Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco

    
     The traditional folktale of Baba Yaga recounts the frightful, monstrous and evil creature of the woods, Baba Yaga. In Patricia Pollaco’s version, she turns the tale into a touching and moral story that displays the true wishes and dreams of the Baba Yaga and describes how perceptions can so easily be deceived.
    I wanted to read this book because I had seen the name “Baba Yaga” so much in my shelving duties while working at the Curriculum Materials Centre. I became curious to find out who/what this Baba Yaga actually was. So when looking for books in the traditional literature genre, I decided now would be a great time to find out.
    After researching the traditional tale, I learned that Baba Yaga was an evil figure in Russian folklore, a witch and gruesome creature that was responsible for anything between kidnapping children to threatening to eat them. She is usually portrayed as a witch who lives in the woods in a cabin standing on chicken legs and flies through the air committing evil acts. In Pollaco’s story, this evil beast is reversed and her wishful and lonely characteristics are displayed in broad daylight. I loved  reading about this “evil creature” before reading Pollaco’s story; it made me appreciate the moral of the story even more which is: “Those who judge one another on what they hear or see, and not what they know of them in their hearts, are fools indeed!”
    The style of writing effectively creates a sense of connection to Baba Yaga, she is introduced in a manner that causes the reader to feel pity and sympathy for this misunderstood creature. I felt for her as I read that she longed to be a babushka but knew that it would never be. As I followed her journey, I felt happy for her as she began to find her place in the village. It was definitely Pollaco’s writing style that caused me to feel such connection to Baba Yaga, she described the events in such magical and light language that I was easily carried away.
    Not only is the story written beautifully, but the illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful as well. I have read a number of Patricia Pollaco’s books and the same bright, airy illustrations accompany the story and always add another element of magic. She uses soft, light lines to create images which give a sense of imagination to the story. The images tend to overlap and the colours mix to create detail in ever corner of the page. It is yet another book that needs multiple viewings in order to take in all of it’s artwork. On many of the pages there are small fairy-like creatures that accompany Baba Yaga on her journey in the village. The presence of these fairies indicate that her charisma is present when she is experiencing what she has longed for- to share her life with a grandchild. When I see the fairies, I am reminded of Baba Yaga’s magical nature.
    In total, the moral, the writing and the illustrations add up to create a beautiful, touching story that I enjoyed reading in every respect. I feel that the importance of  the moral is one that resonates in all walks of life. One needs to look beyond hear-say and legend in order to see the truth in everyone. I continue to learn that the simplistic form of a children’s picture book can have such a large impact on the reader. Throughout the story I felt a range of emotions including sad, sympathetic, hopeful, happy, excited and proud for Babushka Baba Yaga. I think that alone, stands for a great piece of literature.



Patricia Pollaco's website is full of great activities and information that will engage students in reading and comprehending all of her wonderful stories. Here is a link to some activities you can complete using Babushka Baba Yaga