Martha by Gennady Spirin (2005-04-21) Hardcover – 1 Jan. 1826

Very simple, but yet so heart-warming and moving true story about the crow with broken wing, who became a part of the family of Gennady Spirin, the illustrator. It will teach your kids to be kind and compassionate towards birds, even towards that kind of birds, which might seem not very pretty or loved by humans, plus far too many books about dogs and cats anyway. The illustrations are beyond words beautiful, I recommend each and every book which is illustrated by this artist, as not many of such talents in the world are left nowadays. Its a pleasure and a privilege to have part of Gennady Spirin's works at your own home, even if it is in a book format.

I have several books illustrated by the marvellous Russian illustrator Gennady Spirin-THE CHILDREN OF LYR and THE WHITE CAT being two examples. MARTHA is his newest contribution. Not only has he done the illustrations, he is also the author. In MARTHA, Gennady Spirin goes back a few years to when he still lived in Moscow-he is now based in the States. MARTHA is a fictionalized account of the time when Spirin's son Ilya discovered an injured crow while out for a walk. It's a slight and gentle tale made special by the illustrations-snow on a Moscow street, the artist's small flat, the crow herself wrapped up in bandages. A lovely book to be enjoyed by virtually any age-group.