A RUSSIAN ARTIST, GENNADY SPIRIN, ILLUSTRATES CLASSIC TOLSOY AND CHEKHOV STORIES FOR CHILDREN

Born in a small town near Moscow, Russia, on Christmas Day, 1948, Gennady Spirin had an artistic talent recognized at an early age.  He graduated from Surikov School of Fine Art at the Academy of Arts in Moscow and Moscow Stoganov Institute of Art.  He developed his own style over the years, combining traditional Russian contemporary art technique with the great traditions of the Renaissance.  His sumptuous colors and delicate lines set his unique illustrations in a class of their own; they are full of realistic precision, but also have an ethereal quality that lends itself perfectly to both classics and fairy tale stories.

My next post will feature some of his fairy tale adaptations, but today I want to share two of his picture books written by classic authors of Russian literature...

PHILIPOK - this is a retelling of Tolstoy's simple tale set in 19th-century Russia. Young Philipok wants nothing more than to go to school with his elder brother, Peter. He waits until his grandmother falls asleep, gets his hat and coat, and sets out through the snow to the schoolhouse on the other side of the village. Cold and frightened when he arrives, he earns the privilege of staying at school.

KASHTANKA In this rather quirky story by Anton Chekov (also set in 19th-Century Russia), a dog, separated from her master, is taken in by a kindly circus performer.   Kashtanka quickly adjusts to her new surroundings, which are shared with a goose, a white cat, and a pig - but in the end she is heartwarmingly reunited with her original owners. (ages 8 and up)

THE CIRCUS IS COMING TO TOWN!!!!

"In all the whole town, the most wonderful spot
Is behind Sneelock's store, in the big vacant lot.
It's just the right spot for my wonderful plans,"
said young Morris McGurk, "...if I clean up the cans."


So begins one of my all-time favorite read alouds, IF I RAN THE CIRCUS! "Young Morris McGurk" goes on to dream up a whole scenario about how he'll get animals and acts for his "CIRCUS McGURKUS". The zany rhymes and wacky nonsense words and pictures will draw any child into Morris' imagined plan that involves poor, unsuspecting Mr. Sneelock as his unlikely hero. If this won't get your kids imaginations fired up, I don't know what will!

I just saw a commercial advertising the RINGLING BROS. and BARNAM & BAILEY CIRCUS coming to our area, and was reminded of when a dear friend took our family to the circus. The whole experience made such an impression, that our kids' new favorite pastime became "Playing Circus". I made them up like clowns and they constructed a "tent" over our swing set with a bed sheet and sent their stuffed animals tumbling down the slide. We pretended their jumprope, lying on the grass, was a tightrope. My oldest son, David (then about five) illustrated a "book", dictating to me the experience of his afternoon at the circus. We still have it and I can't believe how he captured what he saw that day in his artwork (especially the elephants!).

"Circus Day" with Dave and Mary in our backyard.  

MORE PICTURE BOOKS:
SEE THE CIRCUS (Lift the Flap Series) by H.A. Rey, author/illustrator of the CURIOUS GEORGE books. (Baby-preschool)
CIRCUS written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert (ages 3-6)
OLIVIA SAVES THE CIRCUS by Ian Falconer (ages 3-7)
MADELINE AND THE GYPSIES by Ludwig Bemelmans (ages 3-7)
PETER SPIER'S CIRCUS (ages 4-8)
THE CIRCUS IS COMING (a Golden Classic) written and illustrated by Hilary Knight. (ages 4-8)
PADDINGTON BEAR AT THE CIRCUS by Michael Bond. (ages 4-6)
INDIA, THE SHOWSTOPPER by Kerry Argent (ages 4-8) Young circus (and elephant) fans will enjoy this story.
THE PAINTED CIRCUS: P.T. VERMIN PRESENTS A MESMERIZING MENAGERIE... by Wallace Edwards. (ages 6-8)


NON-FICTION BOOKS:
WHO PUT THE B IN BALLYHOO?The Most Amazing, Bizarre, and Celebrated Performers, by Carlyn Beccia. (ages 7-10)
CIRCUS by Linda Granfield. (ages 12 and up)

THE FUN AND DETAIL OF PETER SPIER

I hope you'll go and find a Peter Spier book at the library or bookstore after you see this blog post! Perfect for relaxing summer days, Peter Spier's (often wordless or nearly wordless) stories are beautifully illustrated with delicate black line drawings and watercolor wash. The pictures are so filled with detail, you can get lost in them!

Our family's top 4 favorites:

PETER SPIER'S CIRCUS - watch as an empty field gets transformed into a Big Top village, as the circus rolls into town!

BORED NOTHING TO DO! - find out what happens when two very bored brothers decide to build an airplane. (This was one of my husband's favorite books to read with our kids.)

NOAH'S ARK (Caldecott Medal Winner) - in this almost wordless book, the illustrations provide us with a nonverbal story of Noah and give great perspective to the enormous task ahead of him.

PETER SPIER'S CHRISTMAS! - somehow all the sights, sounds, joys, and gentle chaos of a family Christmas are portrayed in this book. Without words. Love it!

Other books by Peter Spier, not to be missed:

PETER SPIER'S RAIN

ERIE CANAL

WE THE PEOPLE

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

THE BOOK OF JONAH

CRASH, BANG, BOOM