Peter and the Wolf

by Sergei Prokofiev, Charles Mikolaycak (Illustrator), Maria Carlson (Translator)

Overview

The classic orchestral fairy tale of a brave boy who captures a wolf comes to brilliant new life. Maria Carlson’s translation and Charles Mikolaycak’s soft, inviting illustrations make for a fine update of Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved story. Paired with the original orchestral composition or read by itself, this book makes a wonderful addition to any family’s story time.

Received a Society of Illustrators notation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780140506334
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/02/1986
Series:	Picture Puffin Books Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.19(w) x 8.81(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	AD850L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Sergei Prokofiev was a Russian and Soviet composer, pianist, and conductor. Creator of masterpieces across numerous musical genres, he is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. His works include the March from The Love for Three Oranges, the suite Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and Juliet – from which "Dance of the Knights" is taken – and Peter and the Wolf. He created seven completed operas, seven symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a Symphony-Concerto for cello and orchestra, and nine completed piano sonatas.

Charles Mikolaycak was best known for his Children's book illustrations. His book I Am Joseph was an ALA Notable Book, Peter and the Wolf received a Society of Illustrators notation, and Babushka was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.

Editorial Reviews

Language chosen for its sound at least as much as for its meaning lends an improvisatory air to this rendition of Prokofiev's musical tale, and theatrical illustrations definitely kick things up an additional notch. Having introduced themselves, the bird and the duck fall into an argument—"And the bird answers back: D-ducky d-dacky d-docky d-deeky. / And the duck answers back: Waieo, waieo, waieo, waieo"—before the cat and the wolf enter, Peter lassos the wolf and the hunters ("We are the men, / We are the men, / We are the men who hunt…") arrive to carry the captive off in triumph. For the art, Raschka alternates stylized pictures of the characters drawn in thick crayon and daubs of color with photos of elaborately decorated, ingeniously designed stage sets constructed from layers of cut and painted paper. He does make changes to the original's cast and plot in order to make the happy ending more explicit, but he's far from the first to do that. Among the plethora of Peters, his stands out for its seamless, jazzy match of verbal and visual exuberance. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews