The Snow Maiden: A Slavic Tale After Ostrovsky's Play (Snegurochka)

Artist, poet, and teacher Elena Abdulaeva adapts Alexander Ostrovsky's play 'The Snow Maiden' for primary school students. Written 150 years ago in complex verse, the vast original text becomes an accessible and colorful book in Elena Abdulaeva's adaptation and illustrations, while preserving the remarkable rhythm of Ostrovsky's poetry and revealing the ancient Slavic roots of his text to children. Based on folklore research by Alexander Ostrovsky's contemporaries, the play 'The Snow Maiden' is a window into the world of ancient Slavic beliefs. The girl Snegurochka, daughter of Spring and Frost, comes to live in a human settlement. Born of two principles—the winter cold and the spring warmth—she brings confusion to the measured pace of life of the Berendeys. She is drawn to people, but the cold in her heart makes it impossible to love anyone. What will happen if the fire of love ignites in the heart of the young Snegurochka?