Blog #28 Babushka

Blog #28

Babushka
Retold by Sandra Ann Horn
Illustrated by Sophie Fatus
Barefoot Books
2002
28 pages

Multicultural: Russian Folklore

                I chose this story because I liked the folk art style cover. This book is about an older woman who spends all day cleaning her house. One day she realizes that she’s been so busy cleaning her house that she has failed to notice more important things going on. She has a dream one night to awake and find a little baby. On her journey to find the little baby, she learns that the more one gives of oneself to others, the more he/she is rewarded.

                The illustrations in this book were rendered in acrylic. Like The Six Fools, the folk art style of the illustrations reflect the folktale basis of the story. The brush strokes are evident and it looks as though the illustrator wet her brush a lot before using the paint. This gives the paint an almost translucent quality on the page. The colors throughout the story use cool colors to mirror the calming and soothing message that is being stated in the book. 

                This would be an excellent story to read around Christmas time because it is about baby Jesus. However, teachers must be careful to read a variety of stories during holiday season so as to not discriminate. This may be a controversial book to read due to the statute that teachers can not openly begin a discussion and religion, but the message and giving of oneself is a universal one that can be profound no matter what one believes. This would be a good book to use for sequencing in middle elementary school and for counting in younger elementary school. 

To read more about Sandra Ann Horn, the author, click on her name.