The Flying Witch

This story is Jane Yolen's take on the classic Baba Yaga tale, slightly updated, and with a twist at the end. It focuses on the witch flying about in her mortar and pestle, dreaming of eating a nice plump child rather than watery soup each day. When a little girl falls off of her father's turnip truck on their way to market, the witch thinks it is her lucky day. But, the girl and her father end up convincing her that turnips are delicious, and they befriend her by bringing her produce. The illustrations are beautifully intricate, and include border frames around the text that stand upon chicken legs, just like Baba Yaga's hut. However, I found the ending rather unsatisfying, and the attempt at humor fell a bit flat. Not my first choice show more for a Baba Yaga story. show less

"The Flying Witch" is about Baba Yaga, a Russian witch, who just loves to eat plump children. A little girl gets lost and in the possession of Baba Yaga, but out smarts her. This story closely follows the Russian Baba Yaga legend, but does it in a entertaining way for children to relate, and a happy ending. I really loved this version of Baba Yaga. I think sometimes this legend can be portrayed as scary to children but this version makes it sweet with a happy ending.

Baba Yaga, the titular witch, is a traditional character in Russian folklore who I've always found fascinating. Although she is usually out to capture and/or eat the hero, she's an atypical villain. If the hero can manage to outwit her, she will often let him go or even be inclined to help. In this story, Baba Yaga is outwitted by the combined effort of the young protagonist and her father. As I noted with Abarat, success requires both using one's own intelligence and cooperating with others; this is a theme that can be easily incorporated into lessons or programming.

Folklore is an interesting read for me. I love the messages that they secretly send the reader as he or she reads the tale throughout the book. "The Flying Witch" is a great tale that conveys the message of things not always being as they appear. For example, the witch was close minded to what she ate. She only thought that plump children could fill her up until the little girl she took cooked her turnip soup. The witch figured out that there are other things that are easier to get a hold of that taste just as good (or even better) than her plump children. Another message I got out of this tale was sometimes it takes someone else to open up another person's eyes to change their ways or their mind about things. For example, when the show more father expected the worst as he saw the smoke rising from the witch's house, he barged into her cabin thinking the witch was going to eat his daughter. After he burst in, he found the little girl feeding the witch turnip soup. The father had to see this for himself. He realized that the witch (after the young girl had convinced her of this of course) meant no harm to the little girl, and now they both go to the witch's cabin at the end of the story quite frequently to eat turnip soup with the witch. Share with your children this tale, so they can understand the value of being open minded and not having "tunnel vision!" Help them understand that it is ok to learn from others through experiences that involve trial and error. show less

The Flying Witch is a story about Baba Yaga and her terrible ways. Baba Yaga is a witch known in Russian folklore for devouring children. Jane Yolen created an original story based on Baba Yaga and puts her up against a strong girl named Jane. This is a story about Baba Yaga trying to eat Jane, but she puts up a fight. I found this story interesting because it allowed me to learn about a witch I had never heard of. I think this would be an interesting book to read during Halloween time and educate children about other cultures folktales.

A hungry witch who eats children happens upon a little girl lost. However, the little girl is resourcefully out smarts the witch and gets away. This would be good book to read around Halloween. Also a good lesson on staying calm and using your noggin to get out of sticky situations.

In the beginning the reader sees this ugly witch on the cover. Then we learn this witch like to eat little kids. One day this little girl falls off her dad's turnip truck. She makes nice with the witch, and her dad saves her before she could be eaten by this witch. The theme was unclear again. but if i had to guess I would say that being clever can help you out are than you thought.