Russian Folk Tales
Explore our collection of 18 Russian folk tales — stories from the vast heartland of Slavic storytelling tradition. Russian folklore draws its power from the endless birch forests, bitter winters, and indomitable spirit of the Russian people.
These tales feature iconic characters from Russian tradition: the fearsome witch Baba Yaga, the magical Firebird, brave Prince Ivan, beautiful Vasilisa the Wise, and the frost king Morozko. Russian folk tales are known for their dramatic plots, supernatural elements, and deeply satisfying endings where virtue triumphs over evil.
Our retellings bring these classic Slavic fairy tales and Russian folklore to life for modern readers, complete with vivid illustrations. Ideal for children, world literature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in European folk traditions.
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Firebird, the Horse of Power, and Princess Vasilisa
The Firebird, the Horse of Power, and Princess Vasilisa: In the days when the Russian steppes stretched endless as the sea, there lived a poor archer named
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Sadko the Rich Merchant: Echoes from the Deep
Sadko the Rich Merchant: Echoes from the Deep: In the ancient city of Novgorod, where the Volkhov River flowed like a ribbon of silver through the land, there
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Morozko: The Frost King’s Test
Morozko: The Frost King's Test: Morozko: The Frost King’s Test In a remote village nestled among white birch forests, there lived a widower with two daughters.
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Frog Princess: A Tale of Love and Redemption
The Frog Princess: A Tale of Love and Redemption: In the days when magic still dwelt in the forests of ancient Russia, there lived a noble archer named Ivan
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Snow Maiden (Snegurochka)
The Snow Maiden (Snegurochka): In a remote village at the edge of the great Russian forests, where winter lasted longer than summer and snow lay thick upon the
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Vasilisa the Beautiful
Vasilisa the Beautiful: There once lived a merchant of great wealth and standing who had a daughter of such exceptional beauty that men traveled from distant
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Koschei the Deathless
Koschei the Deathless: In the times before time itself was properly counted, when magic was as common as earth and water, there arose a sorcerer of such
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa
The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa: In the days when the world was young and magic flowed through forests like rivers of starlight, there lived a great Tsar
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Three Kingdoms: Gold, Silver, and Copper
The Three Kingdoms: Gold, Silver, and Copper: Long ago, when the earth was still young and caves held wonders beyond counting, there lived a noble prince named
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Father Frost
Father Frost: [Illustration] In a far-away country, somewhere in Russia, there lived a stepmother who had a stepdaughter and also a daughter of her own.
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Golden Mountain
The Golden Mountain: [Illustration] Once upon a time a merchant’s son had too much fun spending money, and the day came when he saw himself ruined; he had
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Baba Yaga
A canonical Russian wonder-tale from Afanasyev (tales 102-103, Narodnye russkie skazki, 1855-63; English re-telling Blumenthal 1903). Two orphan twins, sent into the forest by a wicked stepmother, find Baba Yaga the witch in her hut on chicken legs. They are saved by the small kindnesses they have given to mice, a hungry cat, forest birds, a rusty gate and a wounded birch tree; the cats gift of a towel and a comb becomes a river and a dark forest behind them in the magic flight. ATU 480 fused with ATU 313H*. With scholarly attribution to Propp, Johns, Hubbs and Forrester.