Le Bookiniste

Pro Kotov, Yezhey, Myshey i Vesolykh Malyshey [About Cats, Hedgehogs, Mice and Funny Kids]

Belomlinsky, Mikhail

Leningrad: Detskaya Literatura, 1967.

A profusely illustrated Soviet children's book by Mikhail Belomlinsky featuring a veritable menagerie of mischievous cats, mice, kangaroos, hedgehogs, elephants, horses, tigers, squirrels, birds, and much more (kids too).

A giraffe blocks traffic, angering the other animals. Cats and bats fly in the air. A grandmother kangaroo has her child and grandchild in her pouch. A monkey plays the piano with all fours....

Many illustrations are accompanied by short phrases or verses by Volta Suslova. They help to explain the images but they're secondary to Belomlinksy's wonderful art work. The Soviet publishing company for children's literature, Detskaya Literatura, issued this book in 1967. Text entirely in Russian.

Belomlinsky (1934-2020) was born in Leningrad and received an MFA degree from the Leningrad Academy of Fine Art, a respected art school. Soon after graduation, Belomlinsky got the opportunity to illustrate J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, beginning his journey as an illustrator. Over his lifetime, he illustrated books, posters, and greeting cards and created an online art gallery.

In 1989, Belomlinsky moved to New York and worked as a creative director for Novoe Russkoe Slovo, a Russian-language newspaper. The Harriman Institute at Columbia University exhibited works by Belomlinsky in 2017, and his works have appeared in other exhibitions as well.

A beautifully illustrated Soviet children's book. Scarce in commerce and in institutional holdings.

PHYSICAL DETAILS: Small Quarto (10 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches; 274 x 215 mm), [20] pages, in stapled, pictorial wrappers (soft cover).

CONDITION Some edge wear, creasing and toning. A beautiful copy in Very Good or better condition. Item #2962

Price: $250.00