Koshka's Tales: Stories from Russia

by James Mayhew

The wise old storytelling cat, Koshka, recounts the magical legends of Russia as she sits in an oak tree on the remote Island of Bouyan telling stories to the Tsarita and her son. These enchanting stories are beautifully illustrated in full color in the rich tradition of Russian folk art.

Genres: Fairy Tales, Russia, Short Stories, Childrens, Picture Books, Folklore, Fiction

80 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 1993

About the author

James Mayhew's first book for children was Katie's Pictures Show, (Orchard Books 1989) establishing the long running series about a child's adventures in an art gallery. Many of his books have a cultural agenda and James is passionate about introducing children to art, music, opera, ballet and traditional tales.

He has published over 60 books, and illustrated and written for many other colleagues including Philippa Pearce, Martin Waddell and Jackie Morris.

As a storyteller he has devised and performed a series of sell-out concerts for children with the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, and has participated in prom performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

He has also created designs and illustrations for the Kirov Mariinsky Opera of St Petersburg and in 1994 won the New York Times award for one of the ten best illustrated books on the year (The Boy and The Cloth of Dreams).

He has made regular appearances at the National Galleries in Edinburgh and London and visits many schools, and arts and literary festivals.

James is a member of the Art Worker's Guild and the Society of Authors.

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally beautiful illustrations adorn these interesting Russian fairy tales which are told in a nested style. Altogether a treasure.

[Taylor G · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s fairy tales
And Russian fairy tales at that
How can you go wrong?

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four classic Russian folktales are retold, using a fifth as a framing story, in James Mayhew's Koshka's Tales, in which a storytelling cat reunites a foolish Tsar and his mistakenly banished wife and sons. In his somewhat revisionist retelling of The Tale of Tsar Saltan , Prince Guidon and the Tsaritsa Militrissa end up on the Island of Bouyan, after being cast into the sea by Tsar Saltan, himself manipulated by the tsaritsa's jealous sisters. Here, on the island, the two castaways discover Koshka - a marvelous storytelling cat, chained to an oak tree. Through a series of encounters with a sailing merchant, the prince and tsaritsa send four of Koshka's stories - The Tale of the Snow Maiden, The Tale of Sadko the Minstrel, The Tale of the Fire-bird, Tsarevitch Ivan, and Grey Wolf, and The Tale of Baba Yaga and Fair Vasilisa - back to the Tsar, eventually convincing him to sail out to find them...

An engaging collection, sure to please Russian folklore enthusiasts, Mayhew's book is well-told and well-illustrated, with colorful artwork and appealing folk-motif borders. The revisions are fairly minor, and done in a respectful spirit, and an author's afterword details the source materials. I can't say that this is my favorite such collection, either in terms of narrative or artwork (what could ever rival the work of Ivan Bilibin?), but it was still quite appealing. Recommended for those with a strong interest in folklore.

[Jessie N · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5yo daughter and I loved this book! We read it aloud a few pages at a time. We were drawn into the vivid and beautiful illustrations and the rich storytelling. I can tell we will read this one again!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The big girls clapped when we finished, they loved it.

[Dilara]

Don't question whether this book is for children or not,just read it. And marvel at the amazing illustrations too. These are old Russian tales taught in an almost 'story within a story' format and all the stories are very captivating as well as intriguing as they enable you to learn about new cultures. I loved every bit of it.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book. However, for some reason I felt intellectually betrayed when I recently learned that "Koshka" means "cat." I had been calling these stories "the stories of Koshka the Cat" for years.

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 1993, these stories are lovingly retold by James Mayhew and are filled with the drama and beauty of original folktales. Evocative of an enchanted landscape, a far cry from the world we live in, they whisk us away on a journey of dreams. The five stories recounted in these pages weave a spell of enchantment as we read the words. We can hear the voices, taste the salt of the sea, see the wicked Baba Yaga as she sails through the skies in her pestle and mortar as each tale easily flows into the next and creates a vivid picture of the lives and the beings living through them.
Mayhew has filled every page with exquisite illustrations that perfectly illuminate the storytelling and create within the reader a compulsion to continue. The rich colours and sparkling detail echo the expressive language to conjure the magic of this glorious land. This is truly a book to be cherished and read and shared over and over. Absolutely spell-binding.
I am utterly delighted to have this in my hands again; republished by Graffeg Ltd, 24th October.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my kids when we were walking with friends through a very difficult season and I had no idea how their story would end. A long fairy tale like this with multiple stories along the way, that resolves at the end reminds us that we are only in the middle of our stories. God will make all things new someday, all things will fall into place. The book is beautifully illustrated.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on the recommendation of Cindy Rollins.
Absolutely wonderful. Beautiful stories and even more beautiful illustrations. Enjoyed this one immensely as an adult, but I will also be reading it to my daughter when she’s old enough. 10/10

[Brenna Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read for fans of fairy tales and folklore.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations, rich colours, and a comfortingly traditional turn of phrase.

[Joe Tristram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonely classic Russian folk tales, well told and beautifully illustrated.

[H. T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book of Russian fairytales with the most beautiful illustrations to fo along with them. This book is a gem.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I could introduce my daughters to Baba Yaga Bony Legs!

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated book of Russian Fairy Tales.
Thank you so much, Cindy Rollins, for suggesting this book. I loved it!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well connected set of tales. Other than the cannibal witch Baba-Yaga Bony-Legs and the horrid jealous sisters, I liked the characters. I love that the tale-telling cat, Koshka, tries to sing and they can't stand his 'caterwauling' 😉. The authors note at the end was very helpful and the illustrations are lovely as well.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly colored and illustrated, these folktales of Russia are poignant and spellbinding. The book is a cumulative story interspersed with other tales, story-within-a-story style. It's beautiful.

I find it fascinating that the book begins with a story that mirrors the first tale in Kate Douglas Wiggins' edition of "The Arabian Nights" ("The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water"). In both stories, a king overhears three sisters making wishes, marries one and gives the other two high stations in his court, the two sisters are jealous of the queen and steal away her babies, replacing them in the cradle with puppies, kittens, and a loaf of bread/a log of wood (depending on which story it is). The king angrily banishes the queen for birthing such unnatural things. Each story goes off in a different direction from there, but I found the similarities intriguing.

Note: Baba Yaga is a central player in these Russian stories. A cannibalistic witch, residing in a house set on a pair of chicken legs, she's a creepy figure of legend notorious for eating children.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful flowing tales. Gorgeous illustrations.

[Marya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite storybook as a child, to the point that I've considered going to my elementary school expressly to steal it.

[Jane Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books when I was little; really pretty illustrations and really well written. Still love it today!

[Angie Libert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the magic in storytelling. :)

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are excellent renditions of, perhaps, the more known Russian folk tales. Corresponds well with a new novel by Gregory Maguire, Egg & Spoon.