Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave

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?!!


Baba Yaga--the world's most frightening witch   January 11, 2001
Erin (Michigan)
23 out of 30 found this review helpful

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.


An absolutely enchanting story, with beautiful illustrations   August 20, 1999
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

This retelling of a Russian "fairytale" combines a bit of wisdom, beauty and a tiny bit of suspense. It is my daughter's favorite, and she insists upon hearing it nightly, and I never refuse to, no matter how oft I read it.


Marvelous Pictures/Cute Fairy Tale-Highly Recommended   June 25, 2000
6 out of 10 found this review helpful

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.


The Power of Love   February 22, 2006
Viola (Ontario,Canada)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Anyone who has ever read "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle would likely appreciate this book. Although the heroine, Vasilisa, never denies her grief and despair, she graciously accepts whatever Life presents her with; as a result, she is richly rewarded. Near the end, she is perfectly happy and content with a life situation that is hardly glamorous. She is truly a light in the world and the most spiritual heroine I've ever encountered in a story for children. I've never seen my daughter so drawn to a character in a book. Vasilisa's strength comes from within and the message in this story is timeless. The doll is a beautiful symbol of the power of a quiet yet powerful love. Unlike most fairy tales the doll is always with Vasilisa as a constant reminder of her deceased mother's love and is actively engaged as a guiding force in her life. This book could be helpful to a child who has lost a mother. My daughter was not scared by the story or the illustrations. Recently, I purchased a book "coincidentally" from Amazon by Kris Waldherr, "Embracing the Goddess Within". Waldherr says that Baba Yaga, who is often presented in Russian fairy tales as an evil witch who eats children, was originally a goddess who represented the life cycle, from birth to death. I don't know how Amazon does it (and I don't want to know; I'm content to keep it as a mystery) but they manage to bring my attention to books that are perfect companions to ones I've already bought or previewed.
Last but not least, Mayer and Craft are a dynamic duo. This book is a work of art and thank goodness they are out there writing and illustrating such exquisite books for children.