MARUSHKA AND THE MONTH BROTHERS

This Slavic folktale features Marushka, a Cinderella-like figure whose smile is said to bring a thaw in January. Not only does she wait upon her lazy stepmother and loathsome stepsister, Holena, she must also cater to their demands: It may be January, but Holena wants violets. ``And don't come back without them,'' Holena's mother bellows into a blizzard. Marushka struggles through the snow, up a mountainside, where she happens upon the Month Brothers, 12 odd fellows who minister over the seasons. Brother March conjures spring just long enough for Marushka to pick a posy. Next Holena wants strawberries; Brother June helps out. Then apples—Brother September bails Marushka out one last time. Greed does in the hideous Holena and her mother, and their comeuppance is deeply gratifying. So are Vojtech's illustrations, shot through with folkloric touches and redolent of the seasons. (Picture book/folklore. 5-8)