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Firebird
Bring me the Firebird, or I swear by my sword, your head will no longer sit upon your shoulders!A retelling of a popular Russian folktaleDemi's retelling captures the charm and drama of this favorite Russian folktale, while her lavish, gilded illustrations vividly evoke the grand setting and daring adventures.
Paperback
First published May 1, 1994
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About the author
Demi
178 books177 followersDemi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 300 titles.
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 23, 2013
I have actually first heard of this tale from Rabbit Ears’ version of The Firebird which was narrated by Susan Sarandon, but now I have finally stumbled upon Demi’s version of the classic Russian folktale, “The Firebird.” “The Firebird” is about a young archer named Dimitri who finds a firebird feather and goes on an adventure of a lifetime in fulfilling the Tsar’s greedy needs! “The Firebird” is a truly wonderful classic folktale that children everywhere will love for many years!!
I am a huge fan of various folktales around the world and reading this version of the classic Russian folktale is definitely no exception! Demi has done an excellent job at both illustrating and writing this fantastic folktale about the importance of not throwing caution to the wind. What I really loved about Demi’s writing is how she based this version on Arthur Ransome’s popular book “Old Peter’s Russian Tales,” which is extremely interesting to know since I have heard about “Old Peter’s Russian Tales” so much from other reviewers. I also loved the way that Demi made the book extremely dramatic and exciting at the same time as I was literally drawn into how Dimitri would be able to get out of the troubling situation he has thrown himself into and I also loved how Demi made the Tsar’s greed for power into something that can make a person corruptive, which is true. It was also interesting seeing how Dimitri and Princess Vassilissa met each other through a sea of flames, which is an interesting way to meet your true love since it is not everyday that you get to meet the person you love at the edge of the world! Demi’s illustrations are extremely beautiful and creative as Demi uses traditional Chinese paints, inks and brushes and watercolor paints and paper to create the illustrations for this book. My favorite illustration in this book was of Dimitri jumping into the cauldron of boiling water and I loved how the fire was drawn as the fire seems like it is literally licking at Dimitri and has golden, orange and yellow colors that truly show how effective this scene really is.
Parents should know that there are some threatening situations in this book which includes Dimitri being threatened with death numerous times throughout the book and that might scare smaller children. Parents might want to talk to their children about being bullied into doing something they do not want to do before they read them this book.
All in all, “The Firebird” is a truly brilliant classic that children who love reading Russian folktales will definitely get a kick out for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages six and up due to the length of this book and because the threatening situations might scare smaller children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
I am a huge fan of various folktales around the world and reading this version of the classic Russian folktale is definitely no exception! Demi has done an excellent job at both illustrating and writing this fantastic folktale about the importance of not throwing caution to the wind. What I really loved about Demi’s writing is how she based this version on Arthur Ransome’s popular book “Old Peter’s Russian Tales,” which is extremely interesting to know since I have heard about “Old Peter’s Russian Tales” so much from other reviewers. I also loved the way that Demi made the book extremely dramatic and exciting at the same time as I was literally drawn into how Dimitri would be able to get out of the troubling situation he has thrown himself into and I also loved how Demi made the Tsar’s greed for power into something that can make a person corruptive, which is true. It was also interesting seeing how Dimitri and Princess Vassilissa met each other through a sea of flames, which is an interesting way to meet your true love since it is not everyday that you get to meet the person you love at the edge of the world! Demi’s illustrations are extremely beautiful and creative as Demi uses traditional Chinese paints, inks and brushes and watercolor paints and paper to create the illustrations for this book. My favorite illustration in this book was of Dimitri jumping into the cauldron of boiling water and I loved how the fire was drawn as the fire seems like it is literally licking at Dimitri and has golden, orange and yellow colors that truly show how effective this scene really is.
Parents should know that there are some threatening situations in this book which includes Dimitri being threatened with death numerous times throughout the book and that might scare smaller children. Parents might want to talk to their children about being bullied into doing something they do not want to do before they read them this book.
All in all, “The Firebird” is a truly brilliant classic that children who love reading Russian folktales will definitely get a kick out for many years! I would recommend this book to children ages six and up due to the length of this book and because the threatening situations might scare smaller children.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
May 6, 2009
3.5 STARS. I wanted to like this more than I actually did, since I'm a huge Demi fan. The illustrations are still gorgeous, no doubt about it! But, the story was a little... I don't know... lacking in a "magic" sort of feel to it. (Maybe it was just my mood at the time.) It seemed a bit perfunctory. Even so, Demi fans will still be pleased with the illustrations--and horse lovers will enjoy the inclusion of the Horse of Power.
January 16, 2020
I enjoyed this Russian folktale with my students today. They loved the illustrations and were able to see that the Tsar was not a good leader.
June 18, 2010
Gold almost overwhelms the pretty illustrations and, indeed, almost the story itself. The Horse of Power, the only really likable character, and other natural elements such as the lobsters and trees save the book from nonentity. The main character is pretty much a tool (giving the object of your affection drugged wine and carrying her off for a forced marriage with an evil old man is pretty much non-heroic in my book) and Vasilisa in this rendering is kind of a wimp, but the Horse is pretty awesome.
September 21, 2010
I never knew the story of the Firebird before reading this re-telling by Demi. I knew of the Firebird suite by Stravinsky, but never knew the story itself. It's a wonderful Russian Folk tale where everybody (good) seems to live happily ever after. What is most striking is the incredible use of gold leaf throughout the illustrations--reflects the fact very well through the illustrations that it is a Russian folk tale.
August 19, 2009
This is another great book by Demi; a classic folktale with Demi's inimitable and intricate illustrations. A great story to read aloud to older children. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
October 19, 2019
I found this book at my old elementary school and fell in love with it instantly. I would read it from time to time, until the school was shut down by the district. I remember the day I walked past the library and saw they were giving books away from the library. I ran in quickly and found the spot the book was placed by me weeks before and took it home with me. I have it to this day and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
June 21, 2024
I think that I'll be happier with Demi's folklore tellings than her biographies, based especially on this. I don't like the story all that much, but I like that Demi did a good job telling it. Apparently she's a big fan, and chose to draw chiefly from Arthur Ransome's translation of Alexander Afanasyev collection.
August 27, 2018
When I started reading this book I was very surprised to recognize the story from an old movie I watched as a child. The Magic Horse was a video that followed the boy in this story and told the events that transpired. Its a very magical story, though a little strange I will admit. (They do kidnap a princess but she doesnt seem to mind very much for instance). But still, its an enjoyable story.
July 19, 2023
I do not like to give classical stories anything but 5 starts but I'm not much of a fan of the illustrations of this book. The story itself has to do with threat of murder, kidnapping, forced brides, and the like. I don't mind that one bit but the illustrations must be more beautiful in order to capture my attention, especially when the picture book is so long.
April 7, 2021
We had a USSR cartoon adaptation of this story that we watched when I was a child "The Magic Pony." I was delighted to find this book with the same story (though some of the names are different). Beautiful!
May 13, 2024
A beautifully illustrated folktale. It's rare to see a book use gold leaf so prominently without looking garish, but the compositions are balanced so well and the material so mysterious that it seems a natural fit.
August 6, 2018
Retelling of a Russian folktale. The greedy elderly tsar who bullies those around him and tries to force a much younger and very beautiful princess into marriage reminds me of someone. . .
April 23, 2019
Beautiful gold gilded illustrations.
December 17, 2023
Beautiful
April 14, 2013
This beautiful picture book has striking illustrations styled to resemble Russian folk art. Limned in gold, each picture is stimulating and fascinating, inviting closer study. It reflects the styling of illuminated texts and honors the origin of the folktale it accompanies. The story itself follows a fairly typical Russian folk tale pattern, and is unimpressive, but written decently.
I would consider using this gorgeous book as a lead in to an art project for students between 2nd and 5th grade.
I would consider using this gorgeous book as a lead in to an art project for students between 2nd and 5th grade.
May 12, 2022
Even though the "young archer" spends a lot of time "weeping bitterly" and the "Horse of Power" has a bit of a monopoly on common sense, The Firebird was a fairly decent retelling. The illustrations, however, left a lot to be desired: apart from highly stylized onion domes and the characters' clothing, nothing of Russia's art or culture really comes across. Demi certainly has a particular style, but I think that style would hardly have been compromised by a bit more Russian flavor.
November 10, 2015
Yeah, it's a folktale and you have beautiful illustrations and they're gold. And it doesn't matter because you made an adaptation of a story for children where a man drugs a princess, takes her from her magical home while she's unconscious, and not only does he face no consequences, but he becomes a prince and she falls in love with him because he's handsome and not as scary as the guy who originally orchestrated her kidnapping. And it averages 4 stars on Goodreads. No.
November 23, 2009
This book has a lot of imagination. My favorite part was when the archer got the hand of princess Vasillisa and the part of the story when his horse of power told him not to take the firebird's feather.
February 22, 2011
This is another beautiful Demi book with gold embossing. The Firebird is a Russian tale about a girl engaged to marry an elderly, cruel Tsar. She figures out tasks that a young nobleman must achieve before she will consent to marry the Tsar but the Tsar is not the object of attraction.
November 13, 2010
Magical, ancient Russian folktale, with captivating illustrations. Breakfast book club, 2nd grade.
September 9, 2016
Didn't like this version of the story that much. Also not a favorite tale either.
March 20, 2016
Lavishly illustrated retelling of the Firebird legend. I can't praise the illustrations enough.The book is simply gorgeous.
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December 5, 2018One day, Dimitri is out riding his horse and finds a feather from the firebird. He thinks it would be a great present for the Tsar. So he picks it up, despite the advice of his magical talking horse and takes it to the Tsar. The Tsar is a greedy man and wants the whole firebird after that. Dimitri thinks it's impossible, but his horse helps him catch the firebird. The Tsar still does not think this is enough, so he sends Dimitri on a quest to capture the fairy princess Vassilissa to be his wife. The horse, again, helps Dimitri accomplish this. But Vassilissa falls in love with Dimitri and comes up with a way to trick the Tsar so she can marry Dimitri instead.
Dimitri's horse keeps telling him that things wouldn't be a good idea because he knew in the first place that picking up the feather would only bring sorrow. In a classroom, this would help make a good point about how we need to listen to other people's advice before doing whatever we think would be best because they might know something we don't. The horse also helped Dimitri every step of the way, and this could help kids understand that faithful friends do not abandon them in the hard times. It's also a good story to read when learning about Russia.
Dimitri's horse keeps telling him that things wouldn't be a good idea because he knew in the first place that picking up the feather would only bring sorrow. In a classroom, this would help make a good point about how we need to listen to other people's advice before doing whatever we think would be best because they might know something we don't. The horse also helped Dimitri every step of the way, and this could help kids understand that faithful friends do not abandon them in the hard times. It's also a good story to read when learning about Russia.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews