3 Folktales from Eastern Europe and Central Asia

By Gini Graham Scott

The following three tales are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former U.S.S.R. in 1988 as part of a citizen diplomacy group.   

      These stories share a common theme --the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler.  He does so by being wise and generous, and having a strong desire to help and protect his family.  Generally, the rich merchant or powerful ruler is foiled by his own greed and stupidity.  

The following stories come from the Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkmen.  These are three of my favorite stories.

 

    GINI GRAHAM SCOTT, Ph.D., J.D., CEO of Changemakers Publishing and Writing, is an internationally known known writer, speaker, and workshop leader.  She has published over 50 books with major publishers on various topics and has written over 3 dozen children's books. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She does workshops on self-publishing and creativity, and she helps clients write books and self-publish them or find publishers and agents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changemakers Kids
• Release date: Apr 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201572143

Gini Graham Scott

Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D., CEO of Changemakers Publishing and Writing, is an internationally known writer, speaker, and workshop leader. She has published over 50 books with major publishers on various topics and has written over 3 dozen children's books. Her published children's books include Katy's Bow, Scratches, The Crazy Critters First Visit, and Where's the Avocado? published by Black Rose Writing. She has published 8 children's books through her company Changemakers Kids and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She does workshops on self-publishing and creativity. She also helps clients write books as a ghostwriter and self-publish or find publishers and agents. Her websites are www.changemakerspublishgandwriting.com and www.ginigrahamscott.com.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION..........................................................5

THE LORD OF THE CROWS.................................................7

THE MAGIC RING........................................................35

THE MOUNTAIN OF GEMS................................................59

ABOUT THE AUTHOR....................................................83

INTRODUCTION

The following three tales are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former U.S.S.R. in 1988 as part of a citizens diplomacy group.

I was intrigued by these folktales, since my paternal grandmother lived for some time in Odessa in the Ukraine, and I found they share a common theme – the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler. He does so by being wise or generous and having a strong desire to help and protect his family, while the powerful ruler or rich merchant is foiled by his own greed.

These are themes which resonate today, when inequality and social justice have become central issues of our times.

The following stories from Eastern Europe come from the Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkmen. These are three of my favorite stories.

THE LORD OF THE CROWS

An Adaptation of a Traditional Folktale from the Ukraine

Sasha lived on a farm with his parents, two older brothers, and three sisters in a small hut in the Ukrainian countryside. Though his father worked hard, the family was very poor. Their plot of land was too small for a good harvest, and his father only owned two thin oxen, so often they had little to eat.

In the spring, Sasha helped his father plow the field. As his father guided the oxen, he tossed seeds in the furrows.

One day, the sunny sky grew dark and Sasha saw a huge black bird circling above. Its sharp beak was like a sword, its long claws like hooks. When the bird landed, its outstretched wings covered Sasha, his father, and the oxen.

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I am the Lord of the Crows, he announced in a loud, gravely voice