Author: Nikolai Kosmin
Illustrator: Gennady Kalinovsky, Raisa Kalinovskaya
Year: 1994
Publisher: Performance

Original title: Пико — хрустальное горлышко
Piko — The Crystal Throat by Nikolai Kosmin is a fairy tale about a small thrush named Piko, born in the kingdom of Vrunglupia — a land where lies, flattery, envy, and spite are part of daily life. Piko is different: he speaks the truth and has a fragile crystal throat, something rare and precious that can change the world around him.
The book is illustrated by Raisa and Gennady Kalinovsky. Their drawings stand out for their sharp humor and slightly uneasy energy. Characters are shown with quirks that make them memorable and a little unsettling, balancing between grotesque and playful. This mix gives the story a distinctive tone, where satire and fairy-tale imagination work side by side.