Hello everyone if your reading this and thinking that the text has changed... it has. Since Simone Lune has been so helpful I have now found my russian tales book. However I am now questing for another book, yes I hear you say "What now?!" but this is the last book I promise, it should be no surprise that it is another myths book this time greek -big area- so I'll try and narrow it down for you. It is a small book and most likely hardcover but don't hold me to it and at least 10 years old (probably older) it has very simple black and white (well yellowish since the book is quite old) and contains -I am certain of these ones- Eros and Psyche (not Cupid! It says Eros in the book I think) and Ceyx and Halycone (Alcyone?) the ones who became the first kingfishers. I mainly remember this from two- three images which are 2 from eros and psyche, first one is psyche floating (with lines indicating wind) carried off a mountain by zephyrus? and later psyche opening a box (with curly lines indicating something coming out). the other is of Ceyx after he is drowned appearing in Halycone's room dripping and liberally bedecked with seaweed. There is another image, the story was of a famous musican called arion who was rewarded but got mugged by pirates who threw him overboard but not before he played his last song on his harp/lyre instrument which brought sealife to the ship and dolphins saved him and brought him to shore, the image is of his on the ship deck playing his instrument with the sea behind him and pirates in the foreground, though I think there was an image with him riding a dolphin as well.
If this rings any bells please have a look around if you can and upload those images if you can to confirm please.
Thank you very much.

Hey Indy I think I have found the book your looking for (you've complained wistfully about for so long:angel:) It might be James Mayhew's Koshka's Tales: Stories from Russia. I was looking through google then flicker (typed in snowmaiden) and saw the type of page drawings you have talked about. It is even on amazon though you said it wasn't! Since I can't seem to put an image on this post just go to amazon and type in "James Mayhew Koshka" or for the pages go to flickr and type in "snowmaiden" or "tsar Vassilisa" the pages are all on "nohobot" profile and looks like the book has been reissued but the stories and pictures unchanged. I trust you to look it up and see if I have been successful. I love russian legends too so if you get that book you better let me read it!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It was the book I was looking for and now have it in my possession and loved reading it again, though the book seems smaller than I remember. Thank you once again Simone!
Now that greek myth book is all I need.