Back in Print: Sweet Picture Book Adapted from a Winter Tale by Leo Tolstoy

Martin the Cobbler. I'll never forget the first time I read Leo Tolstoy's poignant short story "Where Love Is, God Is", in an anthology of Russian literature that my mom had passed along to me.

A few years later, I was super excited when my sister discovered a wonderful picture book adaptation for kids ages 4-8, titled Shoemaker Martin.  But sadly it was out of print, and we could only find used paperback copies from an online store.

Then a couple of weeks ago, my sister informed me that it is now back in print - in hardcover! Available online and in bookstores.  Hurray!  

First published in 1986, Shoemaker Martin has been re-designed in celebration of 50 years of NorthSouth Books working with Bernadette Watts, one of Europe’s most recognized and beloved fairy-tale artists. This story is sure to win over new fans as well excite old ones!

It's a tale about a cobbler named Martin, who lives and works in a basement room in a small Russian village. 

One winter evening, while reading his Bible, Martin wonders what he would say and do if he were visited by Christ. Woken suddenly in the middle of the night, he hears a voice call his name.  The voice tells him to watch for Him...tomorrow!  

In the morning, Martin looks excitedly out his window - eagerly awaiting the visit of this special stranger.  But by sundown, Martin is disappointed.  He has only been visited by three people in need from his village.

Opening his Bible once again, and reading a scripture from a page that it had fallen opened to, he realizes Jesus truly had visited him that day.

This story of compassion by Tolstoy is as relevant today as when it was first conceived.  Bernadette Watt's warm and cozy illustrations portray the quiet simplicity of Martin's Russian Orthodox faith, through details like a hand carved cross on the wall of his basement room and an icon above his bed.

"For I was hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in.

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto Me."

- from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25

Folktales Every Russian Child Knows...

Little Red Riding Hood was my first love. 

I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, 

I should have known perfect bliss. 

- Charles Dickens

Did you have any favorite fairy or folk tales growing up?  I vividly remember "Rumpelstiltskin", "Little Red Riding Hood", and "Beauty and the Beast".  As a continuation of my last post, today I'll be sharing some Russian tales for children that are also illustrated with photos of paintings from Russian lacquer boxes.

Remember to leave a comment here on this post - or any others I do through May 30 - if you'd like to be entered in my MAY GIVEAWAYS (you can enter as many times as you'd like, so comment away...) 

In this Russian fairy tale book, you'll find peasants, turnips, bears, Jack Frost, Princesses, eagles, Cockerels, Wolves, swans, and more...

"The Turnip"

(I've seen numerous versions of this tale - it's one of the more popular Russian folktales; a story that builds on itself as more and more characters get in on the action of helping out.  It is a tiny mouse that shows up at the end of the tugging line of people and animals who finally helps pull the turnip out of the ground.) 

"Then Grandpa called Grandma.
Grandma held onto Grandpa;
Grandpa held tight to the turnip top.
They pulled and pulled till they had to stop.
But the turnip stayed in the ground."

"The Peasant and the Bear"
(This is the shortest tale in the book, and is basically the anecdote for why there has "always been hostility between bear and man".)

" The turnips grew large and in the autumn the peasant came with his cart to dig them up.
The bear came out of the forest:
'Well, man, the time has come to divide the turnips.  Give me my share.'
'All right, dear bear. let's share:  the tops for you, and the roots for me.'
The peasant gave the bear all the leafy tops,
put the turnips on his cart and took them to town to sell."

"Morozko"

(This story was my least favorite, because the poor girl ends up freezing to death.  At least her mean step mother learns her lesson.  I included it because I love this illustration...but it's not a sweet St. Nicholas who's looking down on the girl...)

"The girl sat beneath the fir and shivered.  Soon she was shaking from head to foot.
Suddenly she hear Morozko -- which is what the Russians call Jack Frost -- nearby,
making his way through the firs, leaping from tree to tree snapping and cracking.
He sprang onto the top of the fir beneath which the girl was sitting and called down to her."

"The Frog Princess"

(There are quite a few cultural variants of this tale, including the Brothers Grimm German version, "Der Frosch Konig".  The story varies from country to country about the main character being a "Frog Prince", to a "Frog Princess", to a "Toad Bridegroom"...in this Russian telling, the Frog Princess turns out to be Vasilisa the Wise - who appears in the next folktale I'll mention as well.  I also have to suggest that you try to find this version of The Frog Princess, sumptuously illustrated by Russian artists Gennady Spirin.)

"She tripped and turned, turned and tripped in such a way that everyone was astonished.
Then she swung her left hand and there was a lake;
she swung her right and there were white swans swimming on the lake..."

"The King of the Sea and Vasilisa the Wise"
(In this tale, Vasilisa is the daughter of the King of the Sea. She helps a tsarevich with some very difficult tasks, so that he can go back home to his parents.)

But Vasilisa the Wise and Ivan Tsarevich were already far away.
They drove their swift-footed steeds on without pausing to rest"

The female name Vasilisa is of Greek origin and means "Queen". It is the feminine form of Vasily, the Russian or Greek form of the name Basil.  Its use was inspired by a third-century Christian child martyr, Vasilisa, and several other early saints who are venerated by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. It was the name of several early princesses. 

Today the name is also associated with a fairy tale princess because of its frequent use in Russian folk tales. The princess Vasilisa Prekrasnaya (Vasilisa the Beautiful) or Vasilisa the Wise is a stock character in Russian fairy tales, including The Frog Prince and Vasilissa the Beautiful. 

Her character often rises in status from a peasant girl to the wife of a prince or is a princess who marries the hero after helping him to accomplish difficult tasks. Unlike other fairy tale heroines who wait to be rescued, Vasilisa often accomplishes a series of tasks that help her defeat the villain of the story.

You can find today's book, used, on Amazon - if you go here. 
There are many more wonderful tales in this book - most can be read online here, at Project Gutenberg, or on this Russian Craft website.