Apart from an unfortunate penchant for devouring horses, the Wolf is clearly the hero of the story. I'm interested in reading other versions of this tale, though: is Prince Ivan always such a dolt? ( )

Though at first glance, this appears to be a children’s picture book, the strange story and dark, elegant paintings are almost better suited to an adult’s coffee table book than a book for kids. A retelling of a Russian folk tale, the story follows a young prince who discovers that a magical firebird has been eating the king’s golden apples and sets out to find the firebird and bring it home. On the way, he meets a wolf who helps him with a series of tasks, including saving a princess with whom the prince falls in love. The prince and princess marry, and the prince releases the captured firebird. The fairytale-like nature and high fantasy setting of the story would appeal to young children, but they may find the strange narrative progression confusing. The paintings that accompany the text are dark and impressionistic interpretations of the story’s scenes, though children would enjoy the shiny accents of gold leaf. This book could function as a simplified primer of the Firebird story for parents who wish to introduce their children to the Firebird ballet, but those parents would appreciate the book more than the children would. The book’s striking artwork and famous story may appeal to adults, but their significance may be lost on children. Additional Purchase. Grades 3-5 ( )

This story was fun to read in the sense that it was so different from the other books I have read so far. The folktale storyline made it a fun read, but I didn't connect with the images. ( )

Fairy tale buffs will enjoy the classic text in this retelling of a Russian folktale and happily wander with Ivan and Grey Wolf as they go in search of the firebird and groan with Grey Wolf as Ivan proves himself incapable of following instructions. Dark and static, the fuzzy acrylic illustrations often seem incongruous with the constant movement of the plot, and only rarely have anything to hold a child’s attention. Recommended for classic fairy tale buffs. Ages 7-9. ( )