Kolobok (Russian, Chinese, English and Spanish Edition)

From the dough I was made, in the oven I was baked, on the window I was bored, down the trail I jumped and rolled, clever Kolobok I'm called.

Kolobok is a traditional Russian folk tale beloved by kids and adults alike. The story of a restless little bun who comes to life and escapes from his makers, it holds parallels with similar tales found in the folklore of every nation in the world. Yet despite this universal storyline, the Russian version offers its own distinctive cultural flavor. Now, you and your child can both experience the beauty of Russia's rich linguistic legacy without leaving your 21st century home. In this innovative edition, Kolobok has been carefully translated into modern Russian, English, Spanish and Chinese - especially for the enjoyment of children ages 2-6, families speaking more than one language, and foreign language learners of all ages!

The traditions of folk storytelling are timeless, borderless, and universal. Kolobok is only one of a million precious stones that adorn the magnificent crown of our common folk literary heritage. The story you hold in your hands is a piece of culture that belongs in every family's home.

In retelling the age-old story of Kolobok, careful consideration was placed on accurately transcribing linguistic and cultural intricacies within the story, reflecting important innate differences between the languages chosen. Native speakers of each language wrote and proofread the translations; focus groups of parents and children evaluated and approved of the book's unique format. Everyone involved in the project truly enjoyed bringing Kolobok to life.

Illustrations in the book are digital and were created using image processing software. The photographs were digitally captured or carefully selected from the finest digital archives of distinguished photographers, then skillfully fused with digital drawings. This combination immerses young readers in a magical world of folk storytelling, where borders between reality and fiction are blurred.

Kolobok is printed in English but includes matching captions printed in other languages on re-sealable stickers (at the back of the book). The languages included in this multilingual edition are Russian, Spanish and Chinese. To switch or add a language, simply put the numbered stickers on top of the original printed text. Also, included with this book is a CD containing a narration of the story in each of the four languages. And finally, we have provided a set of numbered blank stickers. We support and encourage families to make use of this set; if you don't find your native language in this edition, you have the option of writing your own translation on the blank stickers. This book is multilingual, and we want you to treat it as such.