BOOK NOTES
Book of Ukrainian tales is published in English
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Ukraine, the second largest country in Europe, is home to more than 50 million people, yet most Americans know little about its history and culture. As a Soviet state, it remained obscure for most of this century only to re-emerge as a nation in 1991. A recently released book, "The Magic Egg and Other Tales from Ukraine," offers a fascinating glimpse into the long history, rich folk literature and deep cultural roots of a forgotten country. Re-tellings in English of traditional Ukrainian folk tales are supplemented with an overview of Ukraine's history, an introduction to Ukrainian folk literature, photographs and other background information.
The lively re-tellings by Barbara J. Suwyn of 33 tales - animal tales, how-and-why stories, moral stories, legends and fairy tales - are for readers of many ages.
Some of the stories, such as "The Turnip" and "The Mitten" are well-known throughout the West, although often cited as Russian. Others, such as "The Golden Slipper" (the Ukrainian version of "Cinderella"), are variations on stories told around the world. Still others (e.g., "The Stranger," "The Christmas Spiders") will be new to most readers.
The volume contains an introduction by Natalie O. Kononenko, who also edited the book.
As part of the World Folklore series, this work is designed to introduce readers to Ukraine, as well as to document and preserve its folk tales. Illustrated with line drawings based on folk motifs and photographs of the landscape, architecture and folk arts, the book offers readers a sampling of Ukraine's cultural legacy. A bibliography leads to further resources, and a glossary and pronunciation guide help with Ukrainian terms.
The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the recent influx of immigrants from that area has renewed interest in Ukraine. This book addresses that interest. Educators can use the stories for read-a-loud exercises and students will find a rich resource for reports. A valuable resource for school and public libraries, this book will also be of interest to storytellers and educators, especially those working areas of folklore and Slavic studies. The collection contains stories appropriate for young children as well as young adolescents.
Ms. Suwyn, a professional copywriter and published poet, has taught classes in creative writing and journal-keeping in her home state of Colorado. Ms. Kononenko is associate professor at the University of Virginia, where she teaches folklore on the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The 222-page book is available for $29.95 from: Libraries Unlimited, P.O. Box 6633, Englewood, CO 80155-6633; telephone, (303) 770-1220; fax, (303) 220-8843; website, http://www.lu.com.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 11, 1998, No. 41, Vol. LXVI
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