Product Description

Preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival, Old Babushka takes in Rechenka, an injured goose, who shows her that miracles can really happen, in a story that is enhanced by illustrations of Ukrainian painted eggs. Reprint. Reading Rainbow. PW. AB. NYT.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101958 in Books
• Published on: 1996-03-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780698113855
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
An old woman named Babushka always wins first prize in the Easter festival for her exquisitely painted Ukrainian eggs. When she finds a wounded goose outside her house, Babushka takes her in, cares for her until she is strong again, and names her Rechenka. The goose lays an egg each morning for the old woman, but as she begins to heal, she flies around, knocking over Babushka's jars of colored paints and breaking all her Easter eggs. Babushka is miserable, until Rechenka miraculously lays brilliantly colored eggs; the old woman wins first prize once more. Polacco's story is truly rewarding; Babushka's gift for coloring eggs comes across in a splendid array of folkloric patterns, minute detail and batik-like paintings. Babushka is given credit, but the artistry is Polacco's. Intricate designs and opulent colors shade every page, right down to the onion-shaped domes and peasants' festival garments. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3 Babushka, a kindly, stout old woman, lives in a little house in the country near pre-revolutionary Moscow. She is renowned for the gorgeous Easter eggs that she paints so painstakingly during the long, cold winters and brings to the Easter festival in Moscow. As she is feeding hungry caribou one day, she rescues a wounded goose, names her Rechenka, and tenderly nurses her back to health. While exploring the cottage, Rechenka accidentally smashes Babushka's eggs and subsequently lays 12 beautifully decorated new ones to replace them. While Babushka is in Moscow winning a prize, the goose flies away, but she leaves one last egg in her basket. From it a gosling hatches that becomes Babushka's companion. The writing has a slightly mannered, fairy tale quality. It reads aloud well and is filled with love for the natural and sweetly supernatural miracles which take place. Vivid, extremely decorative paintings enhance and amplify the text. The intricate, colorful patterns of the Ukrainian-style Easter eggs are echoed in areas such as dresses, snowflakes, rugs, and city spires, giving joyous and vigorous life to the illustrations. As a contrast, the faces of Babushka and her friends are done in realistic, gently-caricatured black and white. Patricia Pearl, First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, Va.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A wonderful depiction of love and compassion
This delightful story touched my heart and made me smile . . . It is truly a tale of unfailing loyalty between an unlikely pair: Babushka, an elderly woman and a wounded goose she befriends. The kindness that both show for each other is an important lesson told in the simplicity of Ms. Polacco's writing. A sweet, sweet story that children and adults will both love.

wonderful, colordul read-aloud book
This is a terrific book for reading aloud to one child or many. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is lovely. An old lady lives in the Russian countryside and works all year to enter her painted eggs in the easter contest in Moscow. One day she saves an injured goose. When an accident destroys the woman's painted eggs, the goose lays a beautifully decorated egg each morning until it's time for her to fly away once more -- but not before leaving one more miraculous gift.

This is a lovely story that will excite children's imagination, and the beautiful illustrations will charm young and old alike.

Wonderful for Children of ALL AGES!!
I love Patricia Polacco's books and this one is no exception! This story is great to use both in and out of the classroom. It is great for reading outloud to children or for them to read to you. I have used it in my lesson plans as a teacher to introduce lessons on different ways people celebrate holidays around the world and in the US. I have students grades K-5 and it has been a favorite with all of them...then again all of Patricia Polacco's books seem to be favorites with any child!