Fourteen classic Ukrainian folk and fairy tales, retold for children, with vibrant illustrations inspired by Ukrainian folk art.
Magical Journey through Ukraine gathers fourteen treasured tales from Ukraine and tells each one in full, in warm, read-aloud language for today's young readers. Cunning foxes, brave little goats, loyal dogs, clever children and talking animals fill pages of bright, colorful illustration inspired by Ukrainian folk art, full of flowers, birds and roosters.
Young readers meet familiar stories wearing Ukrainian dress. Kolobok is Ukraine's runaway bun, cousin to the Gingerbread Man. The Golden Shoe is a Ukrainian Cinderella, with a magical weeping willow in place of a fairy godmother. The White Rose echoes Beauty and the Beast, and Which Love Is the Best? turns on a daughter's love "as much as salt." Around them stand true folk originals found only in the Slavic world.
The fourteen tales:
Willowgoat the Goat - a lying goat, and the little crab braver than the fox and the wolf.
The Little Goat and the Ram - two friends who outwit a pack of hungry wolves.
Sirko - a faithful old dog and the wolf who repays a kindness.
The Rooster and the Two Mice - a Ukrainian "Little Red Hen" about hard work and idleness.
Don Gatsky - the runaway cat who fools a whole forest.
Kitten and Chick - a daring rescue and a magic little song.
The Wise Girl - clever Marusia and the lord's impossible riddles.
Kolobok - the little round bun who rolls away from everyone.
The Fox and the Crab - a race won by wit, not speed.
Which Love Is the Best? - a king, three daughters, and love as precious as salt.
The Seven Crow Brothers and Their Sister - a sister's journey past Moon, Sun and Wind to lift a curse.
The Golden Shoe - the Ukrainian Cinderella and her weeping-willow maidens.
The Fox and the Stork - a lesson in hospitality, repaid in kind.
The White Rose - a gentle Beauty and the Beast, and the power of a kind heart.
Every story carries a gentle lesson - honesty, kindness, hard work, loyalty and courage - making the collection ideal for bedtime, shared read-alouds and multicultural folktale units in the classroom. A warm introduction to Slavic folklore and world fairy tales for ages 6-10 (grades 1-5), and a meaningful gift for families exploring Ukrainian heritage and culture.
Liudmyla Pytel retells classic Ukrainian folk and fairy tales for young readers. This collection gathers fourteen traditional stories from Ukraine, presented in the colorful Petrykivka folk-art style for the Mountain Mill Editorial imprint.