her father remarried a woman with two cruel and ugly daughters. Of course Vasilisa's father dies as well and her wicked stepmother turns out to be, literally, a witch. However, being a witch is a minor thing in a world where Baba Yaga lives in her house built with the bones of her victims in the gloomy forest.

Baba Yaga is probably the most famous witch in the folklore of the world and certainly the one of whom the most stories are told. Russian folklore is filled with stories of the fearsome witch with the iron teeth, who is sometimes known as "Baba Yaga Kostianaya Noga" (Baba Yaga Boney Legs) because even though she has a ferocious appetite, as this story shows, she is as thin as a skeleton. Unlike the conventional witch who wears a hat and travels on a broomstick, Baba Yaga sails through the air sitting in a large mortar with her knees up against her chin, pushing against the floor of the forest with a pestle. When she appears a wild wind begins to blow and the spirits that often accompany here start to wail and shriek.

For children in Russia or pretty much anywhere in Eastern Europe the name of Baba Yaga is one to send shivers up the spine, so when Vasilisa's wicked stepmother contrives a reason to send our heroine into the forest to borrow a light from Baba Yaga, they know that this is not a good thing. At the start of this tale, retold by Marianna Mayer, young readers not yet familiar with the legendary Baba Yaga are told that humans are her favorite food and that few have ever survived a visit to her crooked hut made of human bones. However, they are also told that the story of this particular young girl and her encounter with Baba Yaga bears repeating. Vasilisa heads off into the forbidding forest, taking with her only her favorite doll, a token of the love of her real mother.

In addition to the luminous illustrations by K. Y. Craft, what makes "Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave" so compelling is that it bespeaks a complexity long gone in terms of most children's stories today. For example, as she walks through the forest to Baba Yaga's house Vasilisa sees some different colored horsemen. Later on we learn who they are, but they do not play any real part in the story, they are just part of the rich tapestry of the tale. Of course is you are talking about rich tapestry that is a good description of Craft's artwork, which usually consists on each spread of a full page illustration, a nice little border design of animals in the forest, and a little design around the first capital letter of each page.

A very scary variation on Cinderella myth. Wonderful art!
My two daughters, 7 and 5, love this book. It's very well written and vivid, and the illustrations are wonderful.

Baba Yaga--the world's most frightening witch
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. ... Read more

Book Description

The future belongs to you.

Should anyone insult you, tell yourself this: I am a child of destiny who will unite East and West and change the world.

Born into a family of wealth and privilege in 1940s Shanghai, Chinese Cinderella (CC) is sheltered from the harsh brutalities of the Japanese invasion in China. But after enduring abuse at the hands of her cruel stepmother, CC seeks refuge at a martial-arts school and joins a secret dragon society. There, under the guidance of Grandma Wu, she trains with a trio of orphaned acrobats and is introduced to the exciting world of espionage as a part of the Chinese Resistance movement. And when CC and her new comrades take on a daring mission to rescue a crew of American airmen, they prove that true bravery knows no age barrier.

Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society is a compelling blend of martial-arts adventure and historical fiction. With honesty and compassion, New York Times best-selling author Adeline Yen Mah has written a triumphant novel reminding us that children can overcome tragic circumstances and create their destiny.

Book Description

The classic story of Cinderella gains even more charm in this glamorous retelling by world-famous picture book writer and illustrator Shirley Hughes.

Ella Cinders loves helping her father in his dress shop and laughing with her friend Buttons, the store's delivery boy. Then comes the terrible day when her father remarries and everything changes. Her stepmother makes her sew in the dreary basement. Her stepsisters mock her shabby dress. And to top it off, the new Mrs. Cinders forbids Ella to attend the duke's grand ball. Heartbroken, Ella is sure that her life will never be what she dreamed. But with the help of a fairy godmother and some sparkling courage of her own, this Cinderella discovers that dreams can come true in the most unexpected of ways.

Join Ella amidst the dazzle and fashion of the roaring twenties as she takes happily ever after into her own hands! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Charles Perrault first published his collection of classic French folk tales 300 years ago, including "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and this entertaining story about a most clever feline. In Puss and Boots, a poor miller dies and leaves his youngest son nothing but a cat. The son is none too happy about it, either; " ...once I've eaten my cat and made a muff out of the fur, I'm sure to starve," he says. But what a legacy the bequeathed cat turns out to be! The cat in tall boots creates a new identity for the youngest son--the Marquis of Carabas, complete with fine clothes, fields of wheat, a castle stolen from an ogre, and in the end, the respect of the king and the hand of the king's daughter. The story itself is gracefully and humorously told, and the text, set in large gray type, adds an old-fashioned air to the tale.

Fred Marcellino's illustrations for Puss in Boots--a Caldecott Honor Book--are infused with golden light and summer warmth in the sun-dappled woods and beside the fields of ripe grain. Many of his paintings show a masterful use of perspective; the reader sometimes looks down on a scene as though from a balcony, or from below, at a huge charging lion. Marcellino has also illustrated a version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier and two books by Tor Seidler, A Rat's Tale and The Wainscott Weasel. Young listeners won't soon forget this crafty character of a cat, who has a great deal of charm despite his less-than-honest means of helping his master. (Ages 5 to 9) ... Read more

Book Description

Retold in both Spanish and English, the universally loved story The Ugly Duckling will delight early readers and older learners alike. The striking illustrations give a new look to this classic tale, and the bilingual text makes it perfect for both home and classroom libraries. ... Read more

Book Description

Disney’s Cinderella is the classic story of a beautiful girl, her evil stepmother and stepsisters, and the fairy godmother who helps her meet the prince of her dreams. ... Read more

Book Description

Kind Cinderella, forced to wait hand and foot on her cruel stepsisters and stepmother, has almost forgotten that she, too, was once a lady with fine clothes and a soft bed to sleep in. But when Cinderella is left at home on the night of the royal ball, her fairy godmother turns pumpkin into coach, mice into horses, lizards into coachmen, and Cinderella's rags into a beautiful ball gown. At the ball, Cinderella captures the prince's heart, but must flee before the stroke of midnight. Now the prince must find the true owner of the delicate glass slipper Cinderella has left behind... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not Ruth Sanderson's Best
From the offset, this version of the Cinderella tale is a wonderful addition to any children's bookshelf - the story is traditional and the paintings are beautiful. However, if you're like me and are a big fan of Ruth Sanderson's illustrations, it doesn't take much to easily see that this is simply *not* her best work. Newcomers to Sanderson will see only colourful, elaborate paintings; fans will see the wide, obvious brushstrokes that she usually manages to conceal, the hasty composition of the paintings, and the frequent distortions of character's faces (many times Cinderella's nose shape changes from rounded to pointy, and her features often appear rather squished). The detail is also not as refined as in her other books, and within the context of the story Cinderella wears two dresses - one is written as being gold, but appears a rather ugly brown-yellow colour, and the other (that you can see on the title page) is so elabourate and wide it looks a bit garish.

But as I said before, a person will only notice these faults if they are experienced with Sanderson's work, and know that she has done a lot better in the past. For me, it feels as if she needed a quick paycheck, and so hurriedly slapped this book together. However, if this is your first Sanderson book, then your're in luck, because everything from this one is a step up!

In terms of the narrative, there are a few variations on the story, but overall it's your traditional tale. Like she did in her books 'The Crystal Mountain' and 'The Golden Mare, the Firebird and the Magic Ring', Sanderson mixes up two stories to make one (or in this case two *versions* of the same story) taking elements on the classic French version by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. This creates a fresh twist on the most well-known of tales - here Cinderella's father doesn't die, but is in fact held firmly under the reign of his new wife, and only comes to his daughter's defence at the end of the book. It also tells of Cinderella's planting of a hazel twig which grows within minutes to a tree and has a white bird land upon it (which is subtly implied to be her mother's spirit). This white bird (also seen on the title page, landing on Cinderella's hand) helps her with her chores, as do all the other birds of the garden, and at the conclusion attacks the stepmother and her daughters, never letting them exit the house (a little odd since Cinderella had just forgiven them all).

All in all, a good enough book, but I would recommend for parents searching for a 'Cinderella' tale for their children to choose instead the version by K. Y. Craft, which has much more detailed paintings. For a real look at Sanderson's skill with a paintbrush, I'd suggest 'The Enchanted Woods', which in my opinion is her best work.

A Beautiful Book
This has got to be one of the most beautiful picture books of the Cinderella story classic you can get. The illustrations are oil paintings, and the illustration on the cover is very special, depicting Cinderella in a gown of shimmering white, gold, and pink silk, surrounded by colorful songbirds, with swirls of "magical" glitter dancing around her. The story retold by Sanderson is a blending of different Cinderella stories featuring a magical hazel tree, a special white bird that changes into the beautiful fairy godmother (complete with fairy wings), and all the other more familiar elements including pumpkins, lizards, and mice that go through their magical transformations. Its a special book for your collection, whether you're young or just young at heart.

an old tale in beautifull new pictures
We all know the story of Cinderella, however, there were two things about this version that sets it apart from the many others of this oft-told tale.

First, the illustrations are exquisite oil paintings which bring a new magic to the story.

The second thing that makes a difference is the relationship between Cinderella & her father. In most other versions, the father loves her to pieces, & then dies. Thus he is unable to save Cinderella from her nasty step-mother. In this telling, the father does not die, he keeps his mouth shut about the way his daughter is treated, for fear of his new wife's anger. I thought it was an interesting twist.

To sum it up, this is one of the better & more realistic Cinderella stories ... Read more

Book Description

This NanaBanana's version of two different stories: Sleeping Beauty, an allegory of love and goodness triumphing over evil, and Beauty and the Beast, about the selfless goodness of a daughter who is rewarded with true love. Both stories are told in condensed versions that are easy for children ages 4+ to begin to read and understand. ... Read more

Book Description

The story of Snow White is told here with simplicity and charm. After her wicked stepmother--jealous of Snow White's extraordinary beauty--expels her from the castle, Snow White encounters seven dwarfs, a poisoned apple, and finally a handsome prince! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Powerful and Compellingly illustrated Snow White
This book was one of my favorite's at our school's library when I was younger. This is far from Disney's version. The illustrations are breath-taking and moody at times, yet they embrace the simple essence of the story. The text is perfect for reading aloud but the pictures deserve many glances. The details in the illustrations are something to behold. Children will enjoy this version but also anyone on the college level interested in fantasy literature and illustration. Bottom Line: A simple yet elegant edition worthy of having a place on your bookshelf. A+

The Power of Illustrations
The reviewer who said this book wasn't for her 5-year old is right. It's not the Disney we all grew up with but rather more grim. It would be for older children. And adults. Read on.

The real treasure in this book is the incredible illustrations. Nancy Burkert has given her pictures a strong mediaeval feel, the detail in each one being extensive. You won't find Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, et al. here but rather dwarfs: short men with normal-sized heads. For example, the scene in which they are depicted mourning Snow White is truly amazing. You can feel their grief as you see them standing 'round the glass coffin.

This book is interesting for the story-line but absolutely worth owning if you enjoy and appreciate exquisite illustration.

Stories of the unconscious
Parents - read these stories to your kids. No, the Brothers Grimm are not Disney. They are not a contrived fantasy world that teaches your children little fairies will come and save them from their troubles when something goes wrong. Disney is good for sing-a-longs. Parents, if you want to teach your children *life lessons* about growing up, about facing their fears, and about not being ashamed of who they are, read the Grimm tales to them. Then, after you're done, explain to them what these books entail. Teach your child about *life.* Allow their minds to function, because a nonfunctioning mind is clinically dead. .....stories of the unconscious.....

too graphic for little people
I did not think this was an appropriate book for my 5 year old son. It talked in some detail about eating the liver and lung of Snow White. It ends with a description of the demise of the Queen, "But they had already put iron slippers over a fire of coals, and they brought them in with tongs and set them before her. Then she had to put on the red hot slippers and dance till she dropped down dead." Need I say more? This is not for small children! The pictures are beautiful giving the book a few stars, but there are only pictures on every other spread. My son continued to try to turn the page while I was reading the pages with only words while I am trying to anticipate what to skip over.

A fresh translation of this famous tale.
Jarrell translated this famous folk tale of the Grimm Brothers (Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm, 1785 1863, and Wilhelm Carl Grimm, 1786-1859) of the princess who is forced to hide from her evil stepmother. Jarrell retains the grim ending to the Grimm brothers tale. This issue was illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkett and it was a 1973 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustration in a children's book. It is a book that should be on the shelves of all serious students of children literature. ... Read more

Book Description

Once upon a time . . .

There was a singing Cinderella?

Yes, with a voice as flavorful as licorice.

There was also a Crooked Foster Mother and two evil sisters. A Queen Mother Rhythm and a Prince of Music.

And while there's no glass slipper to leave behind at the Great Gospel Convention, there is an enchanted melody for the Prince to search for . . . and to find.

Award-winning author and poet Joyce Carol Thomas and Caldecott Medal-winning artist David Diaz have infused the classic Cinderella tale with a soulful twist.

Book Description

Book Description

Cinderhazel is a blonde witch who loves dirt more than anything else. When her stepsisters and stepmother fly off to attend the annual Halloween witches' ball, where the elusive Prince Alarming will make an appearance, they leave Cinderhazel behind.All her attempted spells turn to dust - until her witchy fairy godmother appears and sends Cinderhazel off to meet the equally messy prince. Could this be the beginning of filthily ever after? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

GREAT BOOK FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
This twist to the usual version of Cinderella offers a wonderful opportunity for teachers to teach students how to compare and contrast characters and events. Cinderhazel is a definite addition to my October reading list! ... Read more

Book Description

"Mother, Oh, Mother, Bathala, Creator of the Earth, Anitos, Spirits of my Ancestors, Hear me and help me..."

As Abadeha wept and prayed, she saw a beautiful woman, bathed in radiant light, who appeared to take her worries away.

So go the blessings of Cinderella's fairy godmother throughout the struggles and eventual triumphs of a young girl against her oppressors. Set in the exotic islands of the Philippines, this tale captures the mystical charm of the indigenous culture of the Filipinos. Colorful images of pre-colonial Philippine scenes, costumes, architecture, and folkways vividly enhance the enchanting narratives.

This retelling of lasting value and universal appeal conveys the deep respect and reverence for nature and the earth inherent in the forever-loved story that will never grow old. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Based on a native legend
Abadeha is set in the Philippines and is based on a native legend. A young girl whose mother has died is forced to perform impossible tasks by her mean stepfamily. Good reading skills by ages 8-12 will lend to an appreciation of this detailed story of a girl's loneliness and love. ... Read more

Book Description

Pulsating with the rhythm and vibrancy of the Jazz Age, this dazzling picture book is set in New York City in the 1920s. The story may be familiar, but the cast of characters will surprise you. Snow White is a beautiful jazz baby, protected by seven hot jazzmen. Instead of a wicked stepmother, her arch-enemy is the Queen of the Underworld. And her Prince Charming is a crack reporter from the ^INew York Mirror^R. The breezy and clever text complements the style and color of the art deco illustrat ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Multiple learning book has space reserved on any shelf
Happening across this book by chance, I was entranced by the image projected from the cover, and hoped more filled the pages. This story, whether or not a remake of a classic, holds it's own as a historic impression of 1920's New York, and a marvelous graphic lesson in Art Deco for all children, and indeed everyone short of the privelage of experiencing the era first-person.

A very light-reader, there is nothing involved to evade anyone's attention, and everything to deliver fuel to the imagination for what this glamorous and dramatic world was at the time, and lent to art and society thereafter. ... Read more

Book Description

Between the pages of these delightfully illustrated books are the classic stories of magic, imagination, and inspiration that will delight children again and again. From the hard-working Red Hen to the foolish Gingerbread Man, these tales will capture children’s interest and spark their imagination page after page, inspiring a love of reading that is vital to success in school and life. Fresh, captivating illustrations enliven each tale.

Book Description

Once upon a time, there was a sweet cowgirl named Cindy Ellen, who lived with the orneriest stepmother west of the Mississippi and two stepsisters who were so nasty, they made rattlesnakes look nice! But when a fast-talkin' fairy godmother teaches Cindy Ellen a little lesson about gumption, Cindy lassos first place at the rodeo and the heart of Joe Prince....

You may think you've heard the story before-but you'll get a side-splittin' bellyache after you're through with this hilarious rendition told Wild West-style!

Reviews (3)

a girl in the west
if you have ever seen Cindy Ellen, you have to read it. It has a prince that's really hilarious. And CIndy Ellen has 2 step-sisters. They like to treat Cindy Ellen bad to the bone. --by Meg, age 5 1/2, Feb. 2003

Cinderella meets the Wild West
When sweet Cindy Ellen's father marries his ornery new wife, she and her nasty daughters take to picking on Cindy. This retelling of the traditional Cinderella tale is full of "twirling swirling" fun. Cindy's fairy godmother helps her get to both the wild and woolly rodeo and the square dance where Cindy Ellen meets the rodeo champion Joe Prince. Of course, sparks fly - as does Cindy at the stroke of midnight, leaving Joe Prince to search out his lost cowgirl. In this version, Cindy Ellen must gather her gumption to receive the fairy godmother's magical gifts and the result is a cowgirl who is strong as well as pretty, making this a positive read for both children and parents.

Cindy Ellen
The book was great! My daughter's loved it, and so did my four year old son. ... Read more