Russia

In this 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), and the family in 1941 during the siege of Leningrad (Burying the Sun). An excellent series that brings to life a century of change in Russia. (Chapter books)

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)

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)

Reign of terror of Ivan the Terrible, empire builder. At 16 Ivan was crowned "Tsar of all the Russias," then went on to ruthlessly kill his enemies, enslave the serfs, and destroy whole cities. Good for older kids. (Chapter 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)

Based on true events, a novel of Grand Duchess Anastasia, helping out in Russian hospitals during World War I, captive in the family palace after her father abdicates as czar, and then sent to Siberia. In this turbulent time, was there a young solider, Sasha, whom she grew to love? Good for older kids. (Chaper 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)

Find out about the Russian composer who wrote the music for The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, and used real cannons and church bells in his famous 1812 Overture – Peter Tchaikovsky. (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)

Take a trip around Russia – from the steppes to frozen tundra, cities, family life, holidays, food, sports, ballet and music. (Picture book)