Baboushka and the Three Kings

by Ruth Robbins

Hardcover, 1960

Status

Available

Genres

Children's Books

Publication

Houghton Mifflin (1960), Hardcover

Description

An old woman who was too busy to travel with the Wise Men to find the Child now searches endlessly for Him each Christmas season.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Sarah21123

This book is about a woman who was approached by three kings looking for a new born child. She refuses, but after time changes her mind. The story tells of her yearly search for the three kings. This book is great on expressing self concept and relationships.

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LibraryThing member Phill242

Caldecott winner, 1961
Baboushka helps aid the Three Kings in search of the Child born at Christmas. Accompany song in the back.

LibraryThing member Lourraine

The story is about Baboushka who is basically like a Santa Clause of Russia. She declines the offer the three kings gave to her to search for the Child. After she finished her work for the day she regrets of not going and goes and starts looking for the child. It's a great story and the

illustrations I would say is very interesting and different.

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LibraryThing member kanders2

Baboushka is at home one stormy winter night doing her nightly chores when she hears a knock at the door. Three kingly men stand before her, and implore her to go on a search for a legendary child with them and their party. Promising to join them when her cleaning is done, she returns to her work.

Never finding the kings or child in question, Baboushka travels from town to town every winter, bestowing gifts upon children as she continues her search.

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LibraryThing member jmcneal

I enjoyed this story. I didn't think it would have a story so closely tied to Christian mythology, but I also don't know a whole lot about world religions. The illustration was great, and was a joy to look at. I really enjoyed the end of the book because it included a little song about the story.

LibraryThing member JackieL1

My personal reaction to this book was that it only skimmed the surface of it's potential. The book was wordy with little meaning behind the words. This was one of my least favorite stories because the events that took place occurred with little enthusiasm and almost were just over looked. When the

three kings arrived at the Baboushkas' house with the whole army, they did little to convince her to come with them to find the Child. This made me frustrated because if the three kings were a bit more convincing Babouska would have gone with them. It was as if the three kings were not trying enough to get her to come. Overall I thought the story was bland and just went through the motion of telling a story, little excitement.

The theme of this story is to be open to ideas and invitations. Since the Baboushka didn't go with the three kings when they asked she was left to search for the child alone. Overall the message to readers is to keep your ears open to oppurtunities so that you do not miss out on something that you may not be able to do again. For example the Baboushka lost the opportunity to go with the three kings to look for the child.

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LibraryThing member dukefan86

This story is a combination of the Three Kings and Santa. I wonder why Babousha thought housework was more exciting than going with the kings to find the Child! I remember reading this to one of my 2nd grade classes, and they liked saying the name Baboushka.

LibraryThing member lnfranklin

very good bookRussian story based on the story of Jesus's birth. The three kings set out to find baby Jesus by following a bright star. This story could be used in the classroom in relation to the three kings and how Baboushka would give out gifts instead of santa claus.

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

A Christmas folktale from Russia, Baboushka and the Three Kings tells the story of an old woman who, when the Three Kings stop at her humble cottage on their way to visit the Christ child, chooses not to accompany them on their journey. Regretting this decision almost instantly, Baboushka sets out

to follow them the next day, only to find that she cannot overtake them, nor find the child...

I understand that Baboushka is something of a Santa Claus figure in traditional Russian culture, bringing holiday gifts for the children. For my part, I have always found this story of a woman's eternal search for the Christ child immensely poignant, and have read it as an allegory of the Christian experience. I wish I could say that I enjoyed Nicolas Sidjakov's illustrations - which were awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1961 - as much as the narrative, but I'm afraid that this particular style of four-color artwork, so popular in the 1960s, does not appeal to me. For those who feel the same, I recommend taking a look at Arthur Scholey's retelling of the same tale (Baboushka A Christmas Folktale from Russia), with illustrations by Helen Cann.

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LibraryThing member savannah.julian

This book tells the story of an old woman who declined the offer from the three kings to go search for a new born child. Once they left, she realized that if three important kings were looking for a child, that child must be very special, so she sets out the next day in search of the kings but

could never find them. Now it is said that every year, at the season of the birth of the child, Baboushka renews her search.

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LibraryThing member bp0128bd

Caldecott winner, 1961
Baboushka helps aid the Three Kings in search of the Child born at Christmas. Accompany song in the back.

LibraryThing member auntieknickers

I have friends who prefer other versions of this tale, since this one has a bittersweet ending. The tale is similar to the Italian La Befana; in both, an old woman is invited along with the Three Kings to visit the baby Jesus, but earthly cares delay her and she continues searching for the Child to

this day, leaving presents for each child she finds. I love the folkloric illustrations by Nicolas Sidjakov.

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LibraryThing member MaryMK

Summary:

Adapted from a Russian folk tale about an old man who refused to join the Three Kings when they asked her to accompany them as they followed the bright star to find the new born babe. Baboushka is a poor woman of humble means, and offers the Three Kings her warm home as a place to rest for

the night. They do not want to wait to find the babe, and she does not want to travel in the cold and snowy night. After they have gone, she changes her mind and in the morning she decides to go in search of the Three Kings and the new born babe. She searches and searches, but never finds the Three Kings or the new babe. Every year the children look for a visit from Baboushka as she continues her search for the Three Kings and the new born babe, bringing with her a humble sack of gifts.

Personal Reaction:

Quickly I associated this story with the story from the Bible of the Three Kings who followed the bright star in search of baby Jesus. This humble, simple story had a very sad tone I felt as Baboushka tried so diligently to find the Three Kings and the new babe they were looking for - but was never able to find. The second association for me, was the idea that children would eagerly anticipate a visit from Baboushka and her sack of humble gifts much like children in the United States wait on Christmas night for a visit from Santa Claus and his sack of Christmas presents. I enjoyed the simplicity of this book, and the tender message of the humble Baboushka.

Classroom Extension Ideas:

1. Using this story as a writing prompt, students could write and then draw what items they believe Baboushka is bringing in her sack for the new born babe.

2. This story is a good representation of an adapted story, and could be used in conjunction with other adapted stories to read for a compare and contrast writing prompt. How are the stories the same? How are the stories different?

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LibraryThing member jn925584

In Baboushka and the Three Kings, a meager, elderly woman is visited by the three kings searching for the Christ child. They invite her to journey with them and she refuses. Realizing that she has passed up a great opportunity, the next morning she gathers a few gifts and sets out to follow the

kings in pursuit of the child. She was unsuccessful in finding the entourage. Legend states that each year on the anniversary of their visit, Baboushka sets out on a journey to find the child, leaving gifts for the children in each village she visits.

Personal Reflection: This story reminds me of a Russian rendition of Saint Nicholas as the Baboushka leaves gifts for the children in honor of the Christ child. It is a good reminder to seize opportunities as they arise. It also reinforces the idea that one should never give up on what they believe is the right thing to do.

Extension Ideas:
1. Read this book during the Christmas season and use it and other stories to discuss Christmas traditions across the world and how they differ from our own traditions.
2. Have children explain what they think her journey was like, What do they think it would be like to travel alone? What was the weather like? How did she feel that she didn't go with the Kings? Why did she leave gifts for the children?

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LibraryThing member mferaci

Baboushka and the Three Kings tells the story of the three wise men searching for baby Jesus. The men lose their way and stop at Baboushka's house to ask for directions. They ask if she would like to join them on their journey, but she declines to finish her housework. After she is finished, she

wanders out to find the men. At the same time each year following Baboushka walks throughout the town and leaves small gifts for the children. I enjoyed this story because it was a different variation of the typical three wise men story. I think this would be great to read to children around Christmas to show children the various Christmas traditions around the world.

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LibraryThing member allisonpollack

Summary: This story follows a Russian woman who is asked to accompany three kings to the birth of Jesus. This is a Christmas story but also an origin story.

Personal connection: I love Christmas even though I do not celebrate it and enjoy hearing about all the different customs and stories from

different nationalities.

Class use: Have each student discuss a story about Christmas, Hannukah or Ramadan from each of their cultures.

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LibraryThing member brynnschaal

I have never read a Russian folktale, so I enjoyed seeking out cultural connections in this story. The illustrations in this book stand out, because they consist of only the primary colors, black, and white. The pictures of buildings and characters look Russian, stylistically. This would be a fun

story to use before Christmas time, because students would be able to compare Baboushka to Santa Claus. Plus, great critical thinking and discussions could take place around the life lesson that stood out to me which was "no regrets."

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LibraryThing member gypsysmom

This is a lovely re-telling of a Russian folk tale about an old woman who is invited by the three kings on their way to find the baby Jesus to accompany them. But Baboushka hasn't finished her chores and doesn't want to go out on a cold night so the kings go on without her. Later Baboushka decides

to find the baby and take it a few small gifts but she cannot find the path the kings made and she cannot find the baby. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1960 when it was first published as "the most distinguished American picture book for children".

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LibraryThing member BookConcierge

This simple little picture book is the retelling of a traditional Russian folk tale about an old woman who is visited by the Three Kings as they follow the star in search of the Child. They ask her to accompany them, but she declines, then thinks better of it, but cannot find their trail. Each year

she renews her search, and she leaves little gifts for the children she encounters on her way.

Nicolas Sidjakov’s illustrations earned the Caldecott Medal. They remind me of stained glass windows, with strong lines and bright colors.

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LibraryThing member thornton37814

Baboushka, an old woman, is too busy with her household chores to go with the three kings in search of the child. She regrets and unsuccessfully tries to follow them. She continues to try to find the child each year, leaving gifts for children along her journey. The book won the Caldecott medal

when it first came out, and the illustrations are surprisingly still lovely although probably in a different sort of way than they were in 1960. The book could be used to discuss the importance of seeking Christ before it is too late. Baboushka is somewhat like Santa Claus when it comes to leaving gifts for children. This Russian folk tale adaptation holds up well. The book includes the music and lyrics to a folk song about the woman.

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