While living in Russia, Tolstoy operated a tiny school for the peasant children, where they could learn to read, write, and draw. He found that there were a lack of folktales and fables to read to the children so he created his own, which are now brought together in this beautifully illustrated collection. From "The Lion and the Puppy," a story about friendship, to "The King of the Shirt," a parable about obtaining happiness, to "Escape of the Dancing Bear," about a bear who is trained to be captured, these stories are sure to captivate and delight children of all ages. Similar in scope to Aesop's fables, children will be able to take away important lessons, as well as laugh at silly mishaps and characters, from this timeless collection. Ages 9-12.

 

There are 76 pages in this book. It is an anthology. This book was published 2012 by Skyhorse Publishing .

James Riordan has written many books for children, including many translations of Russian tales. His Peter and the Wolf is published in cloth and paperback by Oxford. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian writer considered by many to be one of the greatest authors of the nineteenth century. James Riordan has travelled the world collecting folktales and has published over thirty volumes of tales from different countries. He is Emeritus Professor at the University of Surry and Visiting Professor at the University of Worcester, as well as holding honorary degrees from Birmingham, London, Moscow, and Grenoble. He regularly reviews children's books for The Times. He has also written ten novels for young people. He resides in London. Claus Sievert was a full-time illustrator and artist in Grass Valley, California.