Best illustrated books all over the world
These illustrations are among Kalinovsky’s most distinctive works. They earned him two major international awards — a silver medal at the Leipzig Book Fair and the Golden Apple at the 1977 Biennial of Illustration Bratislava. Kalinovsky approached the American folktales of Joel Chandler Harris not as light children’s stories but […]
Fred forgets everything — his head is filled only with music. The flute plays, and all else just slips away. Even when he’s sent to fetch the Bitter Fruit of Satisfaction for the richest man in the world, he seems more tuned in to melody than to mission. Along the […]
The letter, almost like a living character, rushes across the pages: picked up by postmen, flying in airplanes, sailing on ships, riding on horseback, even sliding on sleds. Each time it finds a new messenger hurrying to deliver it to the right place. And though the letter is always a […]
A timeless picture book about Max, a boy who sails to the land of the Wild Things and becomes their king. Maurice Sendak’s iconic story, blending sparse text with powerful illustrations, captures childhood imagination, mischief, and the comfort of home. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal, it remains one of […]
This edition of Gulliver’s Travels features illustrations by Gennady Kalinovsky, who brings Swift’s story to life with careful attention to both thought and feeling. The Lilliputians are small but full of character—each one active, clever, and distinct. Gulliver’s presence makes their tiny world feel both real and surprising. Kalinovsky didn’t […]
Original title: Ведьмы и все прочие Fairy tales by Annie Schmidt, the most famous children’s writer of the Netherlands, winner of the Andersen Gold Medal and many other literary awards. In the book “Witches and All the Others” she reworks famous fairy tale plots in an original way.
In 1968 the Soviet Union published Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Gennady V. Kalinovsky. His black-and-white drawings immediately stood out and later editions also included a selection of color plates. The book quickly became one of the most beloved editions of Travers’s classic in Russia. Kalinovsky’s […]
Caps for Sale is a timeless classic beloved by millions…one of the most popular picture books ever published! This picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom, as children love chanting along with the naughty monkeys. Children will delight in following the peddler’s efforts […]
To Daniel the garden shed stands between the familar world of the garden and Grandfather, and a derelict railway yard where nothing changes until one day when a fire brings new possibilities.
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 […]
Original title: Послушай-ка, слон One day, instead of taking the vitamins his mother so thoughtfully gave him, Pinya secretly feeds them to Dominic, a white porcelain elephant he found in the attic. After a while, Dominic suddenly discovers that his bookshelf has become a bit cramped. Thus, Pinya gains a […]
Original title: Ognivo Andersen’s tale of the soldier, the witch, and the magical tinderbox is one of his earliest works, first published in 1835. Behind its simple plot of greed, chance, and power lies a story about desire and its consequences, about how quickly fortune can turn. Viktor Chizhikov’s illustrations […]
Original title: Zagadki The first riddles by Korney Chukovsky appeared in 1928 in the children’s magazine Yozh. For decades, the poet returned to this playful form, weaving rhythm, humor, and hidden meaning into short verses. In this edition, the riddles unfold with the illustrations of Viktor Chizhikov. His images add […]
Thomas Handforth was not Chinese, but that did not stop him from publishing one of the most iconic children’s books of the time in 1939, dedicated to the peculiarities of Chinese culture and tradition. A successful American engraver and artist, Handforth traveled a lot, having traveled almost half the world. […]
A hundred years ago, in 1920, Hugh Lofting’s The Story of Doctor Dolittle was published. Just a few years later, in 1923–1924, Korney Chukovsky adapted it into Russian and soon created his own verse tales about Doctor Aybolit. In 1936, the fairy tale Doctor Aybolit was published, and since then […]
Original title: Dobryy den’ Good Day is a collection of poems and tales by Lev Kuzmin. His writing combines simplicity and warmth, with themes that speak directly to children. Everyday situations turn into playful verses and short stories, full of humor and rhythm. The book is illustrated by Viktor Chizhikov. […]
A beautiful, slightly dark book that reinterprets the plots of well-known fairy tales, with authentic illustrations by Anthony Brown that rhythmically fit the poetry of Gwen Strauss. The characters familiar to us from childhood find themselves in a metaphorical dark forest, where they face their fears, experiencing moments of love, […]
This picture book is a warm collection of short verses and little stories about children playing, pretending, and figuring out the world together. Ruth Krauss’s text is simple and playful, and Maurice Sendak’s drawings capture the small, everyday dramas and joys of childhood. It’s an early example of how well […]
Original title: Otkuda berutsya sny Every day, a boy in a striped cap named Didis works tirelessly. He catches fluffy clouds and shadows of rainbow butterflies in his magic net. Sometimes he manages to catch the bright tail of a big rainbow and add the buzzing of bees and croaking […]
Original title: Dvadtsat’ let pod krovat’yu Twenty Years Under the Bed by Viktor Dragunsky is a humorous short story from the Deniska’s Stories cycle. The children decide to play hide-and-seek in a communal apartment. Denis hides under a neighbor’s bed, but the game ends before anyone remembers about him. Left […]