Babushka: A Christmas Tale
Written by Dawn Casey
Illustrated by Amanda Hall
Good Books  9/06/2016
978-1-68099-188-8
32 pages    Ages 4—8

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“Explore this timeless Russian tale that makes Christmas a blessed time!

“On the first Christmas Eve, Babushka is tidying her home when three wise men arrive and invite her to join them in their travels—following the star in search of the newborn babe, the Prince of Peace. But there are so may chores to do, and Babushka is too busy to leave her home with w=presents for the baby Jesus.

“The next day, when Babushka changes her mind and tries to follow the men, she cannot find their tracks. Instead, she finds a little girl shivering with cold and a hungry little boy. She helps both of them, and as she continues her walk, she offers a gift from her basket to every needy child she finds.” [INSIDE JACKET]

Review
Babushka keeps her home spotless. Every day she cleaning and polishing. She is very busy doing just that when the clouds part allowing a bright star to shine high up in the sky, bright enough for all to see. Three wise men, following the star to the Prince of Peace, stop at Babushka’s to warm their feet and fill their bellies. They invite Babushka with them on their journey, to which Babushka replies, “What, without washing the dishes?”
The next morning, Babushka decides to catch up with the wise men, but cannot find their tracks. She does find a shivering young girl and a hungry little boy. She gives each what they need out of her basket of supplies. Babushka never finds the wise men, yet continues on her own journey, helping children in need along the way, as she still does today.

Babushka is based on a Russian folktale. Babushka speaks to being kind to others, as you would want to treat you. This is one of the better messages of this season, told beautifully by Babushka’s tale. The purple-blue illustrations capture the cold tundra of Russia and the trials of Babushka’s travel. Those who celebrate Christmas as a holy holiday will especially enjoy Babushka. She speaks to the generosity of the heart and our ability give freely to others. Babushka dolls are the Russian dolls which nest, sometimes four to a doll. The grandmotherly Babushka of this tale is shaped similar to those dolls, which could have been some of the toys she gave away to children she met.
Babushka: A Christmas Tale is perfect for this time of year and the New Year (starting anew). And if you see an older Russian woman, carrying a basket full of unusual items (mostly handmade), you might just be witnessing Babushka.

BABUSHKA: A CHRISTMAS TALE. Text copyright © 2016 by Dawn Casey. Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Amanda Hall. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Good Books, New York, NY.

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Reprinted with permission from BABUSHKA: A CHRISTMAS TALE © 2016 by Dawn Casey, Good Books, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. Illustrations © 2016 by Amanda Hall.

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Copyright © 2016 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

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Babushka: A Christmas Tale
Written by Dawn Casey
Illustrated by Amanda Hall
Good Books 9/06/2016
9781680991888