Many American readers will be familiar with this Ukrainian folk tale, either from the 1964 version written by Alvin Tresselt and illustrated by Yaroslava, or from the more recent picture book written and illustrated by Jan Brett, published in 1989. The story of a lost mitten, which becomes the temporary home for a growing assortment of woodland animals, starting with a mouse and ending with a bear, it is exactly the kind of "progression tale" that young children will find entertaining.

This lovely edition, from Malysh Publishers in Moscow, is actually shaped like a mitten, and is illustrated by E. Bulatov and O. Vasiliev, using charming stylized folk motifs. Sadly, it is somewhat difficult to obtain, or I would recommend that all fans of the Tresselt and Brett versions examine the Botting edition as well. ( )