Masha and the Firebird — Margaret Bateson-Hill

Masha's mother sells eggs at market, and Masha loves to paint their smooth shells. One day, deep in the forest, Masha meets the magical Firebird, guardian of the eggs of the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. The Firebird asks Masha to paint its eggs so that they blend with the elements, hiding them from the vicious witch, Baba Yaga. At first, the plan works well, but Baba Yaga finally gets her hands on the last egg, and Masha sets off on an amazing journey to find it. This original folktale blends elements of the Firebird legend and traditional European folktales in a bilingual English and Russian text, along with suggestions to inspire children to paint their own eggs.