Anna and the seven swans

by Maida Silverman

When her little brother is taken away by the seven swans belonging to the terrible witch, Baba Yaga, Anna searches for him in the great dark forest.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Russian fairy tale with beautiful illustrations. The witch was quite oddly portrayed, but then, children need to be certain who is good and bad in a story so they aren’t confused.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Anna and the Seven Swans by Maida Silverman and illustrated by David Small, a Russian folktale about keeping a close eye on baby brothers, so Baba Yaga’s seven swans do not get them. The watercolor art is outlined boldly in black and the children are captured beautifully. Baba Yaga is depicted more hag-like than I have seen her in other more recent children’s folktales: she is completely evil in this story and it shows in the art work.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colorful retelling of a Baba Yaga tale, in which seven swans do evil Baba Yaga's bidding. An example of swans as symbols