From time to time, my mom reminds me that she still has all of my children’s books from Russia, just in case I decide to gift her with grandchildren soon. She is on standby. Mr. B’s, mom, of course, says that she will immediately confiscate any female children and leave the leftovers to my mom. This plan of theirs is all well and good, of course, but is unfortunately entirely dependent on the aforementioned children coming into being.
Ice Cream by S. Marshak (an iconic Russian children's writer)
Soviet kids’ books have a certain feel about them, one that was captured here (HT, Gizmodo), which is a cool website overall for its astounding collection of Eastern European childrens’ books. I don’t think you can quite call it socialist realism, but it does bring back some fond memories. Here are more covers, in these pictures.
The one thing that the Soviet Union got right was (at least the propogation of) women’s rights.
Mom's Bridge
For example, this book is about how the guy’s mom is an architect and is responsible for building a bridge. How badass is that? Now, granted, Mamochka probably took bribes under the table and little Sashenka might have seen dubious amounts of construction materials show up at his house from time to time only to be sold to neighbors, but I think it’s pretty cool that, at least in kid’s literature, Soviet women were held in high esteem, even if the truth and constant conversations with the women in my family who experienced the Soviet Union in all its glory says otherwise.
All this has got me thinking about how being raised in the Soviet Union was different than being raised in the United States or other Western countries. Which brings me to a non-childhood book I would love to get my hands on.
Related on the blog:
My Unborn Children are Annoying Me
A picture of Mr. B as a bebeh
A picture of me as a bebeh
A picture of our moms, who are on standby
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
There was a great deal of hidden and/or Soviet propaganda in childrens’s literature. They would propmote Soviet values / morale over one in the rotten West. ( Marshak – Mister Twister http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bQeu1Rkn8w,
Nosov – Neznaika on the Moon ) and many others. We liked them nevertheless. Now when we see how even Russian fairy tells were adopted to the propaganda conveyor we just have to laugh. I promise I would explain this part to the leftover male grandson while reading these books to him as soon as I can get my hands on this baby. I hope I can still read books / see fonts by then – I am not getting any younger, you know.
Love Mom.
Thanks, mom. I don’t know whether they’ll have children’s books in the year 2050, but I’ll make sure to keep you in mind.
Yeah Vicky, have some sympathy for mommy dearest who wants to enjoy her grandchildren while she is still in her prime. Don’t be selfish – think of her and her needs. She raised you and nurtured you and gave you life. All she is asking for is a grandkid. Not too much to ask..,
(what? you though I could leave this alone? not on your life……mwah hah hah)
On track, as always
Wow, nice covers. Russian design at that time was quite fascinating, the angularity of everything says so much.
Aren’t they? I’m having a hard time defining a style for them…maybe you know of a category they fit under? Futurism?