This is an ancient Russian fairy tale, similar to Cinderella in some ways with the evil stepfamily, but Baba Yaga is no fairy godmother.
Vasilisa's mother gave her a tiny doll before she died, telling the girl that it would look after her and pass on her love even beyond the grave. Now, with her father also dead, an evil witch of a stepmother, and two hateful stepsisters, she needs that love and help more than ever.
A reason is manufactured to send Vasilisa over to Baba Yaga's house in the woods, the one standing on little chicken feet, surrounded by walls of human bones, and lit by the unearthly lights shining from bleached skulls. She's supposedly sent to fetch a light back home, but she's really supposed to become Baba Yaga's dinner.
Between her own care and bravery, and the help of the magic doll, Vasilisa not only doesn't become dinner, but actually manages to impress the old hag. After two days, she's sent back home with a skull lantern, and things start looking up for her after that.
I love the illustrations here. I'm less thrilled by the pacing of the narrative, and I'm really a bit confused by the tacked-on ending involving the weaving and the young tzar. I know it's there in the earliest versions, but it really does seem disconnected to the rest of the story.
Despite those flaws, an amazing tale, and a good complement to The Magic Nesting Doll or to A Weave of Words.
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