Baba Yaga

by Ernest Small, Blair Lent (Illustrator)

Marusia and a hedgehog outwit Baba Yaga, the witch who eats bad Russian children

Genres: Picture Books, Folklore, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Fiction, Mythology

48 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1966

Reviews

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marusia falls into the hands of Baba Yaga, the fierce Russian witch who lives in a house on chicken legs and eats naughty children, but she manages to escape with the help of a hedgehog.

As most English adaptations of Baba Yaga tales are variations of the story "Vasilisa the Beautiful," this tale is a real treat because it's something completely different. Marusia lost the money that her mother gave her to buy turnips at the market and decides to hunt for wild turnips in the forest inhabited by Baba Yaga. She almost immediately ends up in Baba Yaga's soup pot but manages to talk her way out of it ... temporarily. When she finds herself back on the menu in a hedgehog stew, both she and the hedgehog are able to forge a bargain that eventually leads to their being sent on their merry way, and all is well that ends well.

The illustrations are in a primitive woodcut style and perfectly match the story. The drawings of Baba Yaga's hut are fantastic.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly expanded version of the typical Baba Yaga story that ended up going in unexpected directions. Also - Baba Yaga likes hedgehog goulash, which makes me laugh.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful. Great use of color and contrast.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivan Bilibin may be the best illustrator of Russian folk tales, but the woodcut type illustrations in this book are SO GREAT and I basically want all of them tattooed.

I like that this book really is like the way the Russian folktales are traditionally told-- kind of a flat affect, a lack of surprise at magic, not a particularly logical flow to the narrative, a pretty nonchalant ending. It may be strange to the way people are now used to narratives being told, but it's perfectly weird and I love it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the adorable woodcut (I believe) illustrations in this book. I remember reading this as a child and being intrigued by the witch's house with chicken feet. The story is a little choppy, but endearing.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This also, I find important because of Clarissa Pinkola Estés. What a great story to experience again. The chicken legged house is perfect.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

hey! it's not Vasalisa! Also: extra credit for a story in a story about a hedgepigprince. ANd the illustrations are great. Really, no downsides, here.

[Thomas Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richly illustrated by Blair Lent with drawings that highlight the hallucinogenic fantasy vision of this tale that reads a bit like Hansel & Gretel: kids in the woods in the witch's house. A sub-plot is a boy transformed into a hedgehog from the tsarina's desultory wish

There is a nice synopsis and analysis from the angle of this being a Cinderella archetype variation. Sarah Overvaag puts it in context of the Baba Yaga universe in Fairytale Basics: Baba Yaga.

[Lady reading under the Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember this book from my childhood...it was a library book and I have never forgotten it. Especially the house walking around on spindly chicken legs. This was the stuff of vague childhood fears.

I tracked it down for nostalgia's sake and re-read it. What a weird, creepy story. And yet, not that creepy after all. The illustrations were the most unsettling part, in my opinion. But, strangely, I have a certain fondness for this book that has endured. It is innocent enough, with a sweet little girl and an enchanted hedgehog. And it ends happily, which I can't complain about. 😄

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful book! Wonderful illustrations, a really gripping story, and a villain who was just the right level of scary. I had a great time reading this little tale!

To be honest, I get excited any time I find a book that features Baba Yaga, so that was an immediate plus!

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew impatient with the text and spent delighted time with the tremendous illustrations by Blair Lent.

[Aryehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I performed a version of this story orally when I was in the third grade and I still remember it by heart. This is a fun alternative to Hanzel and Gretel and children may enjoy acting it (or another version of it) out. The pictures are engaging and fresh, though the tale is a little dark for very young children. This book is best for perhaps 1st and 2nd grade readers. There is plenty of tier two language in this tale and the plot is rich enough to keep readers guessing until the end.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice take on Baba Yaga. The drawings were great, added to the folk flavor of the book. I especially liked how Baba Yaga's hut with the chicken legs was depicted. The story does jump around in places, seemingly at random with no clear path, but that just could be how the tale was told. The storytelling is very basic, with only minor details, but it was still a good read to learn more about the Russian folk legend of Baba Yaga.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read Orson Scott's book Enchantment I had never heard of Baba Yaga. I looked her up on the internet at the time and was surprised at how much lore surrounded her. When I was at the library I saw this picture book and grabbed it to read it. Not my favorite story but worth reading to hear more about Baba Yaga.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, creepy little folk tale about a witch that eats children. It felt pretty random at points and slapped together, to be honest. I feel like a rewrite could make it smoother but then I suppose the true story wouldn't be preserved.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book when I was little. I wish this edition, with its perfect illustrations, were still in print.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read lots of Baba Yaga stories, but this one is probably one of my favorites.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful Russian Hanzel & Gretel-like fairy tale. The humor outweighed the potential horror. I'm glad we found this old gem hidden in the stacks of our school library.