The Frog Princess

Intricately detailed, brilliantly colored paintings highlight the traditional Russian folktale about the three sons of the tsar, who seek their wives by shooting an arrow as far as they can, only to have the youngest son acquire an enchanted frog for a wife.

Grade 1-4-"Once long ago in a faraway kingdom, there lived a great tsar who had three sons." When the time comes for his sons to marry, their father instructs them to string their bows and shoot arrows "as far as you can into the heart of Russia. Whoever finds your arrow shall be your bride." While the two elder sons find perfectly conventional wives, the arrow of the youngest, Prince Ivan, is found in the mouth of a small green frog. Despite his dismay with his fate, he does marry her and discovers that she is really quite talented. She is, in fact, the renowned and beautiful Vasilisa the Wise, who has been placed under enchantment by her jealous father. In classic fairy-tale fashion, Ivan foolishly burns his wife's frog skin, thereby banishing her to the land of the evil Koshchei the Invincible. In his quest to rescue Vasilisa, he encounters Baba Yaga who, in this story, actually lends a helping hand, and a series of animals who prove to be the key to solving the riddle that will save his bride. Lewis's retelling of this complex Russian tale is smooth and easy, lightened by touches of humor, and with only a minor lapse in continuity marring the narrative flow. Spirin creates an appropriately misty and romantic world, so well suited to a classic tale. His watercolors are rich in color and detail, picturing the sumptuous interiors and snowy landscapes. A fine addition to any folklore collection.
Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.