Babushka: A Christmas Tale - Hardcover

Casey, Dawn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1680991884 ISBN 13: 9781680991888

Publisher: Good Books, 2016

Synopsis

On the eve of the very first Christmas, an old grandmother is busy tidying her home when a bright star illuminates the sky. Soon three wise men arrive and invite Babushka to join them in their travels—following the star in search of a newborn babe, the Prince of Peace. But there are dishes to be washed, and floors to be swept, and Babushka is too absorbed in her work to leave her home with presents for the baby Jesus.

The next day, when Babushka tries to follow the men, she cannot find their tracks. Instead, she finds a little girl shivering in the cold, and a little boy, his tummy rumbling with hunger. Babushka walks and walks, and everywhere she goes she finds children in need of toys to play with or a shawl to keep them warm. And to each one, she offers a gift from her basket and a smile of light and love.

With beautiful illustrations evoking folk art traditions and sensitive storytelling, Babushka tenderly reminds us that nothing is more important during the holiday season than taking the time to show love for one another. This timeless Russian tale will warm your heart and fill you up with the joyful, generous spirit of Christmas.

Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

About this title

From the Author:

Dawn Casey draws inspiration from her travels near and far, from tales of old, and from the natural world. Her collection The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales won the Gold Nautilus Award and received an Accolade from the American Folklore Society. In previous incarnations, Dawn worked in publishing and as a primary school teacher. She is now mother to two young children. Though officially a grown up, Dawn still believes in magic. She lives in Lewes, England.

Amanda Hall is an award-winning international illustrator, noted for her stylish illustrations of folktales and legends. She studied Graphic Art at what is now the Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge, England. Having traveled, Amanda finds herself drawn to illustrating ethnic tales and legends in a style that uses watercolors and crayon to build layers of color and texture. She lives in Cambridge, England.

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 2—A retelling of the traditional Russian Christmas tale in which an old woman is visited by the three travelers following a star in the East to see the "newborn king." Babushka welcomes them in yet refuses their offer to join them on their journey, as there are dishes to wash and crumbs to sweep. But later that night, after waking to the light of the star, Babushka changes her mind and sets off laden with gifts, determined to find the child. The text has a warm and engaging tone, with a satisfying conclusion that focuses on Babushka's kindness and generosity. The immensely satisfying watercolor and crayon illustrations combine swirling patterns and rich textures in tones of blue, purple, gold, and rose. Particularly effective are the snowy exteriors glowing in the starlight. VERDICT Well written and beautifully illustrated, this book will make a lovely addition to holiday collections.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: Good Books
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1680991884
• ISBN 13: 9781680991888
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Hall Amanda