A Russian fairy tale in English, adapted for kids who have started developing fluency in independent reading.

This is a Level 3 Reader: 6-8 sentences per page, 2nd-3rd grade vocabulary, large type, lots of colorful pictures and pretty vignettes.

Vasilisa's stepmother and her stepsisters send her to the Dark Forest to bring magical golden apples from the garden of the Dark Forest Witch. The golden apples turn anyone who eats them into a stunning beauty, and Vasilisa's sisters are vying to marry the King.

In her journey through the Dark Forest Vasilisa proves her commitment to love, kindness, and patience, wins the golden apples and brings them to her arrogant, evil-hearted stepsisters.

Turned into stunning beauties, wearing spectacular dresses sewn by Vasilisa, the stepsisters present themselves to the King. But if your heart is evil, your beauty won't last.

Vasilisa's tears and sleepless nights woven as pearls into her stepsisters' beautiful dresses, evaporate when Vasilisa smiles, and so does the evil sisters' beauty.

And guess who the King falls in love with!