Figure 1.--This domestic scene was drawn by Soviet-era illustrator Nick Lyamin for Mary Rodina's book 'Mother's Hands' in 1964. The boy wears short pants and long stockings, still widely worn in the 1960s. Notice the crossed straps on the boy's short pants. This was done to hold the shorts higher on a youngerv boy. As he grew there were worn uncrossed. Source: George Michael collection.

Our Russian readers have provided us some examples of Russian children's fiction books. We have foundcreferences to others in academic studies. They are books they rember and enjoyed as children. Some examples of early Soviet books Books such as Marshak's Otriad (Detachment, 1933) was about Young Pioneers having a good time at camp. Politschuk's Prigoda (A Happening, 1931) shows Young Pioneers in a factory. [McGill] The factory setting shows We note, however many other Soviet era books with non-ideoligal themes and settings. Traditional themes seem to have been surprisingly popular. We do not know of the children's series that were so popular in America and Britain. A good example of a non fiction book is A Journey to Artek", a little booklet about life at a Soviet summer camp, in this case the prestigious Artek camp. It was published by the Novosti Press Agency Publishing House. in 1976. Vladimir Suteev was a prolific illustrator and creator of cartoons. A Russian reader tells us that one of his favorite Suteev book was the children's fairy tale The Crocodile, published in 1950. Here is a sceen from the book with the main boy character.

The Crocodile (1950)

Vladimir Suteev was a prolific illustrator and creator of cartoons. A Russian reader tells us that one of his favorite Suteev book was the children's fairy tale The Crocodile, published in 1950. Here is a sceen from the book with the main boy character

Journey to Artek (1976)

A good example of a non fiction book is A Journey to Artek", a little booklet about life at a Soviet summer camp, in this case the prestigious Artek camp. It was published by the Novosti Press Agency Publishing House. in 1976.

Mother's Hands (1964)

Mary Rodina wrote Mother's Hands. Our Russian contributor tells us, "'Mother's Hands' is a well-known phrase in Russian which connotes everything that is good and comes from a mother. Russians also speak of mothers as having "golden hands" because they have such rich and varied talents and supply so much that is good in a child's life. Marya Rodina, the author of the book, wrote a little poem about this praising the talents of women and all the many things they can do and do do for their families. So the book apparently doesn't have a real plot but just tries to get this message across to kids." The illustrator is Nick Lyamin. We see a charming domestic scene. A Russian boy of about 6 years of age being read to by his mother (figure 1). We do not yet have information about the story line. The boy in the illustration wears suspender shorts with a blue shirt and brown long stockings with supporters fastened to the Soviet equivalent of a bodice (i.e., a Russian garter waist). Notice how the suspenders are crossed in front as well as in back to provide greater security for the short trousers. The book was published in 1964 and illustrates contemporary boys' clothing quite accurately according to my Russian friend.

Otriad (1933)

Marshak's Otriad (Detachment, 1933) was about Young Pioneers having a good time at camp.

Prigoda (1931)

Politschuk's Prigoda (A Happening, 1931) shows Young Pioneers in a factory. [McGill] The factory setting shows an an ideologal focus.

The Singer's Friends (1963)

Symoh Garin wrote The Singer's Friends. The book was published in 1963. We have been able to find no information about the author. The illustrations are by Theodor Lemkul. We have also been unable to find information about the illustrator. Nor do we know about the story line yet. The boy lying on the sofa is wearing a blue pullover sweater over a white collared shirt, dark short trousers, and heavily ribbed brown long stockings, again with a bodice and hose supporters. Once more the clothing illustrated seems to be an accurate reflection of the 1960s. This is often the case when the illustrator is depicting contemporary fashions.

Unidentified Book (1950)

A Russian correspondent sent this rather interesting picture from a Soviet children's book dated 1950. Apparently he doesn't know the name of the book or the author or illustrator. But the color drawing shows an interesting domestic scene in Russia about 1950. A Russian boy, with one shoe off, is apparently crying because it is time for his bath and bedtime and he wants to stay up--a familiar household situation. The boy's clothes are interesting--a sailor blouse with blue trim and scarf, dark short trousers (suspender shorts), and tan long stockings obviously worn with a Soviet garter waist (bodice and supporters). Maybe some of our Russian readers will recognize the name of the book and the author (or even the illustrator). Our friend seemed to be fairly certain of the date (1950).

Sources

McGill University, Rare Books and Special Collections Division. "Children's books of the early Soviet era," 1999.

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Created: 1:10 PM 2/12/2011
Last updated: 12:35 AM 1/31/2012