Book Review by Aarene Storms: Baba Yaga's Assistant

Baba Yaga's Assistant
by Marika McCoola

illustrated by Emily Carroll

Masha knows all kinds of stuff about Baba Yaga:

*  She lives in a house that walks around on chicken legs.

*  She flies around at night in a mortar and pestle.

and most of all

*  She eats naughty children (or turns them into goldfish).

But the stories also say that a girl who works hard to complete all the chores she assigns will earn a fine (and probably magical) reward.

So when Masha's dad brings home a new wife and stepdaughter, Masha doesn't hesitate: she heads for the woods, and seeks out the walking house. Baba Yaga doesn't hand out easy tasks. Masha needs all of her courage and ingenuity to avoid being eaten. And at the end of the story...

Well.

You didn't really expect me to tell you how it ends, did you?

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true.  --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS