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The Magic Gold Fish: A Russian Folktale
One day, a poor old fisherman catches an unusual, beautiful fish--a talking gold fish. The gold fish begs the old man to release him, which he does, refusing any payment for this act of kindness. The fisherman's greedy old wife, however, thinks differently. Full color.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1835
20 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Demi
178 books179 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 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 8, 2017
очень красивая образовательная сказка
Well I was raised by such stories and I'm thankful for that. That being said I'll move on with the story.
This story is about a fisherman who finds a fish, a fish that makes his wishes come true. His wife is very greedy and just ends up asking so many things from the fish. Well, the ending isn't the classic happy ending that tales have.
Obviously, this is a tale for kids (I just happened to read it in Russian 'cause my Russian is poor to read other great Russian authors & I've known this tale since I was a little kid) but it's more than just a tale. It's a very educational tale and Pushkin is great. This is the first time I read Pushkin and it certainly won't be the last.
PS: No wonder he is considered the father of Russian Literature.
Well I was raised by such stories and I'm thankful for that. That being said I'll move on with the story.
This story is about a fisherman who finds a fish, a fish that makes his wishes come true. His wife is very greedy and just ends up asking so many things from the fish. Well, the ending isn't the classic happy ending that tales have.
Obviously, this is a tale for kids (I just happened to read it in Russian 'cause my Russian is poor to read other great Russian authors & I've known this tale since I was a little kid) but it's more than just a tale. It's a very educational tale and Pushkin is great. This is the first time I read Pushkin and it certainly won't be the last.
PS: No wonder he is considered the father of Russian Literature.
April 30, 2017
সবদিক থেকেই সুন্দর ছিল। অনুবাদটাও ভালো হয়েছিল। তবে ছোটদের বইতে বাজে একটা গালি একাধিক বার ব্যবহার দৃষ্টিকটু লেগেছে। পিডিএফ। ভেতরের একটা ছবিঃ 
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February 20, 2020Jälle sinise mere äärde
astus taat (meri lainetas kergelt).
Kuldkalakest hakkas ta hüüdma
ning kala ujus randa ja küsis:
“Mis vanake soovib? Ma kuulan.”
Taat kummardus kala ees, kostis:
“Ole armuline, kuninglik kala,
eit mind kirub ja vannub kodus,
ei anna mulle raugale asu:
talle vaja on uut küna,
meie oma on täiesti lõhki.”
astus taat (meri lainetas kergelt).
Kuldkalakest hakkas ta hüüdma
ning kala ujus randa ja küsis:
“Mis vanake soovib? Ma kuulan.”
Taat kummardus kala ees, kostis:
“Ole armuline, kuninglik kala,
eit mind kirub ja vannub kodus,
ei anna mulle raugale asu:
talle vaja on uut küna,
meie oma on täiesti lõhki.”
September 7, 2019
Одна из самых поучительных сказок. Нельзя быть жадным, неблагодарным, и самое главное, нельзя злоупотреблять добром и любовью, так как впоследствии оставшись у разбитого корыта, упущенное не вернуть.
April 17, 2021
Yet another story of woman presented as a bottomless void of unsatisfied want and being punished for it. What threat does she represent? What is so disturbing about her desire for power? Her final wish to be the most powerful being in the world was the only one judged to be unacceptable, but all the baubles and lesser positions up to that point were OK, so long as she was still under someone’s thumb. Whatever she represents, it would seem that the message is that its ultimate threat and end is to be an equalizer of men and women, portending the subversion of the existing social order. If you give a mouse a cookie…
If you give a woman a taste of more, she’ll end by leaving the clothes washing and merely pining for a new washtub to rule over you. No, best to keep her poor and ignorant of her ability to have more. I think the goldfish represents capitalism. Like avaricious women, people in capitalist society are never satisfied. Once they start acquiring, they want more, more, more, until everything goes topsy-turvy and we’ve ushered evils into the world like women in charge, or even women thinking of this as a possibility. Capitalism seems innocent, only promising new, shiny progress, but it seduces society down bad paths. Let’s all ignore opportunities to have more and instead be satisfied with poverty, appreciating the fact that men are in charge, the way things should be, even if it means we all have to make do with less.
One of probably a thousand possible readings.
If you give a woman a taste of more, she’ll end by leaving the clothes washing and merely pining for a new washtub to rule over you. No, best to keep her poor and ignorant of her ability to have more. I think the goldfish represents capitalism. Like avaricious women, people in capitalist society are never satisfied. Once they start acquiring, they want more, more, more, until everything goes topsy-turvy and we’ve ushered evils into the world like women in charge, or even women thinking of this as a possibility. Capitalism seems innocent, only promising new, shiny progress, but it seduces society down bad paths. Let’s all ignore opportunities to have more and instead be satisfied with poverty, appreciating the fact that men are in charge, the way things should be, even if it means we all have to make do with less.
One of probably a thousand possible readings.
May 14, 2023
بعكس القصة، لم يعجبني الرسم.
January 11, 2012
I have read many interpretations of the classic Brothers Grimm tale “The Fisherman and his Wife,” but this is the first time I have read the Russian version of this tale. “The Magic Gold Fish” is a Russian folktale retold by Demi and it is about how a poor fisherman wants to please his greedy wife when he finds a magic golden fish. “The Magic Gold Fish” is a great retelling of the ancient tale that children everywhere will love!
One day, a poor fisherman catches a gold fish and the gold fish promised to repay the kind fisherman in any kind of way. Unfortunately, the fisherman’s greedy wife wanted more from the fish, which includes a cottage, a mansion and a czarina!
Ever since I have been reading Demi’s works, I was always amazed at how detailed and beautiful her retellings of ancient folktales are! Demi’s writing is extremely dramatic and interesting at the same time as the fisherman is thrown into one crazy situation into another and I loved the Russian elements being put into this story such as “czarina” and “distaff.” Demi’s illustrations were simply gorgeous as she uses traditional Chinese inks to illustrate the drawings in this book. I especially loved the Russian landscapes in this book such as the picture of the royal palace looking red and having red flags waving in the air. I also loved the illustrations of the fisherman’s wife being dressed in gold and red royal clothing after she wishes to be a czarina and it really helped me see Russia in ancient times through a picture book.
The problem I had with this book is that the wife is a bit too cruel in this version as she goes from beating her husband up to making him live in the stables and pushing him away from her. Okay, well maybe she is more vain than cruel, but it was just so hard to even like her character in this version and I constantly feel sorry for the fisherman as he has to take his wife’s abuse throughout the book. So in a way, the ending was a bit satisfying for me because the fisherman’s wife gets what is coming to her for her greed, but at the same time, I felt that there should have been more added at the end, such as whether or not the fisherman’s wife learned her lesson or not.
All in all, “The Magic Gold Fish” was an interesting spin on the classic Brothers Grimm tale and children everywhere who love reading Russian folktales will definitely enjoy this classic tale! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the greedy wife might upset smaller children.
One day, a poor fisherman catches a gold fish and the gold fish promised to repay the kind fisherman in any kind of way. Unfortunately, the fisherman’s greedy wife wanted more from the fish, which includes a cottage, a mansion and a czarina!
Ever since I have been reading Demi’s works, I was always amazed at how detailed and beautiful her retellings of ancient folktales are! Demi’s writing is extremely dramatic and interesting at the same time as the fisherman is thrown into one crazy situation into another and I loved the Russian elements being put into this story such as “czarina” and “distaff.” Demi’s illustrations were simply gorgeous as she uses traditional Chinese inks to illustrate the drawings in this book. I especially loved the Russian landscapes in this book such as the picture of the royal palace looking red and having red flags waving in the air. I also loved the illustrations of the fisherman’s wife being dressed in gold and red royal clothing after she wishes to be a czarina and it really helped me see Russia in ancient times through a picture book.
The problem I had with this book is that the wife is a bit too cruel in this version as she goes from beating her husband up to making him live in the stables and pushing him away from her. Okay, well maybe she is more vain than cruel, but it was just so hard to even like her character in this version and I constantly feel sorry for the fisherman as he has to take his wife’s abuse throughout the book. So in a way, the ending was a bit satisfying for me because the fisherman’s wife gets what is coming to her for her greed, but at the same time, I felt that there should have been more added at the end, such as whether or not the fisherman’s wife learned her lesson or not.
All in all, “The Magic Gold Fish” was an interesting spin on the classic Brothers Grimm tale and children everywhere who love reading Russian folktales will definitely enjoy this classic tale! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the greedy wife might upset smaller children.
October 29, 2023
Full of truth about humans, their acquisitiveness, and their relation to nature. Is Pushkin chiding imperial pretensions?
March 6, 2025
ذكرتني الرسومات بتصميمات الزجاج المعشق...و أنا من محبيه
ألوان اللوحات جميلة
القصة لطيفة...لكن هل غضب السمكة الذهبية حصل لما طلبت العجوز أن تكون سيدة البحار و سيدتها...لكن لم تغضب عندما استشرى جشعها في طلباتها ؟ هل هو تضارب مصالح إذن ؟ 😀
ألوان اللوحات جميلة
القصة لطيفة...لكن هل غضب السمكة الذهبية حصل لما طلبت العجوز أن تكون سيدة البحار و سيدتها...لكن لم تغضب عندما استشرى جشعها في طلباتها ؟ هل هو تضارب مصالح إذن ؟ 😀
December 9, 2024
قصة لطيفة رغم كونها متوقعة، لم أقرأها من قبل. لكني كعادة معظم القصص في هذه السلسلة، لم أحب الرسم كثيرا.
November 28, 2025
[8/10] – (2025) – gluttony of babka sickens me
April 8, 2024
Sjećam se bajke od malena i jedna stvar se u 10+ godina nije promijenila. Ne razumijem kraj. Tj., razumijem i ne. (Schrodingerov kraj?)
Jasno mi je da je "babuskara" kažnjena zbog pohlepe ali ja se sjećam drugačije. Očito krivo. Na kraju se nije dedica vratil njoj u oronulu zemunicu nego je ribica njoj ostvarila želju da "vlada morem" tako da ju je utopila, a dedica je onda ostao sam i sretan jer mu je ribica omogućila da ima neko blago.
Tldr; Starac i more on shrooms.
Jasno mi je da je "babuskara" kažnjena zbog pohlepe ali ja se sjećam drugačije. Očito krivo. Na kraju se nije dedica vratil njoj u oronulu zemunicu nego je ribica njoj ostvarila želju da "vlada morem" tako da ju je utopila, a dedica je onda ostao sam i sretan jer mu je ribica omogućila da ima neko blago.
Tldr; Starac i more on shrooms.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2016
ছড়া যদি খাপছাড়া, গল্প যদি হয় তালগোল তো কী লাভ কিছু লিখে?
অনুবাদ যদি নতুন ভাষায় ঝরঝরে না হয় তো সে অনুবাদ বৃথা।
পড়ে মনে হয়েছে শুধু কটা লাইন পড়েছি,
বইটা যদি মানুষ হত, তবে মনে হত, রক্ত-মাংস ছাড়া কাউকে মানুষ বলে ধরে বসেছি।
অনুবাদ যদি নতুন ভাষায় ঝরঝরে না হয় তো সে অনুবাদ বৃথা।
পড়ে মনে হয়েছে শুধু কটা লাইন পড়েছি,
বইটা যদি মানুষ হত, তবে মনে হত, রক্ত-মাংস ছাড়া কাউকে মানুষ বলে ধরে বসেছি।
November 6, 2017
This may well have been written as a veiled criticism of Catherine The Great in her greed of imperialism but the truth in this does not alter because of time. It may also be considered as a mere fairy story but to me, at least, it is as relevant now as it ever was.
February 17, 2017
A well-known and loved fairytale.
May 11, 2025
A poor old fisherman captures a magical golden fish in this picture book retelling of a Russian folktale. Offered a reward, he humbly return the creature to the sea, only to be scolded by his bitter and greedy wife. Returning to the shore, the fisherman asks for a new washing tub, but when he returns home and the wish has been granted, his wife isn't satisfied. She sends him back to the fish again and again with more and more grand wishes, until finally that piscine creature's patience is exhausted, and she is returned to her original state...
The story in The Magic Gold Fish: A Russian Folktale was adapted by American author/illustrator Demi from the work of Alexander Pushkin, using the translation of Louis Zelikoff. That being said, it cannot have been original to Pushkin, but must have come from the oral tradition originally, as there are variants in other cultures, including the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale of The Fisherman and His Wife . In any case, the telling here is enjoyable, with Demi's accompanying ink and paint illustrations adding to the reading pleasure. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, to those interested in Russian lore, and to fans of the artist.
The story in The Magic Gold Fish: A Russian Folktale was adapted by American author/illustrator Demi from the work of Alexander Pushkin, using the translation of Louis Zelikoff. That being said, it cannot have been original to Pushkin, but must have come from the oral tradition originally, as there are variants in other cultures, including the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale of The Fisherman and His Wife . In any case, the telling here is enjoyable, with Demi's accompanying ink and paint illustrations adding to the reading pleasure. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, to those interested in Russian lore, and to fans of the artist.
June 9, 2024
Сюжет сказки заимствован из сказок братьев Гримм, кроме того со сходным сюжетом есть много других сказок, поэтому говорить о чем-то новом не приходится. Зато Александр Сергеевич облек сказку в русский колорит и придал ей хорошую литературную форму.
Сюжет всем давно известен и говорить о нем не стоит. Единственное что меня всегда коробило и удивляло почему старуха в своих неизмеримых желаниях не остановилась на королевне, зачем ей понадобилось становиться владычицей морской? Странное и непонятное стремление стремиться к большему, когда у тебя уже все есть.
Сюжет всем давно известен и говорить о нем не стоит. Единственное что меня всегда коробило и удивляло почему старуха в своих неизмеримых желаниях не остановилась на королевне, зачем ей понадобилось становиться владычицей морской? Странное и непонятное стремление стремиться к большему, когда у тебя уже все есть.
June 21, 2024
One of my favorite fables ever since I was little... such an important lesson. I didn't know we ought to credit Pushkin, though. Surely it precedes him and has versions in folklore around the world? Anyway, this is a very well done adaptation (? translation?) with appealing illustrations.
I do much prefer Demi's fables to her biographies.
I do much prefer Demi's fables to her biographies.
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July 9, 2024قصة شعبية أعاد صياغتها بوشكين عن صياد طيب فقير، ضعيف الشخصية أمام زوجته المتسلطة والجشعة.
واصطاد سمكة ذهبية، ولكن السمكة طلبت منه أن يعيدها للمياه على أن تحقق له كل ما يتمنى.
ولما علمت الزوجة بهذا الأمر، راحت تغالي في طلباتها، وتطمع في المزيد والمزيد، حتى قامت السمكة بإلغاء كل ما سبق أن حققته لهما من أمنيات، لتعود حالتهما إلى ما كانت عليه قبل اصطياد السمكة.
واصطاد سمكة ذهبية، ولكن السمكة طلبت منه أن يعيدها للمياه على أن تحقق له كل ما يتمنى.
ولما علمت الزوجة بهذا الأمر، راحت تغالي في طلباتها، وتطمع في المزيد والمزيد، حتى قامت السمكة بإلغاء كل ما سبق أن حققته لهما من أمنيات، لتعود حالتهما إلى ما كانت عليه قبل اصطياد السمكة.
January 4, 2020
My grandma used to tell me this skaska when i was younger. I never realized it was a fairy tale written by Pushkin! This is a great tale of how the only way to satisfy greed is by loosing everything, rather than gaining it.
4.1/5
4.1/5
May 13, 2024
Awesome lesson!
Flowing recursively and powerfully, like the mighty breath of divine spirits! The translation is good, and I am sure that the original version in Russian is a true masterpiece! Once read—never forgotten!
Enjoy! ❤️
Flowing recursively and powerfully, like the mighty breath of divine spirits! The translation is good, and I am sure that the original version in Russian is a true masterpiece! Once read—never forgotten!
Enjoy! ❤️
August 4, 2019
!انها عبرة لكل انسان في كل زمان
April 15, 2021
Excellent folk tale!
July 31, 2021
Wonderful tale
August 23, 2021
Pure classic of Russian poetry.
December 15, 2021
Lugu, mis mõistuloona annab võtme mõista erinevaid probleeme ja mida tasub ikka aeg-ajalt üle lugeda. Kas panid tähele, et taat esitas võõraid soove enda omade pähe? Mida oleks taat vajanud?
February 23, 2022
Interesting ending to this folktale. Enjoyed the message of contentment.
December 17, 2022
Go easy with the kind hospitality of a magic goldfish. Like all of us she too has a limit. Heard of this one through an annual history/physics lecture on goldfishes.
February 13, 2023
chciwość nie popłaca, nie warto igrać z losem i prosić o więcej niż naprawdę potrzebujemy.
read for russian class @ school
read for russian class @ school
December 6, 2023
Wybitna bajka z bardzo dobrym morałem. Warto, aby każde dziecko ją znało i rozumiało. Dodatkowo bardzo przypadła mi do gustu poetycka wersja Puszkina. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews