Russia Children’s Books

“Folklore is important for understanding people’s cultural narratives – story lines that describe something unique to the culture’s history and its people. They help to define a cultural identity and, in subtle ways, shape future choices…In Russian fairy tales, the main character eventually prevails. He doesn’t win through his own virtues, though, but through the intervention of a magical being – a fish, a frog, a horse – that does all the hard work while the main character claims credit.”

− Mia M. Bloom & Sophia Moskalenko

Russian folklore is, indeed, entrenched in the Russian people, and these stories and those set in Russia have always held a special place in my heart. I have fond memories of my grandfather reading me Russian fairytales full of evil Baba Yaga, the Snow Girl, Father Frost and the Fool, and family outings to watch Chekov’s plays on the stage in London. My teen years were immersed in Tolstoy, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Pushkin and so many other greats of literature. And then came the stories of Russian refugees and books on history and politics, and still today there is always a Russia related book on my bedside table.

There is a rich tradition of story telling in Russia and a reverence for Russian authors, so whether you are looking for something to engage children with today’s Russia, or its history and politics that is arguably shaped by Russian folklore, have a browse below for some ideas that we have enjoyed in our home.