FEATURE From the world’s _ largest publisher of children’s books Did you know that every fourth book published in the world is published in the Soviet Union? The Soviet Union is a nation of voracious readers and publishes in no fewer than 40 different languages. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Soviet Union is the largest publisher of children’s literature in the world. Ina nation of readers, such appetites are formed at an early age, with the help of concerned par- ents and an outstanding educational system from crib to college. : Even so, the most strenuous and ambi- tious publishing schedules fail to meet the demand for children’s books. An official at Malysh (Toddler), one of the larger Soviet children’s publishers, complained once that they are allotted only enough paper to pub- lish four books for each Soviet child per year! During the tenth five-year plan, however, when the output of paper rose 12.8 per cent, editions of children’s books rose by more than 30 per cent. Today there are more than 100 publishing houses devoted exclusively to children’s literature. It was not always so. In old Russia, before the revolution, the children’s. book industry was not highly developed. But with the coming of the October Revolution in 1917, the demand for books soared. The journalist John Reed, writing of those days, said that Russia was gripped with a thirst for knowledge, for books on ’ Virtually every subject. The thirst for éduca- tion, suppressed for so long, broke forth with the revolution like a hurricane. While the production of children’s books before the revolution was extremely limited _ and many of the children’s books were ” _ Openly reactionary, there was nonetheless a | books for kids! “+ vz vr Christmas Special xz 3: | pp -uP 3 for $10 . while quantities last _5 Malysh Publishers titles to choose from People’s Co-op | Bookstore 1391 Commercial Drive Vancouver, 253-6442 rich heritage for children’s literature to fol- low. Most of the great classic authors of Rus- sian literature — Tolstoy, Pushkin, Chek- hov, Gogal — had written for children as well as adults. The progressive tradition of these writers was a rich lode forming the basis of a new children’s literature. Maxim Gorky, who also wrote for child- ren, initiated a new children’s literature. He argued that, for the first time in history, it was now possible to produce a children’s literature to reflect the wellsprings of cultu- ral changes brought by the revolution. As the Soviet state sought to develop a new educational system, many new theories of education, grounded in humanism and a belief in the educational potential of every child, were given free rein. Gorky’s initiative spurred the formation of the first major children’s publisher, Detskaya Literatura. As before, many of the great Soviet wri- ters also wrote for children. These included Vladimir Mayakovsky, Maxim Gorky, Alexei Tolstoy, Mikhail Zoschen and many more. one Leaders in innovative children’s litera- ture such as Samuel Marshak, Agnia Barto and Kornei Chukovsky, were not only established literary figures in the world of adult literature and criticsm, but also immersed themselves in the new educa- tional theories, becoming respected for their - insights into the ways in which children learn. : Samuel Marshak (1887-1964) is virtually synonymous with children’s verse. Yet he was well kown for his novellas, plays and poetry for adults. He won great esteem as a translator of English, Italian, Norwegian and Czech literature, and many argue that his translations of Shakespeare were superb renderings. But the average Soviet child is just as apt to describe any book as a “‘Mar- shak.” Agnia Barto (1906-1981) also wrote in verse and it is a rare Soviet. child who doesn’t know many of her rhymes by heart. Many Soviet parents can display copies of her books, tattered and literally worn to shreds, as testimony to her popularity. _ Kornei.Chukovsky (1882-1969) was, in some ways, an improbable source of child- ren’s books. He was a giant of literature, at _ home in the salons of Paris, a contemporary and friend of the avant-garde poets of his day. His study of famed poet Alexander Blok remains a standard work. Chukovsky threw himself vigorously into the development of a new children’s litera- ture, his work in many ways paralleling that of the great Swiss educator Jean Piaget. Chukovsky’s book on early childhood . reading. From Two-to-Five, first published in 1925, has gone through dozens of edi- tions in the Soviet Union and has been The Federation of Russian Canadians extends Season’s Greetings —| to our members and friends. _ May 1985 be the vear of peace, prosperity and jobs. Welcome the New Year with us at the Russian People’s Home 600 Campbell Ave., Monday, December 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets at $16 per person until Dec. 27; $21 after that date: For information call 254-6488, 253-3032 or 253-8180 _ eT eee Qo. ; Nay TRIBUNE PHOTO — SEAN GRIFFIN titles from the USSR. published in the United States. Famed Soviet educator A.S. Makarenko hailed this work as the foundation of a new approach to reading. Chukovsky’s verse for children, such as The Telephone, Dr. Powderpill, and Wash *Em Cleam have been published in over 40 ‘million copies in the Soviet Union and translated into many languages. Chukovsky, a master of the “nonsense thyme,” engaged in bitter polemics with some educators who argued that fantasy in children’s literature was harmful. No other charge was so likely to draw an outraged reply from Chukovsky. He argued that, for the young child, fantasy was actually a tool used to master reality. An outstanding feature of Soviet child- ren’s books has been its attention to and innovations in illustration. Here also, the best of the traditions of old Russian ljtera- ture were maintained. _ Ivan Bilibin (1976-1942), whose art nou- veau style was influenced by his meticulous study of Russian folk art, maintains an extraordinary popularity in the Soviét Union and the world. Bilibin illustrated countless traditional folk and fairy tales, as well as children’s stories by Pushkin and Lermontov. Today’s Soviet children’s books reflect the belief that children’s appreciation of art also begins at an early age. The stunning - watercolors of Yevgeny Charushin or Y. Rachov bring new life and imagination-to many of the classics, Irene Zviliuviene, Yuri Vasnetsov and V. Losin are also deservedly popular. Faorne Co-op Bookstore manager Linda Chobotuck with some of the hundreds of children’s oe Art museums proudly display the works of many of these illustrators. Children’s booksellers in the U.S. frequently express great admiration for the design of Soviet children’s books. An example of the scope of the works of publishers in the various Soviet Republics can be found at the Vaga Publishing House in Lithuania, a republic with a population roughly that of the city of Chicago. Vaga Publishing currently has 30 children’s titles with a run of 1.2 million copies in print. In this country, Progress Books in Toronto is the major importer of Soviet children’s books. The People’s Co-operative Bookstore is the distributor in British Columbia, handling dozens of titles, many of which the store imports directly from the USSR. Co-op Bookstore manager Linda Cho- botuck says that Soviet children’s books are a major part of the stores’ sales to the younger set, particularly the lower-priced stories for pre-schoolers. They’re the most popular books by far at the Pacific National Exhibition, the annual ' summer fair where the store traditionally maintains a book booth, she adds. “Many people are very surprised to see them,” she says. “If they have heard of Soviet children’s books, they- think some- how that they will be dull. “But when they pick them up and see these delightful stories that are not only colorful but very inexpensive, they’ll often buy several.” we iI rs a from the Canada-USSR Association Let 1985 be the turning point for genuine world peace. We welcome new members to reinforce our efforts for better 4) understanding between Canada and the Soviet Union. PACIFIC TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 19, 1984 e 11 Ws