Traditional Literature Book Review #2

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yolen, Jane. 2003. THE FLYING WITCH. Ill. by Vladimir Vagin. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060285370

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Flying Witch, Baba Yaga, is a female witch that lives in a chicken-footed house and flies a mortar and pestle. In the story, Baba Yaga picks up a feisty little girl that she hopes to eat. Children will enjoy the surprising ending of this book that is beautifully illustrated by the Soviet National Gold Award winner, Vladimir Vagin.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Based on the traditional Russian folktales about Baba Yaga, THE FLYING WITCH is an original story created by award-winning author Jane Yolen. On the last page, Yolen includes a source note “About Baba Yaga”, in which she describes where the stories of Baba Yaga came from and how she is usually portrayed in Russian oral tales.

Yolen’s story is full of cadence, or a rhythmic flow in prose. We see repeated patterns of descriptive sounding words. For example, the reader can hear the witch flying “Whirrr. Whirr. Clunkety-clank,” the sound of the turnip truck “Clangety-clang,” and the turnips being dropped into the pot, “Plip-plop. Plip-plop.” These phrases repeat the consonant “c” sound. We also see the repetition of the constant “r”: “They made a great racket. A rickety-racket.” Finally, Yolen also includes a rhyme that must be repeated in order to gain access to the witch’s house:
“Turn, little hut, turn.
Stand with your back to the old oak tree.
Stand with your front door open to me.”

The story has a simple, direct plot. The conflict is that Baba Yaga is going to eat the little girl, unless the girl can find a way to save herself. The reader can learn many things from the little girl. She is not stereotypically portrayed, but is smart, rational, and feisty. For example, when she fell off the truck, she did not sit there and cry like some people would: “Well, I have two good feet and a fine sense of direction. I will go through the forest on my own.” She also “knew better than to talk to strangers.”

The little girl shows that people are capable of doing things on their own, and do not have to be dependent on others to help them: “But I have two good feet, a fine sense of direction, two strong arms, and a clear mind. I will get away on my own.” She outwits Baba Yaga and gets her to go to the market, where the little girl’s father is selling turnips. The father follows Baba Yaga to her house to save the little girl, but she saves herself, by making Baba turnip stew.

The illustrator, Vladimir Vagin, uses solid, clear illustrations to interpret the text. They help create a light mood, instead of a dark and scary mood. All of the pages, except for two double spreads, are arranged with text surrounded by a boarder and the facing page with a full size illustration. Vagin creates a fun, imaginative boarder by using the house’s chicken legs. Each boarder includes little details, such as different bugs and animals. Vagin also humorously portrays Baba Yaga with a long beak-like steel nose.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal
“Yolen's vivid writing reflects the flavor of the original tales and comes alive with repetition of key phrases throughout the text. The author wisely injects humor to lighten up her version of the witch who scours the forest while seeking children to eat and thus provides a refreshingly original twist to the tale.”

Chicago Tribune
"The clever little girl...is timeless, and it's a pleasure to see her clever capabilities at the heart of the story."

Publishers Weekly
“Meticulously drafted paintings depict old Russia's onion domes, birch forests, and steely gray skies. Traditional motifs and stylized forms infuse the illustrations with a strong folk flavor, as they also incorporate antique tools and peasant costumes. Baba Yaga's black fingernails and scythe-shaped iron nose mark her as a villainess.”

Booklist
“Baba Yaga a vegetarian?...Compared with some of the original tales, this is "thin soup," with an inconsistent, somewhat strained plot. But there are some nice storytelling flourishes and some well-detailed artwork, with the feel of old Russia, perfectly suits the story. Many libraries will welcome this nonviolent New Age Baba Yaga.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*The story is good for a discussion on the perception of girls in society and how both boys and girls can do anything they put their minds to.

*Activities with this book:
-Find and compare this book with other funny, spooky stories:
SHREK! by William Steig (Farrar, 1993).
-To help the children learn more about Russian folktales, read the books that were used as sources for this story:
RUSSIAN FOLKTALES by W. R. S. Ralston
RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES (PANTHEON FAIRY TALE AND FOLKLORE LIBRARY) by Aleksandr Afanasev
-When reading the story aloud, stop and let the children fill in the descriptive sounds: “Whirrr. Whirr. Clunkety-clank,” “Clangety-clang,” and “Plip-plop. Plip-plop.” You can also have the children memorize and cite the rhyme to get into the witch’s house.

Happy Reading!
Lonnie