Folk Tales from the Russian

"Dear children," says the stepmother to her stepson and daughter. A wicked thought has been growing like a poisonous plant within her. "The two of you must go to my grandmother who lives in the forest, and do everything she wants you to . . . and she will give you sweet things to eat, and you will be happy!"

In the forest the obedient children find the hut -- and what a curious one it is! It stands on tiny hen's feet, and at the top is a rooster's head. With their tiny voices they call out:

"Izboushka, Izboushka! Turn thy back to the forest and thy front to us!"

The hut does as they command. The two orphans look inside and see the witch resting there -- her head near the threshold, one foot in one corner, the other foot in another corner, and her knees quite close to the ridge pole.

"Fou, Fou, Fou!" exclaims Baba Yaga, rousing herself. "I feel the Russian spirit!"

"Baba Yaga" is but one of the tales of impossible quests, magical animals and witches to be found in Folk Tales from the Russian. This collection also includes "The Tsarevna Frog," "Seven Simeons," "The Language of the Birds," "Ivanoushka the Simpleton," "Woe Bogotir," "Baba Yaga," "Dimian the Peasant," "The Golden Mountain," and "Father Frost."