The Adventures of Cipollino

Original title: Приключения Чиполлино

Gianni Rodari — The Adventures of Cipollino (illustrated by Yevgeny Galey, Detgiz, 1960) was the first of Rodari’s books to be published in a foreign language and quickly became one of the most beloved stories among children in the Soviet Union. Translated under the supervision of Samuil Marshak in the early 1950s, the book introduced Soviet readers to Rodari’s playful, satirical world. Cipollino, a small onion boy, quickly became a familiar character alongside other favorites like Petrushka, Buratino, and Thumbelina. The story’s popularity led to toys, animated films, and adaptations that kept the characters alive in children’s culture for decades.

Yevgeny Galey’s illustrations capture the humor and individuality of Rodari’s characters, from the tomato-can carriage to the distinctive vegetable houses. His detailed and imaginative drawings convey both the action of the story and the personalities of the characters, showing the cleverness, bravery, and wit that define Cipollino and his friends. Galey’s work reflects the approach of Soviet illustrators of the time: operating under ideological constraints, they found ways to create engaging, lively, and visually rich images that complemented the text and brought Rodari’s stories to life.