Koshka's Tales: Stories from Russia

This beautifully rewritten story of intertwining folk tales is one of the best gifts my kids ever received. The stories are spellbinding individually, but told in the context of a story-within-a-story, they become mesmirizing. I once read one of the stories to my son's 3rd grade class and all the kids wanted me to come back to read more of the stories and to find out what happens to the prince and his mother. This is a must-have for any library.

I loved this book, as did my 6- and 10-year-olds. It is based on folktales of Russia, but old folktales can be harsh and crude for our modern sensibilities. Attempts to rewrite their plots can sound corny and "politically correct". Mayhew's rewriting avoids all these pitfalls. It is a work of art in its own right, sounding to our ears more authentic than the originals. The details he adds, the lyrical prose, just the right amount of repetition - all add up to a story that we love to read and children love to hear.