Marushka and the Month Brothers - Folklore Picturebook



Marushka bringing two apples as she was ordered
Picture Source: Google Search

      Marushka and the Month Brothers is a picture book about a young girl named Marushka, her stepmother and stepsister Holena. As in the classic Cinderella story, Marushka is forced to do all of the work. She obediently does so, even when commanded to find violets, strawberries, and apples in the middle of winter. When searching, she sees a light in the distance where the Month Brothers are gathered around a fire. The Month Brothers consist of every month of the year. She asks for the violets, strawberries, and apples, and her wishes were granted. Thus, when returning home the third time with the apples, it was not enough and in greed, Holena ventures out to find more. To her surprise she also saw the light where the Month Brothers were warming themselves by the fire. However, they were not as kind to her as they were with Marushka and in one big breath, Brother January blew her away, never to be seen again.
 

      In despair, the stepmother went searching for Holena, and also was never seen again. Hence, Marushka was no longer troubled by her cruel stepmother and stepsister, as they were no more. However, Marushka was never alone, because “throughout the long, cold winters, Brother January fills Marushka’s cottage with friends. They sit around her stove and laugh, sing songs, and tell stories in the warmth of Marushka’s smile,” a smile that could thaw a January day (Sturges, 1996).
 

      Marushka and the Month Brothers is a Czechoslovakia and Slovakian folktale. It resembles a Cinderella story, therefore, it can be called a fractured fairytale.  The illustrations in the picturebook are full page and colorful, and appear to have been created  in pastels or watercolor, or both. The theme is about being kind no matter what the circumstances, and the text is easy to read and understandable by kindergartner’s through 3^rd grade. The teacher could use this story as a comparison to the classic Disney Cinderella and ask the students what were the differences they noticed. Another lesson could be for the students to name the 12 Month Brothers, as they were named after each month of the year.
 

Reader Response

1. Did Marushka's stepmother have a name?

2. What were the three items that the stepmother demanded Marushka

find and bring back home?
 

      Although a short book, I enjoyed the implicit lesson being told – to always do the right thing no matter what the circumstances. Additionally, having a smile like Marushka would make everyday tasks much more pleasant, while making the person much more beautiful.

Reference

Sturges, P. (1996). Marushka and the Month Brothers. New York: North-South Books, Inc.