Gamayun Tales I: An anthology of modern Russian folk tales (Volume I)

by Alexander Utkin

Overview

Enter a world of magic and adventure in this stunning series based on traditional Russian folklore. Collected into a beautiful new paperback edition for the first time!

Alexander Utkin's Gamayun Tales are fresh and modern adaptations of familiar Russian folktales, teamed with bold and beautiful illustrations that take inspiration from classical mid-century Disney animation. Jam-packed with stories of magical quests and talking animals, golden chests that turn into palaces and encounters with terrifying Water Spirits, there's no end to the adventure in these books! A great introduction to Slavic folklore for kids who have already read everything on Egyptian and Greek mythology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781910620670
Publisher:	Flying Eye Books Ltd.
Publication date:	03/10/2020
Series:	The Gamayun Tales , #1
Pages:	184
Sales rank:	504,441
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Alexander Utkin is an illustrator, comic artist, designer and musician from Russia. He studied at Moscow State University of Printing Arts, graduating in 2006 with a Master of Arts. Clients include Samsung, Universal Music and WWF, among many others.

Editorial Reviews

03/23/2020

Epic battles, unknowing bargains, and capricious spirits feature in Utkin’s modern take on Russian folklore. Narrated in three sections by Gamayun, “a magical human-faced bird from Slavic mythology,” the telescoping story revolves around the King of the Birds, an unwitting merchant, and a water spirit. After the merchant saves the King of the Birds, he runs afoul of the spirit, a precipitating action that cascades consequences onto his own child and the spirit’s shape-shifting daughter. Straightforward dialogue fits the stories’ retellings (“for 30 years, they lived in harmony and shared every crumb”), but the real star is Utkin’s breathtaking visuals, in which chalky textures and vibrant tones of mustard, ruby, and cerulean create striking moments: avian and terrestrial beasts do battle, a furry house spirit tends to his work, an enchanted son wanders mindlessly. Useful front matter identifies included characters. Ages 10–14. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Special Mention for the COMICS YOUNG ADULT category by the 2021 BolognaRagazzi  Award 

"The real star is Utkin’s breathtaking visuals, in which chalky textures and vibrant tones of mustard, ruby, and cerulean create striking moments: avian and terrestrial beasts do battle, a furry house spirit tends to his work, an enchanted son wanders mindlessly."
—Publishers Weekly 

“This book is so cool, nicely designed, and bold panels that do great service to the storytelling work. Utkin is an artist, for sure. And this book has everything — stray apples, a lion king (no, not that one), magic dolls, giant lobsters, wooden guards, and magical snakes — plus, so much more! I can see this book being a go-to on the classroom bookshelf”
—Dr. J Reads

From the Publisher