Russian Girl: Life in an Old Russian Town

Photojournalist Kendall follows up his acclaimed Eskimo Boy: Life in an Inupiaq Eskimo Village with a revealing look into the life of nine-year-old Olga Surikova, a resident of the small Russian town of Suzdal. Taken over the course of several months in autumn and winter, the crisp, bright photos depict Olga in her first tentative days in third grade; weathering the loss of a tooth; at home helping to prepare a birthday dinner for her father; at work on her grandmother's farm; with her friends building and decorating a snow woman. One particularly moving shot shows the girl with her arms around her mother, crying because her father has criticized her for her marks at school. Kendall, an unobtrusive observer, captures Olga and the other townspeople conducting themselves naturally, whether attending a church service or visiting a poorly stocked market. The accompanying text supplies background about Russian history and customs, while appended recipes, an alphabet chart and a list of common Russian words add to the overall sense of exploration and discovery. Ages 5-9. (Mar.)