300 Years of Russian Art, Music and Culture    This summer marks the 300th birthday of one of Russia's most famous cities, the historic St. Petersburg. Founded on May 27, 1703 by Czar Peter the Great, the city became the capital of Russia in 1712. Nicknamed "The City on 101 Islands" and "The Venice of the North," St. Petersburg sits in the delta of the Neva River on numerous islands.    Reporter Suzanne Sataline, in a recent Washington Post article, described this famous city with these words: "Perched on the Gulf of Finland, listing between the Western and Eastern world, Peter the Great's tribute to the West is a feast of psychedelic domed cathedrals, sherbet-colored mansions and some of the world's greatest ballet and art." St. Petersburg is home to magnificent buildings such as the Winter Palace, the Mikhailovsky Castle, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Kazan Cathedral. Visitors may stroll through the famous Palace Square, or enjoy a night at the world-renowned Mariinsky Opera and Ballet. The city is also home to the Hermitage; originating with Catherine the Great's desire for a royal art collection, today the many buildings of the Hermitage continue to draw tourists with their collection of world-famous art.    Over the course of time this resilient city has endured several wars, name-changes (to Petrograd in 1914, to Leningrad in 1924, back to St. Petersburg in 1991), and radical regime changes. Through it all, St. Petersburg has remained a strategic, cultural and historical center for the Russian people. Today it is the most Northern City with a population over 1 million and continues to draw visitors from around the world.    During the Jubilee week of May 23-June 1, the city will be alive in celebration of its 300th birthday. The following books celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg's founding by honoring the culture, history, and country of Russia. Angel on the Square Gloria Whelan    This historical fiction integrates the events that led to the Russian Revolution in a reliable and finely balanced first person account. It is 1913 in St. Petersburg, and twelve-year-old Katya lives an aristocratic life with her beautiful mother and Misha, the orphaned son of a close family friend. Empress Alexandra has chosen Katya's mother as a lady in waiting. While she anticipates the honor and adventure this will bring to her life, Katya also awakens to the inequities between the classes in her city. With the intellectual revolutionary Misha as her guide, she sees children weak from hunger working in sweatshops and barred from school. She watches as brutal Cossacks charge at striking women workers with horses and whips. Still, Katya loves her adopted family, especially Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the royal Romanov family. As she matures and continues to record her experiences, Katya describes with a clear and objective eye the failings of Tsar Nikolai II and the havoc war and revolution bring to Russia. Katya, her mother and Misha all survive, but find themselves in a world far from that imagined by the idealistic student revolutionaries. As Misha says, "I thought I understood what was best for Russia. I knew too little and believed too soon." 2001, HarperCollins, $15.95 and $15.89. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Melissa J. Rickey ISBN: 0-06-029030-7 ISBN: 0-06-029031-5 Best Books: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers, 2002 ; National Council for the Social Studies; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, July 2001 ; Cahners; United States Anna Pavlova, Genius of the Dance Ellen Levine    After eight-year-old Anna's mother took her to see the Sleeping Beauty ballet, the young Pavlova was determined to become a ballerina. She was not allowed to join the Imperial Ballet School until she was ten, but when she did, she quickly became one of its most talented dancers. Her great talent combined with hard work and a great love for the dance helped Anna become the most famous ballerina, first in Russia, and later in the world. Short, lively chapters give readers a good appreciation of not only her dancing, but also her world travels, her relationships with members of her troupe and ballet schools, and her ability to actually create new dances. Anna comes to life for the reader as a person as well as a dancer and artist. 1995, Scholastic, $14.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan    Anna Pavolva's passion was dance. From the moment she saw her first ballet at age 8, her destiny was set. Ellen Levine brings this prima ballerina to life. Her career was meteoric not only because of her talent but due to a charismatic quality of touching people and making them forget their own problems while she danced. She toured the world and took pride in introducing ballet to new audiences. She opened ballet schools in the U.S. and England so that she could pass on her knowledge to future dancers. She was never too tired to give a benefit performance. A remarkable lady who died too young. 1995, Scholastic, $14.95. Ages 9 up. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman ISBN: 0-590-44304-6 Best Books: Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000 ; H.W. Wilson; United States Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of the Social Studies, 1995 ; National Council for the Social Studies; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 1995 ; Cahners; United States Baboushka:A Christmas Folktale from Russia Retold by Arthur Scholey Illustrations by Helen Cann    Baboushka has the cleanest, most well kept house in her village, and her cooking is superb. The rest of the village is busy babbling about a star that has appeared in the sky, but Baboushka is too busy sweeping and polishing to worry about a star. Her housekeeping is soon interrupted by three kings who ask to stay in her home for the night. They are following the star, trying to find the king they know has been born. They invite Baboushka to travel with them to find the king. She worries about finding the right present for the new king, and stays home to clean up some old toys to bring. She promises to catch up with the kings. When she finally sets off, she is far behind. Wherever she goes on her travels, the kings have just left. She finally reaches Bethlehem, but it is too late. She visits the stable where the king had lain, and then drifts off again, always searching for what she missed. A wonderful cautionary tale, complemented by brilliantly colored watercolor and pencil illustrations. 2001 (text orig. 1982), Candlewick, Ages 5 to 9, $15.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen ISBN: 0-7636-1619-2 Babushka Retold by Sandra Ann Horn Illustrated by Cinzia Ratto    Babushka had an empty place in her heart so she liked to keep busy by cleaning from sunrise to starshine. She is so busy looking for dust that she missed a special star in the sky and then insisted that an angel wipe her feet rather than hear her good news. Soon Babushka fell asleep and had a most unusual dream about a baby born in a stable full of cattle. Appalled, she packed a clown, a warm shawl, and some ginger cordial and set off in search of the baby. Along the way she met a sobbing little girl who had lost her dolly. Babushka gave her the clown she had packed. She also managed to find people who need her other gifts. Although she arrives empty-handed, she learns a valuable lesson. When the baby reaches out to her, Babushka forgets about tidying up the cobwebs in the corner of the barn. Imaginative folksy paintings filled with patterns and textures convey a sense of joy. Angels are translucent as they dance across the sky and camels with striped legs flee at the sound of Babushka's dust cloth. Retold from a Russian folktale, the Christmas story shows cultural traditions. 2002, Barefoot Books, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Laura Hummel ISBN: 1-8414-8353-2 Beyond the Limit: The Dream of Sofya Kovalevskaya Joan Spicci    The height of European political turmoil in the late 1800s is stressed in this biography of Russian mathematician, Sofya Kovalevskaya. Author Joan Spicci meticulously depicts Sofya's struggles from the time she is 15 until she reaches success at age 24. During the course of the tale, Sofya meets insurmountable challenges head on while striving to gain entrance to various Western European university systems during a period when women scholars were not allowed to attend universities. Sofya's marriage of convenience, undertaken to enhance her chances of liberation from this attitude, proves to be a love-hate relationship that she cannot live without. The relationship is cluttered by her efforts to help her sister and other female friends discover elevated positions. Sofya's appealing directness paints her as a character with whom women of today will wish to relate. Though lengthy, this book moves along at a readable pace, realistically capturing the time period in which it is set. It would best be read not by those wishing quick facts about her life, but by those wanting a good in-depth look. Spicci's extensive research is evident in this all-encompassing version of Kovalevskaya's life. 2002, Forge/Tom Doherty Associates, $26.95. Ages 15 up. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury ISBN: 0-7653-0233-0 The Cat and the Cook and Other Fables of Krylov Retold by Ethel Heins Pictures by Anita Lobel    Ivan Andreevich Krylov's original editions of over 150 fables were the first best sellers of early 19th century Russia. Like LaFontaine, Krylov is celebrated for poetically articulating the "lesson" with well-chosen words and entertaining role models. Anita Lobel describes her watercolor and gouache illustrations as "miniature murals" whose inspiration came from Russian church paintings and peasant art. The twelve classic fables retold in this edition highlight the importance of hard work, the foolishness of greed and vanity, and the need to respect other's individuality. 1995, Greenwillow, $15.00 and $14.93. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Carol A. Flowers ISBN: 0-688-12310-4 ISBN: 0-688-12311-2 Best Books: Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States The Children's Literature Choice List, 1996 ; Children's Literature; United States Classic Tales and Fables for Children Leo Tolstoy Edited by Bob Blaisdell    Leo Tolstoy is a novelist highly regarded for his epic adult novels. In this slim volume, Tolstoy reveals his love of children and children's literature. This collection of stories and fables from Tolstoy's writing is an interesting look at part of the history of children's literature and at part of the author's body of work. However, one has doubts about its appeal to 21st century children. The short (126 pages) book is divided into three sections. The first section, "Stories" contains some very short stories that relate some of the events of Tolstoy's own childhood growing up in Russia as well as short teaching stories that explain some scientific elements and concepts (magnets, humidity, silkworms). While these stories occasionally provide some interesting information, the tone strongly resembles that of the 1,000th time your grandfather started that story about when he was your age. The second section of the book is entitled, "Fables" and is comprised of a retelling of Aesops's fables, Hindu fables and fables previously published in Tolstoy's New ABC Book, most of which are unremarkable. Part three provides a fairy tale, "Ivan the Fool and His Two Brothers" in which kind and generous Ivan triumphs over the devil while at the same time providing for the needs of his two selfish and greedy brothers. For students of Tolstoy's work this is an illuminating glimpse into an author who crossed literary genres to produce classics still read today. As a children's book it will hold very little appeal for today's child. 2002, Prometheus Books, Ages 10 to 18, $11.00. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver ISBN: 1-57392-939-5 The Cold War R. Conrad Stein    During World War II, the military forces of the Soviet Union and the western democracies served as allies. However, once that destructive war concluded the alliance frayed. The differences between the communist USSR and the capitalist nations led by the United States set the stage for what was to become the Cold War. Waged over five decades, the Cold War featured limited combat in places such as Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and other locales. In those instances the forces of one side or another generally fought against proxy nations rather than directly with one another. With both power blocks armed with nuclear weapons, the stakes were simply too high for the capitalist and communist nations to directly assault each other. Over time, the dictatorial communist regimes of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union lost ground. Unable to meet the political and economic needs of their people, nations such as Poland, Russia, and East Germany discarded their communist governments. In the end, the Cold War did not end with a smashing and singular victory. Instead, it simply petered out after an expenditure of billions of dollars and many lives. The Cold War is the topic of this well developed history book. Written with care and scholarship, this slim volume is a part of the "MyReportLinks.com" series. Using a format that incorporates a great deal of primary source information linked to illustrations drawn from Internet sources, this is a wonderful resource for students interested in this time period. 2002, Enslow, Ages 10 to 14, $19.95. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 0-7660-5095-5 Colors of Russia Shannon Zemlicka Illustrations by Jeni Reeves    A short general introduction about Russia is followed by interesting sidelights about topics such as history, geography, weather and people--all associated with different colors. Yellow is for the Alexander Palace where Tsar Nicholas II and his hapless family lived in ease while the poor suffered; red is for the Red Army and the advent of Communism; blue is for beautiful, ice-filled Lake Baikal in Siberia; white is for the Chukchi herders of reindeer in the far north; green is for the grassy steppes where nomadic Scythians once rode their sturdy horses; brown is for the fur hats worn in winter, which lasts for many months; gold is for the domes and icons of the Russian Orthodox churches; black is for one of the world's most expensive foods, caviar; orange is for the endangered Siberian tiger; and gray is for the grandeur of the Moscow subway. Each is illustrated by full-page, bright, vigorous watercolors, which extend to the facing page to set off the text. The figures are bold and strong. Aspects of Russian life not normally covered in an information book capture the imagination as they are described in a lively style. An index is included. The book is part of the "Colors of the World" series. 2002, Carolrhoda, $19.93. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Patricia Dole ISBN: 1-57505-513-9 ISBN: 1-57505-564-3 Communism Nigel Ritchie    In 1848, Karl Marx published a thin book that began with a prescient statement, "A specter is haunting Europe--the specter of Communism." This opening statement of the Communist Manifesto was Marx's call for social change flowing out of a philosophy based upon historical materialism. Coming of age during the Industrial Revolution, Marx saw a world in which workers were exploited with utter harshness by capitalist owners. The German philosopher postulated a world within which the surplus value produced by proletarians would spark the steadily increasing wealth of a bourgeois ruling class. Marx hoped for the rising of the workers, who would then create a communist world where equality could abound. Sadly, this egalitarian philosophy transmogrified into a political schema controlled by ruthless leaders who crushed all opposition with great human cost. Communism, its philosophical underpinnings, international permutations, and future outlooks are all touched upon in this well-researched and ably written history book. Nigel Ritchie offers up a main course of political history that reaches into the communist movements in China, Cuba, Russia and other locales. Each section of this thoroughly crafted book offers valuable insights into the workings of Communism, a political philosophy that continues to have both telling and terrible effects upon nature. 2001, Raintree Steck-Vaughn, Ages 12 up, $25.69. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 0-7398-3158-5 Dance of the Swan: A Story About Anna Pavlova Barbara Allman Illustrations by Shelly O. Haas    Beginning with her first visit to a ballet performance at age eight, we follow Anna Pavlova's life-long love affair with this demanding form of dance. Six chapters, enhanced by occasional black-and-white drawings, describe Anna's growth from beginning pupil at the Russian Imperial Ballet School at age ten through her rise to prima ballerina as a young woman. The story continues through her busy, creative years traveling the world, bringing the joy and beauty of the dance to a variety of people while teaching and inspiring many young dancers. The author nicely describes Anna's unique style and appeal. Part of the "Creative Minds Biographies," this book should appeal to ballet enthusiasts, and perhaps also to young readers just becoming interested in this art form. A bibliography, index and selected repertoire are included. 2001, Carolrhoda Books, $21.27. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan ISBN: 15-7505-463-9 The Dancer Who Flew: A Memoir of Rudolf Nureyev Linda Maybarduk    Rudolph Nureyev burst like a comet upon the dance world in 1958 with his premiere performance at the famed Kirov ballet as a soloist, partnering its prima ballerina, rather than as just a member of the ensemble. Having started formal lessons at the late age of seventeen and coming from a dismal, impoverished background, this rebellious but incredibly talented young Tatar blazed through the staid circles of dance. He was determined to become the "brilliant dancer" rather than the "total failure" predicted when he was reluctantly accepted into the Leningrad Ballet School just three years before. His career was marked by brilliance, innovation, temperamental tantrum, and true genius, and he is remembered in the same breath as the legendary Nijinsky, Eric Bruhn, and Baryshnikov, who followed him. The author, a former partner and close friend who invited Rudi to godfather her first child, writes with honesty, love and awe of this heroic character. She tells of his never missing a rehearsal or performance, no matter how ill or injured; his tempers and humor; his defection to the West in 1961, and his subsequent long partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn. This is a fabulous memoir of a lion that refused to listen to anything except his need to follow his own star. Although color photographs rather than black-and-white would have enhanced the book, it is a good read and an inspiring story for anyone. 1999, Tundra, $18.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Judy Chernak ISBN: 0-8877-6415-0 Best Books: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States Not Just for Children Any More, 2000 ; Children's Book Council; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, December 1999 ; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction Honour Book 2000 Canada Dear Emma Johanna Hurwitz Illustrated by Barbara Garrison    Recently returned from a Fresh Air Fund trip to Vermont, Dossi Rabinowitz is happy to be home with her older sister Ruthi in New York City. In a series of letters to her Vermont friend Emma, Dossi relates the major events of her eighth-grade year, from Ruthi's marriage to Meyer, a pharmacist, to the summer birth of their first child. Meyer's strict expectations for Dossi's behavior make life in the new apartment difficult at first, but the three slowly become a family as they strive to cope with the aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and Ruthi's subsequent depression. Hurwitz's prose is smooth and clean with just enough of an old-fashioned tone to lend believability to Dossi's voice, but not so much that the language is inaccessible to modern readers. Full of vivid details about the life of poor Russian-Jewish immigrants in turn-of-the-century New York City, the story is illustrated with Barbara Garrison's black and white drawings and with postcards of New York landmarks. This book is a sequel to Faraway Summer. 2002, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Anne Marie Pace ISBN: 0-06-029840-5 ISBN: 0-06-029841-3 The Dream Stealer Gregory Maguire    A witch living in a house that moves and thinks, an evil wolf and a firebird. These wonderful characters from famous and popular Russian folk tales are brought together in one book in "The Dream Stealer." We follow the extraordinary adventures of Pasha and Lisette as they try to protect their village and the people who live in it from their foe, the Blood Prince. The Blood Prince is an evil and very powerful wolf who must be defeated if the village is to be saved. We meet the colorful characters who live in the village and, who more often than not, get in Pasha and Lisette's way as they try to do what is right. There is Old Sophia, grandfather Ivan, Father Dimitri and Old Milkface the cow. There is also Baba Yaga, the witch, feared by all and yet the only one who can answer some of the questions everyone wants the answer to. What do their dreams mean? What can be done to free the village from the dominion of the Blood Prince? This unique book has beautiful black on white cut-paper silhouettes decorating some of its pages. It is fascinating, sometimes frightening, and often funny to follow in the footsteps of the two children. Through the story we learn about the strange folktales that used to influence the lives of a culture so different from our own. 2002 (orig. 1983), Clarion Books, Ages 8 to 11, $15.00. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber ISBN: 0-618-18188-1 Firebird Jane Yolen Illustrated by Vladimir Vagin    A Russian folktale and famous Balanchine/Stravinsky ballet have been brought together beautifully in this wonderful children's story. The princess and her nine maidens are being held captive by the evil wizard, Kostchei the Deathless, in a beautiful garden decorated with stone statues of the men who had once tried to save them. While wondering lost in the forest, Prince Ivan captures the firebird that feeds in the garden of the wizard. The magical Firebird gives Prince Ivan a fiery feather in return for her release, which he can use to call her if he needs. As she flies away, he follows her because he is very hungry. She leads him to the garden where he finds the ten beautiful women. The princess explains what needs to be done to rescue them. With the help of the firebird, Prince Ivan defeats the demons, kills Deathless and marries the princess. Yolen has brought back this wonderful story in the true tradition of storytelling. Vladimir Vagin's illustrations are magnificent, full of vibrant colors and action. Brief vignettes of the ballet are written at the bottom of each page and may need additional explanation to younger readers. A wonderful way to introduce children to the ballet. 2002, Harper Collins Publishers, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Christina Burbage ISBN: 0-06-028538-9 ISBN: 0-06-028539-7 Best Books: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring Retold and illustrated by Ruth Sanderson    Back in the time when magical beasts still roamed the earth, Alexi, a young Russian man, leaves home to find his fortune. After wandering for a week finding neither work nor adventure, he spares the life of the Golden Mare, thus earning her lifelong loyalty. The jealous Tsar desires the horse for himself, but the Mare will let no one ride her except Alexi. When the Tsar gives Alexi impossible tasks to perform, the Mare either assists him or accomplishes the feats for him. First, they capture the mythical Firebird. Alexi is sad to see such a magnificent creature in a cage. Then he is sent to bring Yelena the Fair to be the Tsar's wife. Even though he dislikes the thought of Yelena marrying the Tsar, he brings her back with him. When Yelena asks for her grandmother's wedding ring, the Mare must engage the help of the crabs on the lake bottom. The use of this magic ring provides a surprising and satisfying ending. Brilliantly colored illustrations bring the tale to life. Each double-page spread is a beautiful painting. The arrangement of the text in bordered and decorated inserts contributes to the artistic appearance of the book. 2001, Little Brown, Ages 8 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer ISBN: 0-316-76906-1 Best Books: Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 2001; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner 2003 Texas State and Provincial Reading Lists: Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2003; Texas I Dreamed I Was a Ballerina A Girlhood Story by Anna Pavlova Illustrated with art by Edgar Degas    Here is a story of hope, a message of a dream fulfilled--the childhood dream of Anna Pavlova that became reality. From the humblest and poorest of beginnings, Anna's mother still made provisions to provide special treats for her daughter. One such luxury was a visit to the theater to the ballet "Sleeping Beauty"--a favorite of Anna's. Great anticipation followed by extreme excitement is obviously felt by Anna, as her mother announces, "You are going to enter fairyland." How appropriate for the prelude to any ballet or theater performance, even today. Anna realizes her hearts desire right there. So begins the dream of Anna Pavlova. Added dimension is provided by the illustrations of French Impressionist, Edgar Degas. Sparse text is attractively contrasted by his detailed paintings and drawings. One can feel the drab coldness of Anna's neighborhood as well as sense the exuberance of the dancers and audience during a performance. A perfect gift for potential dancers of any age, lovers of impressionism, or anyone who has a dream that seems impossible. 2001, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young ISBN: 0-870-99988-5 ISBN: 0-689-84676-2 Best Books: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States The Impossible Journey Gloria Whelan    Gloria Whelan's historical fiction book, The Impossible Journey, tells about a family living during the Russian Revolution. This book highlights the family's struggles with the Communist party in St. Petersburg in 1934. The mother and father of this family are arrested for betraying Stalin after the death of Kirov's murder, leaving Marya and Georgi, their two children, with their next-door neighbors when they are sentenced to prison. Marya and Georgi make an impossible journey to Siberia to find their mother--they run away with only a handful of food and money to avoid being sent to an orphanage. On the journey to Siberia, they encounter a doctor who is working for the government and allows the children to use his family's passport to board a train for Siberia. When they leave the train, the children have a hike of more than one thousand miles. The Samoyed tribe helps the children with yet another part of their impossible journey. Read this fascinating book to find out if the children succeed in their long journey through many different lands to reach Siberia. Like good historical fiction, author Whelan shows readers how people lived during the time of the Russian Revolution. It opened up a new door of learning for me about the Russian Revolution, such as the condition of the prison camps in Siberia. I found it a captivating book that I could not put down. 2003, HarperCollins Publisher, Ages 9 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Lindsay Myers ISBN: 0-06-623811-0 ISBN: 0-06-623812-9 In a Russian City Andrey Ilyin    Finding out how a seven-year-old Russian girl spends a typical day is easy with this book. Bright, clear photographs offer a view of Polina's Russian city. An Author's Note gives a background of St. Petersburg where Polina lives. A line-drawn map marks St. Petersburg's location. Polina's family is introduced and then the reader slips through time with her as she takes her waking shower and eats a special Russian breakfast. After that Polina goes to school where she enjoys the library, friends, games and classes including Russian, crafts and religion. After school Polina sees the city with her mother and the reader finds out about kolokola (Russian bells), transportation, art and playtime in St. Petersburg. Polina attends an evening theater rehearsal and party before doing homework. Her day concludes as she drinks tea with her family and hears a bedtime story read by her grandmother. Additional text presents more about Russia's land, history, religion, people and language. An excellent word source includes the Russian words used in the book and their English translation. A short bibliography sends the reader to more information about Russia. This book is part of a great social studies series called "A Child's Day." 2002 (orig. 2001), Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish, $22.79. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury ISBN: 0-7614-1222-0 It Happened Like This: Stories and Poems Daniil Kharms Translated by Ian Frazier Pictures by Katya Arnold    Daniil Kharms was one of Russia's most-loved children's authors in the 1920's and 1930's. This is a compilation of some of his stories and poems. As the preface tells us, his life was full of political turmoil and, as a writer, he faced persecution for his beliefs. Despite all of this, however, his writing is remarkably playful and funny, with goofy characters and circumstances. The illustrations are unique and meant to depict the Russian Revolutionary period in which Kharms was writing. 1998, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.00. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Sheree Van Vreede ISBN: 0-374-33635-0 Lenin and the Russian Revolution in World History Judith Edwards    Lenin is a biography that explores more the early uprising and eventual Russian Revolution than Lenin's life. Although Lenin has the title, Father of the Soviet Union, Edwards does not give us a detailed picture of Lenin's personal life and his rise as leader of the Bolshevikas. While the Russian Revolution is going on, Lenin has been exiled to Siberia and later he travels in Europe. He reappears throughout the book in several chapters, but not in all. Edwards does a good job of writing about the political environment in Russia, Tsar Nicholas II, Communism and the provincial government. The reader will gain good information about Russia and the revolution, but little about Lenin himself. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs. 2001, Enslow, Ages 12 up, $20.95. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi ISBN: 0-7660-1464-9 Marc Chagall Howard Greenfeld    This biography is a rich compendium of Chagall's life and art. The two loves in his life were his wife, Bella, and his homeland, Russia. When his artistic freedom was threatened, Chagall was forced to leave and become a citizen of the world. In 1917 when the Communists took over, they rejected paintings that told stories, or that featured green-faced people, or fiddlers standing on rooftops. Chagall was ever the storyteller, and the story he tells in open-ended for us to interpret. The reproductions of Chagall's paintings are breathtaking and call the reader back time and time again. 1990, Abrams, $19.95. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman ISBN: 0-8109-3152-4 Mikhail Baryshnikov, Dance Genius Bruce Glassman    This biography of one of the finest and most renowned male ballet dancers of the twentieth century is lively reading. Born in Riga, Latvia, then part of the Soviet Union, Misha, as he is nicknamed, began dancing at the age of twelve. His unique athleticism and artistic interpretation were recognized early on in his career and soon, he was dancing with the world famous Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Russia. The Kirov's staunchly classical interpretation of ballet stifled the creative genius of Misha, and he longed to use his talents in a more creative manner. In 1974, he followed other famous Russian ballet stars by defecting while on tour in Canada. He joined Natalia Makarova, a Russian ballerina, at the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. Baryshnikov then began an illustrious American career that included ballet, theatre, movies and choreography. His ability to seemingly float in the air has earned him many accolades and fans. He is credited with renewing America's interest in classical dance. The book, well written and researched, is sprinkled with black-and-white photos of marginal quality, however, Misha's life, both public and private, provides colorful reading. While he is no long dancing publicly, Baryshnikov continues his involvement in dance to this day. The book is part of the "Giants of Art and Culture" series. 2001, Blackbirch Press, $21.95. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger ISBN: 1-5671-1507-1 Best Books: Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States Peter the Great Diane Stanley    This well-researched picture book biography of Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia (1672-1725) begins with his childhood surrounded by dwarf servants, trained monkeys, and dancing bears, moves on to his youthful fascination with ships and the culture of Europe, and concludes with his transformation of Russia into a European country and his building of the city of St. Petersburg before his death at the relatively young age of 53. The accompanying paintings display wonderfully detailed interiors, architectural details, and clothing. Originally published in 1986, this book would lend itself well to the study of history and cultural change. Peter's insatiable curiosity and energy are emphasized, although the cost of his ruthlessness is not glossed over. In the building of St. Petersburg, "Thousands of men lost their lives. The Russians called it a `city built on bones.'" A bibliography of sources consulted is included. 1999 (orig. 1986), Morrow, $16.00. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Linnea Hendrickson ISBN: 0-688-16708-X ISBN: 0-688-16709-8 Best Books: Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States Pictures at an Exhibition Anna Harwell Celenza Illustrated by JoAnn Kitchel    Mussorgsky's composition Pictures at an Exhibition is a concert perennial. Particular paintings by his friend Victor Hartmann inspired the composer to write the piece. Celenza not only describes these pictures, but also fills in the story of how the music came to be written. When Mussorgsky and his friends Hartmann and Vladimir Stasov were young, they all had grand ideas. Hartmann's sudden death in 1873 was a great shock from which the composer could not seem to recover. But Stasov arranged and took him to an exhibition of Hartmann's work, which changed him. Celenza makes the pictures seem to rise from Mussorgsky's piano as he creates the music that has made his friend's art immortal. Kitchel's decorative style utilizes heavy borders with traditional Russian motifs surrounding scenes that provide the visual narrative. Although the emotions depicted tend to be less melodramatic than the text, they include details of the times and the paintings, which add significantly to the tale. The author has added extensive background notes. For a richer experience, a London CD of the composition played in a piano version by Vladimir Ashkenazy and an orchestral version by the Philharmonia Orchestra is included. 2003, Charlesbridge, Ages 7 to 11, $19.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz ISBN: 1-5709-1492-3 Pipaluk and the Whales John Himmelman    This magnificent retelling of a true story will mesmerize children and surely touch the hearts of any older readers. Pipaluk, or Pipa, lives with her family in a tiny village off the frozen waters of the Bering Sea in Russia. One day, as she and her father travel home from her first hunting trip, their sled dogs stop to listen for something humans cannot hear. Pipa and her father, led by the dogs to an ice ledge, spot thousands of beluga whales trapped in a savssat, or ice hole. Because of the sudden cold the ice hole has closed up, preventing the whales from swimming beneath the ice to freedom in the open sea. Pipa and her village work together chipping at the ice in hopes of freeing the friendly, frightened belugas. Just when it appears that nothing can be done to save the whales, something extraordinary occurs, offering the trapped whales one last chance at survival. This touching story is accompanied by vibrant and inviting illustrations. 2001, National Geographic Society, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Catherine Campbell Wright ISBN: 0-7922-8217-5 Republic of Georgia Zoran Pavlovic and Charles F. Gritzner    The authors have written an informative book on a little known country called Georgia, located on the borders of Russia and across the Caucasus Mountains. Turkey is to its southwest and the Black Sea coast to the West. Georgia is a small country, about the size of West Virginia, and its population is an ethnic mix of Georgians, Russians, Ukrainians, Greeks, and several other nationalities. For many years, Georgia was mainly known as an area governed by Russian, but in 1918, Georgia declared its independence. Through many conflicts and struggles for independence, Georgia elected Edward Shevardnadze in 1995 as president. He was re-elected to a second term in 2000. For anyone interested in learning about Georgia's history, culture, government and people, this is a good primary book. Clear color photographs accompany the text. 2002, Chelsea House Publishers, Ages 10 up, $24.95. Reviewer: Della A.Yannuzzi ISBN: 0-7910-6778-5 River of Ice Linda Baxter Illustrations by Sue F. Cornelison    Looking at the frost patterns forming on the window, Sasha Bausch is unaware of what spring and the thawing of the river would bring. More than anything, Sasha wishes to have his family reunited. His father and sister have lived in Latvia for the last two years, and Sasha wants them to come home or to go join them in Latvia. The problem is, Sasha is in Russia, the Stalinist revolution has just ended and travel from Russia is very difficult. The other problem is that his mother is a doctor. As travel officer Carina Mikalonova tells his mother, "As a medical doctor, you are necessary to the state." Sasha's life and struggle to leave his problem-plagued situation are presented, along with the people influencing his life, such as the menacing Carina Mikalonova and the mysterious Lazare. While there are many Russian words in the text, the author uses simple language and effective detail to carry the reader along Sasha's journey. A glossary is included. For any students unsure about this period of history, this book in the "Cover-to-Cover" series is a perfect starting point. 2001, Perfection Learning Corporation, Ages 8 to 16, $11.90 and $5.90. Reviewer: John D. Orsborn ISBN: 0-7807-9805-8 ISBN: 0-7891-5392-0 The Road to Communism Ted Gottfried Illustrated by Melanie Reim    Book one of Ted Gottfried's four-volume history of the USSR relates a saga of unspeakable violence and world-altering events. The history of the Communist revolution in Russia finds its roots in the primitive monarchy that preceded it. In volume one of this illustrated series "Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union," Gottfried introduces his readers to the plight of the people of Russia as they suffered under the rule of the Romanov dynasty. Russian peasants and factory workers toiled away in a life of misery as the ruling aristocrats dominated the nation's wealth. After the disastrous failings of the Russian army in World War I, a revolution occurred which toppled Czar Nicholas II and his entire corrupt power base. After a bloody period of civil war, marked by millions of deaths including those of the entire royal family, the Bolsheviks, headed by Lenin, took power. As Gottfried notes in this meticulously researched work, Lenin was forced by both events and philosophy to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat. After Lenin's death and the rise of Stalin, that dictatorship changed gears into levels of oppression and brutality virtually unknown in history. In this fine book, Ted Gottfried ably tells the rise to power of a small, and somewhat cultish, group of revolutionaries. Readers will come away from this book with a much deeper understanding of how the world's largest nation came to be its greatest dictatorship. 2002, Twenty-First Century Books, Ages 14 up, $28.90. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 0-7613-2557-3 Russia Susan H. Gray    This slim volume fits easily into the hands of young explorers and offers a comprehensive look at Russia. This newest addition to Compass Point Books "First Reports" series provides a look at Russian geography in its different regions and the wildlife that live there. Important Russian leaders are revealed along with a look at how a typical Russian family lives today. Readers will enjoy learning about Russian schools and culture including food, festivals and fun. Important contributions that Russians have made to the world, from cathedrals to cosmonauts, are highlighted. Beautiful color photographs and maps provide a visual tour. Endnotes include a glossary, facts-at-a-glance, timeline of important dates and resources for finding more information about this fascinating country. 2002, Compass Point Books, $21.26. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Sue Reichard ISBN: 0-7565-0130-X Russia William Dando    One in a series of 24 books on geography/social studies for middle school students; Russia explores the history, geography, government, culture and economy of the former Soviet Union. The authors have attempted to present an encapsulated view of the largest country in the world and its peoples. Volumes have been written on Russian history alone, so trying to present an overview of so vast a body of knowledge, especially using American standards of success and failure, can lead to misunderstandings for the reader. The discussion on Russian farming, for instance, seems to blame the farmer for the loss in production over the last 10 years, when there is actually a myriad of reasons too complex for even an economics student to understand. The book does, however, present some interesting facts about the geography of this vast country, especially the Koppen system of classifying climatic regions. While some sources are mentioned for charts and graphs, a complete listing of references is incomplete. Judging other countries using American standards does little to promote understanding of our diverse world among young people. A time line, glossary, sources for further study and an index are included. 2003, Chelsea House Publishers, Ages 10 to 13, $24.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger ISBN: 0-7910-6934-6 Russian Americans C. Ann Fitterer    Russian immigration to the United States is both a historical and modern day phenomena. While it is true that waves of immigrants from Russia surged across the Atlantic in the late 19th century and following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the process of coming to America from "Mother Russia" continues. At present, the breakup of the former Soviet Union into multiple nation-states has precipitated a new flow of Russian immigrants. Approximately 50% of the immigrants who traveled from Russia to America are Jewish, however the present set of Slavic immigrants is more diverse in nature. In this illustrated work readers are afforded a snapshot of the Russian-American immigration and acculturation experience. Initially, Russian immigrants found life in America difficult. Jobs in meat packing plants in Chicago or on wheat fields in the Great Plains were starting points for many of those Russians who braved the journey to a New World. Yet, as the years passed, many Russians melded into the broader American culture. Modern day Russian immigrants are coming to America for reasons similar to their predecessors. Poverty and lack of opportunity in their homeland has spawned yet another wave of immigration. As the author of this well developed study points out, these immigrants not only find opportunity in their new homeland but also expand the diverse nature of American society. 2003, The Child's World, $27.07. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 1-5676-6158-0 The Sea King Jane Yolen and Shulamith Oppenheim Illustrated by Stefan Czernecki    Combining several elements of Russian folklore, the authors create an engaging tale using old motifs in new ways. A king spares an eagle he was going to shoot; the eagle speaks and promises to be useful, offering the king two boxes that he's not to open just yet. He does, of course, and when the enclosed livestock run amok, the sea king, Morskoi Tsar, gathers them back, making the king promise to give him "that which you do not know is in your house." The king returns home to find he's promised his baby son, born while he was away. When the prince is claimed, he has a few adventures with the iron-toothed Baba Yaga and the sea king's daughter Vasilisa the Wise, who with her sisters is sometimes a bird. The sea king sets the prince to three tasks, which he accomplishes with the help of Vasilisa, a relationship sure to end in marriage. The bright, deep colors of Russian folk art, particularly the nesting dolls called matryoshka, inform the pictures, making pleasing patterns. Because the faces are built on these geometric forms, expressions are limited to a grimacing smile or a turned-down comma for a frown. Lots of folkloric elements neatly combined and pictures bright enough for group reading create a nice addition to Yolen's huge canon both singly and with collaborators. (Picture book/folktale. 6-9) 2002, Crocodile/Interlink, $15.95. Reviewer: Kirkus Reviews (Vol. 70, No. 23) ISBN: 1-566564-59-X Soldier X Don Wulffson    In Wulffson's compelling tale about the tribulations of a World War II soldier, Dr. Erik Brandt, now a history teacher, recalls the things he had to go through to discover his morals during that tragic war long ago. He takes the reader back to 1944 where he, at 16 years of age, is put on a train and sent to Russia to fight for the Nazi cause. Erik discovers a lot of things along the way that make him realize that the cause for which he is fighting for is wrong in every sense of the word. He witnesses the Third Reich's mistreatment of Jews, which is horrifying to him. With so many young soldiers dying around him and his conscience telling him that the Nazi way is wrong, Erik changes clothes with a dead Russian soldier and gets taken to the hospital. With the help of his fluent Russian, Erik successfully poses as a wounded Russian soldier with amnesia, "X." He then meets a beautiful Russian nurse named Tamara. They begin an affair that is tested to the limit once she finds out Erik's true identity. Excellent for the young adult curriculum, this is a suspenseful novel that will keep readers' eyes glued to the pages. It will also help readers learn some of the history of World War II because Wulffson put a great deal of research into writing this book, much of which is based on true accounts. 2001, Viking, Ages 12 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Jack Hendrick ISBN: 0-6708-8863-X Best Books: Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2001; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers, 2002; National Council for the Social Studies; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 2000; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Christopher Awards Winner 2002 Young Adult United States State and Provincial Reading Lists: Maine Student Book Award, 2002-2003; Maine Tayshas High School Reading List, 2002; Texas Sparks Fly Upward Carol Matas    Older fans of Sydney Taylor's "All-of-a-Kind-Family" series will welcome twelve-year-old Rebecca Bernstein with open hearts. Rebecca is part of a large Russian Jewish family living together in Canada in the early twentieth century. At first the cast of characters seems like a lot to sort through, since we meet every one of her aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, but each is important to the story as an influence on Rebecca. Coming home one night from a play, the family sees their home go up in flames. Devastated, the family packs what little they have left and moves to Winnipeg, where they must separate. Rebecca goes to live with a Ukrainian family, and she fears that she will experience the same anti-Semitism the Jews experienced from Ukrainians in Europe. Her worries are alleviated when the family's daughter Sophie befriends her, but that friendship is not without its troubles. Rebecca is expected to be part of a circle of Jewish girls led by wealthy bully Rachel, who does not approve of Rebecca's friendship with Sophie. Rebecca is torn in her loyalties, but ultimately chooses to stay friends with Sophie, especially when they experience sickness and disaster together. When Sophie's brother attacks Rebecca's uncle with a knife, Rebecca seeks advice from her rabbi and is brought closer to her family. Ultimately, Rebecca is enriched by her experiences, discovering new secrets about her family and becoming stronger through adversity. 2002, Clarion Books, $15.00. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Carlie Kraft ISBN: 0-618-15964-9 The Stalinist Empire Ted Gottfried Illustrations by Melanie Reim    Volume two of Ted Gottfried's four-part history of the Soviet Union traces the rise to power of Joseph Stalin. Born into an impoverished and paternally abusive family in the Russian state of Georgia, Stalin became one of the bloodiest dictators in human history. During Stalin's years in power, perhaps over sixty million Soviet citizens died due to warfare, enforced famines, purges, and penal servitude. Along with his contemporaries, Hitler and Mussolini, Stalin was part and parcel of an age when tyranny appeared to dominate the world. In the end, the repressive police state that Stalin and his minions created fell by the wayside. However, during Stalin's heyday, he ruled with an iron fist that smashed individuals without mercy. In this illustrated work, author Ted Gottfried brings to light the nature of Stalin's regime. Readers will be confronted with stark evidence of the seemingly mad way in which Stalin ferreted out perceived opposition. Gottfried does a particularly fine job of describing the manner in which Stalin's secret police implemented their leader's credo during the manifold purges that were launched. This is a difficult book to read in that it deals with a subject so innately tied to human suffering. Yet, it is important to remember the victims of the past so that their legacy of suffering will help us in the future. This fine book is an excellent teaching tool aimed at a topic of universal relevance. 2002, Twenty-First Century Books, $28.90. Ages 14 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 0-7613-2558-1 Take the Mummy and Run Ellen Weiss & Mel Friedman Illustrated by S.M. Taggart    The notorious Carmen Sandiego has struck again--this time stealing King Tutankhamen's coffin while on its way to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. ACME detectives Maya, 9, and Ben, 11, are hot on her trail as they follow the elusive Carmen and her henchpeople around the world. World explorer Jersey Jones comes along to help solve the mystery as they travel from San Francisco to Russia, Central Asia, China, Australia, Turkey, Iceland and Egypt. Carmen's henchpeople (with names such as Bjorn Toulouse and Yul B. Sorry) all have valid alibis, so who really stole King Tut's coffin? This book is another in a series of the popular "Carmen Sandiego" mysteries. It is lots of fun and it gives its young readers valuable geographical and historical information. 1997, HarperTrophy, $4.50. Ages 8 to 12. Reviews: Cheryl Peterson ISBN: 0-06-440664-4 The Tale of the Firebird Gennady Spirin    Could there be anything more beautiful than Yelena the Beautiful? Only the luminous firebird can rival her comeliness. Both are elusive and shrouded in magic and mystery. It all begins when Tsar Vassilyi's fruit from the golden apple tree is stolen. His youngest son, Ivan-Tsarevitch, is the only one who manages to see the thief for himself--the Firebird, and who snatches one of his tail feathers as proof. Seeing the glow of the feather, the Tsar demands the bird be caught and presented to him. The three brothers set off in separate directions. At the edge of the forest Ivan-Tsarevitch is met by a large gray wolf. As re-payment for a previous kindness, the wolf offers its help and magic to fulfill the quest. Once the firebird has been found, Ivan-Tsarevitch is required to fulfill three other seemingly hopeless tasks before he may return to his father. Encountering villains of other Russian folklore, Ivan-Tsarevitch overcomes the evil and wins the hand of the beautiful maiden and lives happily ever after. The glorious intricate illustrations are reason enough to own this work. The unique braiding of three Russian fairy tales adds to the creativity and magical aura of this unique tale. 2002. Philomel Books, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young ISBN: 0-399-23584-1 Best Books: Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 5, 2002; Cahners; United States Tchaikovsky Greta Cencetti    The audience for classical music is aging and shrinking (literally), as interest among the X, Y, and MTV generations is waning. There are still many young prodigies, but they attract far fewer of their peers than do pop music performers. However, the demand for biographies of classical composers from schools and other institutional libraries remains strong. This book is part of a new series. Unfortunately, it fails to provide the kind of reading experience that engages young readers and encourages them to seek more information. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky was a brilliant composer and well-known conductor. He remained devoted to Russia, his native country, and many of his compositions were strongly influenced by Russian folk music. A sickly, nervous boy, Tchaikovsky was devoted to his mother, who taught him to play the piano when he was very young and took him to see the ballet, which greatly influenced his writing. He became world renowned but suffered from depression all his life. Although too much information is packed into too few pages, the author provides an adequate, if uninspired, overview of Tchaikovsky's life. The covers of "The World of Composers" series are all in pretty pastel hues, as are the fatuous illustrations that have too many chubby cherubs and look like they were drawn for a fairy tale. Girls might find the books attractive; boys probably won't. 2002, Peter Bedrick Books/McGraw-Hill Children's Publishing, $18.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Ellen R. Butts ISBN: 1-5884-5472-X The Three Questions Jon J. Muth    Nikolai seeks the answers to three questions--when is the best time to do something, who is the most important one and what is the right thing to do? To answer these questions is to know how to be a good person. His well-meaning friends a heron, a monkey, and a dog try to help him but the boy knows he should seek the wisdom of the wise old turtle, Leo. In helping the turtle dig his garden and rescuing an injured panda and later her cub, Nikolai finds the answers and the inner peace he seeks. The one important time is now, the important one is the one you are with, and the most important thing to do is to do good for the one at your side. Based on a Leo Tolstoy short story, the spiritual philosophy of Zen is wrapped inside a simple but compelling story. Handsome watercolors by the author reflect the Asian influence. Young children will not grasp the deeper meaning of the story but will enjoy it as a satisfying journey of discovery. 2002, Scholastic, Ages 8 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey ISBN: 0-439-19996-4 Best Books: The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 2002; Cahners; United States Awards, Honors, Prizes: Time of Wonder Award Winner 2002 Maine Vladimir Putin Charles J. Shields    As a child, the young Vladimir Putin had a wild dream of becoming a spy. Not only did his dream come true, but Putin also went on to become one of the most powerful people in the world. As a member of Russia's intelligence agency, the KGB, Putin spend years trying to steal technology secrets in East Germany. He was there in 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell, signifying the end of the Cold War. After the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union, Putin left the KGB and entered Russian politics, where a meteoric career path concluded with his rise to the presidency. Although it's difficult to get a good handle on Vladimir Putin, a private man whose emotions always seem to be under control, this biography, part of the "Major World Leaders" series, is nevertheless informative and well-researched. Color photographs, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and an index accompany the text. An essay by Arthur Schlesinger Jr., "On Leadership," serves as a well-written foreword. 2003, Chelsea House, Ages 10 to 14, $23.95. Reviewer: Christopher Moning ISBN: 0-7910-6945-1 To stay up to date on new books by these authors, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here. Added 5/22/03