Vasalisa and Her Magic Do

Newcomer Grauer's interpretation of the popular Russian folktale presents a marked contrast to Marianna Mayer's Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave (see above), in terms of both content and style. A brief author's note credits several variations of the tale as well as the ``interpretative works'' of such figures as Carl Jung and Bruno Bettelheim. The result is that Grauer removes the Cinderella motif from the story, stressing instead the relationship between young Vasalisa, who ``looks just like a little doll,'' and her older sister, Svetlana. After their mother's death, a jealous Svetlana contrives to send Vasalisa to the dreaded Baba Yaga's house in order to obtain a light. In another departure from previous versions, Vasalisa must also surrender her magic doll in order to win freedom from the crone and enjoy a happy reunion with her sister. Soft, colored-pencil illustrations, cast a cozy glow over the tale, somewhat at odds with its dark content, and the text lacks much of the dramatic imagery that distinguishes other versions. Ages 4-8. (May)