Russian Folk Tales

Three compendiums cover folktales, sense and nonsense. James Riordan collects and translates Russian Folk Tales, illus. by Andrew Breakspeare, both well known (""Vasilissa""; ""The Firebird"") and lesser known (""The Animals' Revenge""), sometimes adding twists to Western tradition (the Frog Prince becomes a Princess here). Riordan adopts a storyteller's bravado (""Now here's a fine to-do, thought the cat, his face long as a fiddle,"" says Catofay Ivanovich when his master dumps him in the forest, deeming him past his prime). Lush full-bleed watercolors and vignettes capture the magic of the forest and a full range of characters and expressions. ( Mar.)