Retelling of a classic Russian folktale, the Tsar sends his sons to search for the mythical firebird. The youngest son finds the firebird in a golden cage, goes on to capture the horse with the golden mane, rescue Yelena the Beautiful and fight evil Koshchei the Immortal. Gorgeously illustrated. (Picture book)

Charming retelling of Peter and the wolf, the musical fairy tale. A wolf leaps out of the deep dark woods, trapping the bird, the duck and the cat, but Peter has a plan to trap the wolf. Fully narrated CD, eye-catching illustrations and fun for all ages. (Picture book and Audio CD)

Each book is the continuing story of a St. Petersburg family – Katya, a wealthy young woman at the onset of the Russian Revolution (Angel on the Square), her children Georgi and Marya in the Siberian wilderness (The Impossible Journey), the family in 1941 during the siege of Leningrad (Burying the Sun), and Katya's great-granddaughter, Tatiana, an aspiring ballerina at the end of the 20th century (The Turning). An excellent series that brings to life a century of change in Russia. (Chapter books)

A simple peasant boy sets out to find a flying ship so he can marry the Czar's daughter. Not only does he find a ship ready to fly, but he gathers up traveling companions. The mean-spirited Czar sets more impossible tasks for the boy, but his friends cheerfully outwit the Czar. Warm-hearted illustrations, filled with color. (Picture book)

A magic spell has turned the young Tsarevitch to ice, and the kingdom to permanent winter. Katya has a magic nesting doll (matryoshka) with a bear, a wolf, and a firebird inside; she uses her matryoshka and love to break the spell. (Picture book)

Story of a kinder, gentler Baba Yaga, who becomes an adopted grandmother and saves a little boy from the wolves. Brightly colored illustrations, like Russian folk art. Also fun is Rechenka's Eggs. (Picture book)

Vasilisa is sent by her crummy stepmother to fetch a light from the fearsome witch, Baba Yaga, who lives in the forest in a house surrounded by clattering bones. Richly illustrated with deep colors and marvelous detail. (Picture book)

1743. Fourteen year-old Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, is having her portrait painted. It's the beginning of a great journey that will take her from her home in Germany, to Berlin and St. Petersburg to meet her future husband, Peter III, the next czar of Russia. And she is given a new name, Catherine II, Her Imperial Highness. (Chapter book)

Fictional diary of Anatasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, as she goes from a princess living in the ornate palaces of Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) and St. Petersburg, to house arrest with her family in Siberia. (Chapter book)

Vivid novel of the last days of the Romanovs in Siberia, an edge-of-your-seat story of a teenage boy who was there, the night the czar's family was executed. Seamlessly interweaves historical fact and fiction into a fascinating read for teenagers. (Chapter book)

Alexei, the future tsar, escapes Russia in 1916, time traveling to New York in the 21st century. Learning the monarchy will be overthrown, Alexei and his future cousin Varda return to the past to try to save his royal family. An exciting, original adventure. (Chapter book)

Growing up in a small Russian town, while others thought it dull, Marc Chagall saw wonder and color. He drew his uncle playing a fiddle on the roof, dogs and cats dancing, a boy flying, and he discovered what it means to be an artist. (Easy reader)

Excellent overview of Russia – multiethnic peoples, rule of the tsars, peasants and life at court, revolution and Soviet Russia, arts and crafts, writers and scientists, national pastimes and festivals. Rich, detailed illustrations. (Picture book)

Delightful mixed bag of stuff about Russia – tasty caviar is salted fish eggs, chess is always popular (even 1,800 years ago), the Russians launched the first space station in 1971, the oldest skis in the world come from Russia. (Picture book)