This Russian folktale tells the story of a man who helps a fish and then is granted unlimited wishes. The moral of the story is that good deeds don't go unnoticed. The illustrations in the story are bright and lively. They portray the characters with different expressions witch helps bring meaning to the text. The author begins the story with "once, long ago" which is a line that helps remind the reader that this is something that happened long ago and also is traditional in fairy tales and folktales, helping the reader remember that the story is an old wise tale. ( )

This Russia folk tale is about Emelya, a simpleton, who must listen to the wives of his brothers. One day when they send him out for water he meets a pike. As long as Emelya sets the pike free, he will get whatever he ever wants. Emelya then begins to wish for many different things, and ultimately turns his life completely around.
The author utilized the classic folk tale starter with "once, long ago". The author also utilized some rhyme throughout the story when Emelya would activate his wish from the pike. The illustrations in the story were very detailed. The facial expressions, and the architecture on the buildings pointed to Russian culture. ( )

The main character is a lazy man until he helps a fish in need and is granted wishes. The theme is that a good deed will be rewarded, and that all people are capable of many things if you give them the opportunity to try. ( )

Lewis, J. Patrick. (1999) At the Wish of a Fish: A Russian Folktale. Illustrated by Katya Krenina. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
This Russian adaptation of a popular folktale tells the story of a simpleton named Emelya. He is lazy and dumb and unreliable but he is sent by his sisters-in-law to fetch some water in buckets. He catches a pike (fish) and intends to ear him but the pike tells him that if he lets him go, he will give him anything he desires. He does so and from that point on, he asks the pike for all the things that he wants from moving easily on his sled to evading the Tsar when he calls for him. He sees the Tsar's daughter and falls and in love with her and wishes that she fell in love with him and so it happens. In the end, his last wish is that he lived a great life from there on.
The unique feature of this story are the illustrations. They are very colorful and look like they would be old Russian paintings. They were very well-matched with the story. ( )