The treacherous swan-geese have kidnapped little Vanyusha and carried him off to Baba Yaga. His older sister, Mashenka, is to blame: she got distracted by her play and forgot about her little brother. The girl sets off in search of Vanya and eventually rescues him from Baba Yaga, despite the difficult search and a perilous escape.
The fairy tale teaches children to listen to adults and learn how to make amends for their mistakes. This didactic lesson is expressed very poetically. Mashenka learns the wisdom of life thanks to magical talking characters—a stove, an apple tree, a river, and a hedgehog. They help her find Vanya and get home safely. They also stand up for the children when they are in danger.
The plot of the fairy tale as retold by folklorist Mikhail Bulatov is appealing for its simplicity and accessibility to children. The illustrations, which are just as simple and easy for children to understand, were created by artist Ivan Kuznetsov. Older generations are well familiar with this book in its black-and-white version. With the consent of the artist’s heirs, the Melik-Pashaev publishing house has carefully colorized the illustrations.
Retold by: Mikhail Bulatov
Illustrations: Ivan Kuznetsov
Pages: 16 (coated paper). Softcover
Dimensions: 280×215×3 mm
Series: Thin masterpieces for the little ones
