Vladimir Odoevsky was well-versed in philosophy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, wrote music, invented musical instruments, collected and studied Russian folk songs. He also wrote wonderful stories and fairy tales for children.
The fairy tale "Frost Ivanovich" is rightfully considered one of the best works of V. Odoevsky. Despite being created nearly 200 years ago, it is still beloved by young readers.
In terms of plot and characters, it is a variation on the theme of the Russian folk tale "Morozko".
In one house lived two girls – Rukodelnitsa and Lenivitsa. Rukodelnitsa was a clever girl: she got up early, immediately got down to work: she heated the stove, kneaded the dough, swept the hut, fed the rooster, and went to the well for water. Lenivitsa, on the other hand, lay in bed stretching. She would get up, jump around, and then sit by the window counting flies: how many came and how many flew away. Rukodelnitsa additionally knitted stockings, cut and sewed shirts, and sang handiwork songs.
In search of a bucket that fell into the well, Rukodelnitsa fell into the domain of Frost Ivanovich. For three days she skillfully and conscientiously managed his household, for which she received a worthy reward. Lenivitsa envied Rukodelnitsa's success and set off to Frost Ivanovich by the same difficult path – through the well. But she didn’t know how to do anything, and her nature was not such that she would help others. Therefore, the reward received by Lenivitsa turned out to be a piece of ice, which the girl took for a silver ingot. As is the work, so is the reward.
The fairy tale is also good because, aside from its fascinating and moderately instructive plot, it provides concepts of seasonal change, an understanding of peasant labor, and attention to the underprivileged, especially on frosty winter days. And the process of Rukodelnitsa purifying water is so informative that it can be successfully replicated at home.
The book is beautifully illustrated by the master of Soviet children's illustration, Vladimir Konashevich.
