Russian Short Stories

Dima wants to give his grandfather a birthday present but has no money. He makes a handmade book of old photos and family memories and learns Grandpa’s favorite song on the guitar. His grandfather calls it the best gift of his life.

Vera loves stars and planets. One night a glowing little spaceship takes her on a tour: bouncing on the Moon, passing red Mars, seeing Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, and finally the beautiful blue Earth. She wakes up determined to become a space scientist.

Zhuzha is the tallest giraffe in the savanna but is secretly afraid of heights. When a baby elephant gets lost in the tall grass, she takes a deep breath, looks far into the distance and spots his trunk waving by the lake — discovering her courage.

An old apple tree gives blossoms to the bees, shade to travelers and apples to the village children. During a harsh winter, the birds, squirrels and children it helped keep it warm. The next spring it blooms more beautifully than ever.

Pinya the penguin is always cold, even in a hat, scarf and three pairs of socks. He sails off on an ice boat — which melts — to a sunny beach, but it’s soon far too hot. He returns home with a hot-water bottle and sleeps cozily with his family.