The Storm Wife

Jean Free, formerly an elementary-school teacher-librarian, is currently
a library consultant in Ontario.

Bob Barton’s retelling of a Siberian folk tale from the Native Nenets
culture is aimed at primary- and junior-grade children. Kotura the wind
giant is angry and causes a great storm that imperils the lives of the
tundra inhabitants. When the eldest daughter climbs to Kotura’s
dwelling on the mountain top, she fails to follow her father’s
instructions. Then Second Daughter is sent, with similar results.
Finally, Younger Daughter succeeds through her thoughtful deed of making
the wind god a warm coat. Then Kotura stills the storm, and the youngest
daughter becomes his bride.

Part of Quarry Press’s Classic Folktale series, The Storm Wife is one
of the few early Russian stories available for young Canadian children.
The beautiful blue, mauve, and brown illustrations by Moscow artist
Georgi Yudin enhance the mood and spirit of this land of northern lights
and arctic blizzards. Interesting symbols add detail to the margins of
Yudin’s paintings, which suggest swirling, stormlike motions. This
book would be an interesting addition to a classroom unit on the Arctic
tundra, or reference for a folklore study. Recommended.