"This reader beckons students of Russian, together with their teachers, into the magical world of Russian folktales. With an excellent Introduction, a clear structure, a thorough Glossary, and a variety of exercises that fulfill various learning tasks—from reinforcement of grammatical and structural knowledge, to broadening students' lexical base and deepening their knowledge of Russian culture, to the development of narration and description skills vital to the achievement of ACTFL advanced-level proficiency, to cognitive thinking and analytical skills—this reader makes what can be a daunting genre accessible to intermediate-level students and provides enormous help to their instructors, from the secondary and to the university level and beyond. It could be used independently, as the basis for a unit or course on Russian folktales, or as a supplement to other texts and readings. Finally, it encourages creativity in a variety of forms. Let the adventures begin!" --Karen Evans-Romaine, University of Wisconsin--Madison