I did not appreciate this version of this old tale. Although Katya was clever and able to outsmart the men, the story is nonsensical, absurd, and just a disappointment. The only thing that I liked about the story was the illustrations. I don't know much about Russian culture, and maybe I need to familiarize myself with more books like this. ( )

A clever child, Katya, saves her father and also wins him a foal and money from the Tsar. She also becomes the Tsar's wife when she grows up, because she is as clever as he is. As Hoffman states in the author's note, she liked this story because the main characters' status, gender, and age flip. The young girl who is poor, outsmarts her rich uncle and can keep up with the Tsar's wit. Like the author, I enjoy this change-up in protagonist and in typical roles. ( )

Good