Varenka - Bernadette Watts

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Author: Bernadette Watts

Genre: Children's Fiction.
Rating: 4 stars.

The retelling of an old Russian folktale that highlights fellowship and faith.

Varenka was a widow who lived a life of peace and solitude in a clearing inside a forest. When war breaks out, the villagers approach her to escape with them but she refuses, stating that she will stay back to help those in need. As a woman of her word, she does help out three villagers who come to her, all the time keeping her faith in God and asking him to build a protective wall around her house to safeguard her. The three villagers – an old shepherd, a young artist, and a little girl – stay with Varenka until it’s safe once again. And yes, they were protected by a wall when the soldiers ventured too near, though it didn’t exactly come to pass as Varenka had assumed.

This book was first published in Swiss under the same title in 1971. This is the English translation, due to be published in September 2022.

While this is a picture book, there is a lot of text per page, making it better suited to beginner readers who are venturing into independent reading. It will also work well as a bedtime read and for faith-related gifting such as during Christmas. At the same time, there is mention of war, so it might be scary for younger kids.

The official target age range is 4-8 years. While the language is simple for this age group, I would go a little higher and recommend it to children aged 6+.

The crayon illustrations have an old-school vibe to them, as is evident on the cover. They add a very authentic feel to this tale but they may not be enjoyed by every little reader as there aren’t any usual cherubic faces or bright colours to jazz up the pages. The art is quite subdued, just as the story is.

Overall, this is a sweet story with a classic feel to it, focussing on the importance of helping others and trusting in God.

My thanks to North South Books Inc. and NetGalley for the DRC of “Varenka”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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