A famous Russian fairy tale about a brave girl sent by her jealous stepsisters to fetch fire from old frightful witch Baba Yaga.

Once upon a time, these stories of magical transformation were told to young women by their mothers and grandmothers and the wise women of the clan. The heroines of these old tales set out on a difficult road of trials to discover their true destiny. And marrying a prince was not the only goal. These ancient tales of wonder and adventure are about learning to be strong, brave, kind and true-hearted, and trusting in yourself to change the world for the better. -- Back cover.

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.

"Forest born! Ogre child! You're nothing but a demon wild!" Vasilisa has always been strong. She's strong enough to break the arm of the bully that daily taunts her. She won't because she and her mother are servants at the Orlov manor, and her mother would be punished for her retaliation. Instead Vasilisa bides her time until she is sixteen and can return to the forest. Only Staver, the master's son, shows her kindness. His friendship pulls as strong as the forest, but their classes are divided forever by law. She is a forest born, fatherless servant and her future at the manor holds mockery filled drudgery. War threatens. The forest calls. Will she stay to protect the one who can never be more than a friend, or flee to the peace that the forest offers? A retelling of the Russian fairytale Vasilisa and Staver Whitney Award Nominee 2020

CONTENTSVasilisa the BeautifulTsarevich Ivan and Grey WolfThe two IvansFenist the FalconSister Alyonushka and Brother IvanushkaChestnut-GreyFather FrostGo I Know Not Where, Fetch I Know Not WhatLittle Girl and the Swan-GeeseThe Silver Saucer and the Rosy-Cheeked AppleEmelya and the PikeThe Frog TsarevnaWee Little HavroshechkaMarya Morevna the Lovely TsarevnaIvan - Young of Years, Old of WisdomThe Seven Simeons - Seven Brave Workingmen

"He shot an arrow into the air. It fell to earth he didn’t care where. He didn’t want to do it but his father made him. When the Tsar of all Russia tells you to shoot an arrow and marry the closest young thing to wherever it lands, that’s what you do. Even if it lands in a swamp by a frog. So Prince Ivan agrees to marry his green quarry, who is actually a charmed princess. Wonderful Russian folk characters – including a fire-breathing bear, a wicked wizard, and the witch Baba Yaga – enrich this wonderful tale for children of all ages. Play, with music. "--Publisher.

It's 1919, but in Edenfall, Pennsylvania, the Great War is not over -- not for Vasilisa, at least. Papa is presumed dead on the fields of Flanders, Mama is being courted by an absolute ogre, and now Babka, her beloved grandma, has had a bad spell. Or has she fallen under one? Only the Old Tales, the Russian fables Vasilisa was raised on, offer any comfort or counsel. But what if they are more than child's tales? Enter Ivan, who jumps a train at midnight and finds Vasilisa in a real fix. He's on his own quest, but Old Rus is calling from across time and both worlds, and if they heed the call, they might both get what they want. It won't be easy. Three witches, two children, one ogre - they're outnumbered and outclassed. Vasilisa has a secret weapon, in the humblest of guises, but will the meek truly inherit the earth? Or will the mighty prevail? One thing is certain: it's a fairy tale of their own making, a tale whose happy ending is ever in doubt.

A young girl named Vasilisa has to go to the Queen of Asps to ask for the Brew of Life to save her dying old father. The Queen is not very friendly to say the least and tries her best to see the girl dead. Vasilisa does not scare easily, read for yourself: "...'Did you enjoy your last meal, cutie?' said a low, cackling voice from the dark of the cave. The witch snapped her fingers and several torches along the wall shot out fire. Standing now in front of Vasilisa, the witch could as well have been a thousand years old. Her long twisted chin rested in the middle of her chest, her nose reached far away from her wrinkled face, blazing red eyes were half hidden under the bushy eyebrows and her skin was almost black from dirt and old age. Stinky gray hair stood straight up on her head, as if terrified of the owner."

Do you have something that someone special once gave you that seems to offer you strength and protection when you need it the most? In 'Vasilisa the Beautiful', the young girl, Vasilisa, was given a special doll on her mother's deathbed. Let's find out more about this story... 'Vasilisa the Beautiful' is a Russian fairytale that features a young girl named Vasilisa and one of the most infamous characters in Russian folklore, Baba Yaga. In this story, the eponymous heroine is pitted against Baba Yaga. Vasilisa the Beautiful is in a collection of Russian folktales known as Russian Fairy Tales or Russian Folk Tales . The stories in this collection were compiled during the 19th century by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, who has been considered the Russian equivalent of the Grimm Brothers.

Do you have something that someone special once gave you that seems to offer you strength and protection when you need it the most? In 'Vasilisa the Beautiful', the young girl, Vasilisa, was given a special doll on her mother's deathbed. Let's find out more about this story… 'Vasilisa the Beautiful' is a Russian fairytale that features a young girl named Vasilisa and one of the most infamous characters in Russian folklore, Baba Yaga. In this story, the eponymous heroine is pitted against Baba Yaga. Vasilisa the Beautiful is in a collection of Russian folktales known as Russian Fairy Tales or Russian Folk Tales . The stories in this collection were compiled during the 19th century by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, who has been considered the Russian equivalent of the Grimm Brothers. Illustration by Nataly Ger.