Turnip
(Russian folks tale)

Recording in Russian

Recording in English

Grandpa planted a turnip and said:
"Grow, grow, turnip, grow large and strong! Grow, turnip, strong and very large".
Turnip grew very large, in the size of adult person. Grandpa went to pull it out. He pulled and pulled and pulled but could not pull turnip out.
Grandpa called grandma. Grandpa held turnip, Grandma held grandpa. They pulled and pulled and pulled but could not pull turnip out.
Grandma called granddaughter. Granddaughter held grandma, Grandma held grandpa, Grandpa held turnip
They pulled and pulled and pulled but could not pull turnip out.
Granddaughter called dog. Dog held granddaughter, Granddaughter held grandma, Grandma held grandpa
Grandpa held turnip. They pulled and pulled and pulled but could not pull turnip out.
Dog called cat. Cat held dog, Dog held granddaughter, Granddaughter held grandma, Grandma held grandpa, Grandpa held turnip. They pulled and pulled and pulled but could not pull turnip out.
Cat called mouse. Mouse held cat, Cat held dog, Dog held granddaughter, Granddaughter held grandma
Grandma held grandpa, Grandpa held turnip. They pulled and pulled and pulled and finally pulled the turnip out!

Tsarevna the Frog
(Russian folks tale)

Old tsar had 3 sons. He told them: "Shoot arrows. Where they will fall, so your wives will be from".
Two older sons found wives, rich and beautiful women. Ivan Tzarevish arrow fell into swamp and frog caught it. He was sad. Frog told him: "Do not be sad, take me. I will be good wife."
Ivan took the frog. All people laughed at wedding party.
One day the tsar asked his sons that their wives cook bread. Ivan was very sad. How can frog cook bread? But she told him: "Do not worry and go to bed. Then she put off her frog skin and became a very beautiful woman! She cooked the best bread in the shape of palace."
One day the tsar asked to make a carpet. Ivan was very sad. How can frog make carpet?
But again the frog made the best carpet.
Once the tsar had a big party. He invited many people. Ivan was very sad to take frog with him, but frog told him: "Go without me and do not worry. I will come later."
Ivan went without his wife. In some time his wife arrived but it was not frog. It was a beautiful woman! She was the most beautiful at the party. All people were very surprised.
Ivan ran home and threw the frog skin into the fire. When his wife came home she was very sad. She told: "Oh, Ivan! Why did you do it! Why you did not wait for 3 more days? Kashey Deathless put magic on me to be frog for 3 years. My term would finish in 3 days. But now I must go to Kashey for ever!"
And she disappeared.
Ivan was very sad and went to save his wife. He was going through forests, swamps, climbed mountains but could not find his wife. One day he met the old man who explained him the way. The man told: "You can not kill Kashey Deathless. Only one way to destroy him. Go to deep forest and see a high oak. There is a box on the top of the oak. The hare is in the box. The bird is in the hare. The egg is in the bird. Keshey's death is in this egg if you break it."
Ivan told thank you and started to go.
He was very hungry and wanted to eat the bear. But bear told him in human voice: "Ivan, do not kill me! I will be very useful for you."
Then Ivan wanted to eat the hare but hare told him in human voice: "Ivan, do not kill me! I will be very useful for you."
Ivan wanted to shoot the bird. But bird told him in human voice: "Ivan, do not kill me! I will be very useful for you."
Ivan was very and very hungry. He saw a pike on sea shore and wanted to eat it. But pike told him in human voice: "Ivan, do not eat me! I will be very useful for you. Please, put me into water. " Ivan felt sorry for the pike and put her into the sea.
Finally, Ivan found the oak tree with box. It was high to the sky! Ivan was sad but what he saw? The bear appeared and dropped the tree. The tree feel and the box broke. Hare ran out of it and started to run. Suddenly another hare who was not eaten by Ivan ran after and stopped box hare. Bird flew out from the hare and wanted to fly away but another bird stopped her. Egg fell from bird into the sea! Ivan was very unhappy. He sat near the sea and began to cry. But his pike swam and gave him the egg. Ivan broke the egg and suddenly his beautiful wife appeared. She told: "I am free now."
They came home and lived together for a long time very happily.