Rechenka's Eggs

By Patricia Polacco

I was utterly captivated by Rechenka's Eggs from the very first page. The old world feel, the beautiful mystery of the friendship between Babushka and Rechenka, not to mention the exquisite illustrations of the decorated Easter eggs, all combine to make this one of my favorite books. Young readers are sure to love the thought of sharing breakfast with a goose, the wonder of the onion domes of the architecture, and the joy of a new friend who stays with Babushka forever. While the story takes place around Easter, it is such a beautiful tale of friendship that it would be lovely to read any time of the year. 

You Might Also Enjoy: The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

In this Issue

• Easter Egg Suncatchers
• Watch and Learn
• Learning About Pashka and Kulich
• Where in the World
• Pinterest Picks

 

Easter Egg Suncatchers

At the Festival, the elders are amazed at the eggs Babushka brings exclaim that "they almost glow." We took our inspirations for this week's art activity from this part of the book and are featuring an Easter egg suncatcher that will glow when hung in your window. Like Babushka, younger readers can decorate their egg or eggs however they want; older reader may want to try patterns or more complicated designs. 

Easter Egg Suncatcher

Supplies

• Contact paper
• Scotch tape
• Permanent marker
• Tissue paper
• Ribbon
• Scissors

1. Cut two equal-size pieces of contact paper. From one piece, peel backing from each corner and tape each corner to a work surface. Peel remaining backing off the taped contact paper. 
   
   
   
2. Draw an egg shape on the exposed sticky side of contact paper. Stick pieces of ribbon and torn or cut pieces of tissue paper inside the egg shape. 
3. When the egg shape is filled, peel backing from the second piece of contact paper and place, sticky side, down over egg to sandwich the tissue paper. Press to remove bubbles and secure.
4. Cut out egg along drawn outline.
5. Hang in a sunny window!

 Related Post: Easter Eggshell Mosaic

Watch and Learn: More About Rechenka's Eggs

 

Learning About Pashka and Kulich

Although the recipes are bit involved to make with young readers, we wanted to share what we've learned about kulich and pashka, which Babushka and Rechenka enjoy in the story. Both terms can refer to a sweet, eggy bread that is traditionaly made at Easter, and pashka can also be a sweet cheese spread, somewhat like cheesecake, that can be spread on the bread.  

In this video, young readers can watch bakers make traditional paska bread in clay ovens for a Ukrainian Festival. 

This video of Martha Stewart learning about and making Paska might loose kids' interest, but it is an interesting look at this Ukrainian bread. You can also try your hand at her paska recipe. 

If you want to try making either of these dishes:

• Paska Easter Bread Recipe from Natasha's Kitchen has step by step pictures to walk you through the recipe. 
• This Easter Molded Cheese or Paska recipe includes information about the molds traditionally used to shape the dessert

Related Post: Eggs in a Nest Bread

  

Where in the World

Bring the story of Rechenka's Eggs alive by showing your young reader where Babushka and Rechenka lived. Using a globe or world map, find Russia, then compare to where you live on the map. 

 

Pinterest Picks

Clockwise from top left: 

• These painted and stacked lids reminded us of the onion domes in Old Moskva. 
• Pysanky Eggs art activity
• Ukrainian Easter Eggs art activity
• Examples of decorated eggs

 

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