Down the Magic River

Original title: Vniz po volshebnoy reke

This fairy tale introduces readers to Mitya, a boy who spends his summer in the countryside and unexpectedly crosses into the world of Russian folklore. Alongside characters such as Baba Yaga, Vasiliisa the Wise, the Gray Wolf, and the Tsar, he faces Koshchei the Deathless, Likhо One-Eye, and other familiar figures.

Uspensky blends the recognizable logic of everyday life with the absurdity and humor of traditional fairy tales, creating a narrative where old motifs appear in a contemporary light.

The book is illustrated by Viktor Chizhikov. His drawings depict both the comical and the dramatic sides of the story, with a wide cast of characters and settings. The illustrations are numerous and integrated with the text, giving the tale its visual rhythm and bringing the folklore figures into a lively, modern form.