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Always a treasure hunt, I found The Little Humpbacked Horse at our local library book sale. I was immediately drawn in by its jewel-toned illustrations and familiar echo of Russian folklore. I’m often on the lookout for stories like this: old-fashioned-style fairy or folk tales. I am particularly fond of Eastern European or Russian tales. A quick skim convinced me it was worth bringing home.
While I didn’t know Elizabeth Winthrop, who adapted the tale, or the illustrator Alexander Koshkin, I’m glad to have made their acquaintance through this book. Winthrop’s retelling is lively and well-paced, and Koshkin’s art is traditional, vivid and colorful, and full of movement and intrigue. I lingered over the pages more than once, admiring the color and detail.
The story itself is a delight. Ivan, the youngest of three brothers, is overlooked and undervalued—but of course, it’s his honesty and courage that carry the tale forward. When he spares a magical white mare, she rewards him with two regal stallions and a small, long-eared, hunchbacked pony. That unassuming creature turns out to be Ivan’s most faithful guide and wisest friend. The relationship between them is right out of the best fairy tales and it moves the story forward in unexpected ways.
I’d recommend this one for families with elementary-aged children, especially those who enjoy classic fairy tales with a bit of moral complexity and rich artwork to linger over. Parents may wish to know that the story ends with Ivan cleverly persuading the wicked tsar to jump into a cauldron of boiling milk—an old folktale device, but worth noting for sensitive readers.
A beautiful example of traditional storytelling, artfully retold.