Book
The firebird
Record details
- ISBN: 9781564020963 :
- ISBN: 1564020967 :
-
Physical Description:
print
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm. - Edition: 1st U.S. ed.
- Publisher: Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 1993.
Content descriptions
| General Note: | "First published in Great Britain in 1992 by Walker Books Ltd., London"--Opp. t.p. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Fairy tales Folklore -- Soviet Union |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at BC Interlibrary Connect.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Holdable? | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium Hot Springs Public Library | PIC HAS (Text) | 35130000122956 | Children's Books | Volume hold | Available | - |
- Kirkus Reviews : Kirkus Reviews 1993 March
This is not the story made familiar by the ballet, but a related tale in which the firebird figures mostly at the outset, when one of its feathers is found by a huntsman who presents it to his king--a tyrant whose response is to send the poor fellow off to fetch the bird, which he is able to do with the advice ofhis admirable talking horse. But the huntsman's success only stimulates the king's greed, and he sends the man on mission after mission (a princess; her wedding dress), with dire threats in case of failure. Finally, the king's scheme to kill the huntsman backfires, the king dies in his stead, and the huntsman gets the princess. Hastings's brisk, lightly quizzical retelling is engagingly complemented by Cartwright's boldly stylized art. His statuesque figures are amusingly at odds with their lantern-jawed, large-nosed faces; the collage-like arrangements of areas of vibrant color are especially appropriate for groups. A lively addition to folklore collections. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-10) # Copyright 1999 Kirkus Reviews - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 1993 March #2
Hastings's lustrous retelling of this Russian folktale turns on a version by Afanasyev, an intriguing variation from the better known story on which Stravinsky's ballet is based. The Firebird actually plays a small part here; instead, the narrative focuses on the huntsman, a hapless fellow with a Jay Leno jawline and a horse smarter than Mr. Ed. Spying a Firebird feather while out for a ride, the huntsman is warned by his trusty steed that it will bring ``trouble such as you have never known.'' The rash fellow ignores the advice, presents the feather to the king, and is promptly ordered off on a series of impossible scavenger hunts to assuage the monarch's greed. The huntsman's misadventures culminate in a dip in boiling water (his horse saves him, of course), from which he emerges a veritable Prince Valiant and wins the hand of the Princess Vasilisa. Cartwright's sleek, stylized artwork skates close to the surreal, while a dynamic, many-layered quality gives it the look of collage. Onion-domed buildings, a brief appearance by a full-bearded Orthodox priest, and other touches hint of the story's place of origin and provide a subtly sophisticated backdrop to Hastings's stylish prose. As retellings go, this one is a corker. Ages 5-up. (Mar.) Copyright 1993 Cahners Business Information. - School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Reviews 1993 April
Gr 1-4-- Sophisticated illustrations and a witty telling result in a slightly different interpretation of this classic Russian folktale. Aided by his wise horse, a not-so-smart huntsman traps the magical Firebird and marries beautiful Princess Vasilisa. Staying fairly true to the tale collected by Alexander Afanasyev in the 19th century, Hastings emphasizes the sly humor and ironic ending in which a greedy king comes to a bad end. Cartwright's stylized illustrations make excellent use of the subtle range of colors possible in oil paint. He creates a sense of distance by layering paint in an almost collagelike manner; an interesting texture is achieved by reducing haystacks and leaves to simple repeated patterns. Although the pictures may resemble northern Europe more than old Russia, this graceful retelling has strong visual appeal. --Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal Copyright 1993 Cahners Business Information.
