UPDATE 11/13/14: I received a comment from a reader, which you can read below, addressing a major error in my post. As someone whose family is often referred to as “Russian” incorrectly, I take this concern very seriously. I am going to redo this post to reflect the correction of the reader, but I want to go ahead and make sure anyone who finds it in the meantime knows that I am aware of the problem. Thanks to the person who brought it to my attention.

Today’s post is a bit late because I can’t currently put my hands on the book about which I am writing. Pretty slick for a book blogger, right? That means I have to apologize in advance for only being able to tell you about the illustrations without showing you a few samples.

Continuing with our Russian theme, I thought I’d remind you about The Poppy Seed Cakes by Margery Clark. It’s a great little series of stories involving a little boy, and his aunt who has come to visit from ‘the Old Country.’ Poppyseed cakes figure prominently, as do many other old traditions that little Andrewshek comes to know and love. You’ll find some pretty classic problem and solution plot, here. A few surprises crop up, but as an adult reader, you’ll definitely see them coming.

There’s no shortage of charm in the illustrations, either. Maud and Miska Petersham created them, and they basically make you think you’ve climbed into a time warp. Originally published in 1924, The Poppy Seed Cakes is already showing a sentimentality for Russia-as-she-used-to-be, before the Great War and the Revolution. Want to drop some postmodern literary analysis on a children’s book? This would be a GREAT choice. 😉

In the meantime, snuggle up with this one and enjoy it with your early readers. Each story could stand alone, but my guess is that the little readers in your house will be excited to hear all of the adventures.

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