Golyavkin, V. [We are playing Antarctica] Mi igraem v Antarktidu.

Golyavkin, V. [We are playing Antarctica] Mi igraem v Antarktidu.

Leningrad: Detskiy Mir, 1961. 8vo. 14 pp; illustrated.

In original wrappers; worn, lightly stained, chipped; wrappers discolored in places. Yellowed, foxed. Overall in near good condition.

The first and only edition with these illustrations. 

Famous children’s story by Victor Golyavkin illustrated by Vadim Gusev and Nikolai Koshelkov. We are playing Antarctica is a realistic tale about two brothers being left at home alone and pretending to be Antarctica explorers, like their father, who is currently away on an expedition. The dinner table becomes a tent, wardrobe becomes an iceberg, and the family cat takes on the unfortunate role of a whale (and later a penguin) that the boys are trying to hunt down.

Masterful illustrations by Gusev and Koshelkov show a mix of real and imaginative - a Soviet apartment and the faraway South Pole, whales and penguins beside pillows and teddy bears. The colors are vibrant: reds, and yellows, and blues, bright lines and simple shapes in a continuous, beautiful conjunction.

Vadim Gusev (1931-2008) is a famous illustrator as well as a notable author. Aside from illustrating books, he was also known for his work as a poster artist and was well versed in theatre costume design.

Nikolai Koshelkov (1934-1955) is an artist, an illustrator, and art professor. Worked with posters, abstract compositions, and thematic paintings; his works were included in many Russian, Soviet, and foreign exhibitions since 1958.

Gusev and Koshelkov worked on several children’s books together: Devil’s dozen (1960), We are playing Antarctica (1961), and Difficult letters (1964).

We couldn’t trace any copy of this edition in USA or European libraries via OCLC.