Music for the Tsar of the Sea - Hardcover

Lottridge, Celia Barker

3.56

9 ratings by Goodreads

9780888993281: Music for the Tsar of the Sea

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0888993285 ISBN 13: 9780888993281

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 1998

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A charming rendition of a Russian folktale about how the city of Novgorod got its river tells how a minstrel named Sadko was rewarded for his talent by playing for the tsar's daughter, who follows him to Novgorod and turns into the River Volkov.

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-4-Sadko, a poor musician, catches the ear of the Tsar of the Sea with his beautiful playing. Years later, when he visits the Tsar's undersea kingdom and plays for him once more, the king's dancing makes the seas boil. In order to calm the water, the musician is told by Volkova, one of the Tsar's daughters, to break the strings of his instrument. When he asks to return to Novgorod for new ones, the ruler orders him to take Volkova along as a guarantee of his return. The girl is transformed into the Volkov River and Sadko spends the rest of his days sailing on it, playing his music. Lottridge's well-cadenced text would work well as a read-aloud or in a storytelling session. Unfortunately, the author does not include source notes, an omission that is difficult to excuse. Chan's full-page pastel drawings are vibrant and have a vigorous sense of movement. However, there are some minor inconsistencies in characterization; while the text repeatedly states that the Tsar's beard is green, the paintings depict it as brown. In another illustration, the awkward perspective used in drawing the Tsar causes most of his head to disappear. Aaron Shepard's The Sea King's Daughter (Atheneum, 1997) tells essentially the same story but emphasizes the romantic relationship between Sadko and the title character. In contrast, Lottridge downplays the romance. While this book conveys the power of this Russian folktale, it is not a first purchase.
Denise Anton Wright, Alliance Library System, Bloomington, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Ages 5^-8. A lengthy and beautiful retelling of a Russian wonder tale is complemented by unusual, evocative art. Sadko, a poor minstrel who earns his daily bread playing his gusli at local feasts, encounters the towering, bearded Tsar of the Sea, who makes him wealthy to thank him for his beautiful music. Many years later, the Tsar of the Sea calls for Sadko to play for him again. This time, however, the Tsar wishes to keep Sadko in his underwater kingdom, playing music for him eternally. It is the Tsar's daughter, Volkova, who comes up with a plan to keep the music playing and allow Sadko to return home. Chan uses a variety of media to bring children into the Russian setting. Pastel paintings are juxtaposed with charcoal drawings, and featured at the beginning and end of the tale are sculptures of painted and patinated clay. Throughout, the artwork glows and pulses with the rhythm of the story. Kathy Broderick

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