Writers’ Paradise

I was looking for some children’s books for my daughter in The Works and I came across Fisherman and the Goldfish by famous Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. I have read most of Pushkin’s works including this children’s story which has been written in verse. I wanted to buy the book, but it was very costly. I remember when we were children, I and my siblings used to read a lot of Russian books translated in English. They used to be so cheap, and yet so classy. Most of the books were in hardbound, with glossy covers and great drawings accompanying the text. Our father used to pick up these books in book fairs or exhibitions. We were unaware what USSR meant or what was its ideology, and we were least bothered to know. But we loved Russian story books. I read many Russian folk tales and story books. Now the Russian publishing houses have closed shop and we don’t get to see those books. The old editions have become costly. I still have some and I have called my mom to pack them. When I go home next time, I will bring them so that my daughter can also enjoy the beautiful world of stories.
My Favorite Russian chidlren story books are:
Timur and his Squad by Arkadi gaidar
Adventures of Captain Vrungel by Andrei Nekrasov
Aldar Kose: Kazakh Folk tales about a witty and comic charachter.
The Three Kingdoms by Alexander Afanasiev
Amphibian by Alexander Beliaev
The Three Fat Men by Yuri Olesha
I found a site which has many Russian children’s books which you can download.

With such multitude of children’s books to choose from, where do you begin? Here are some guidelines to help you to select books for children.

• When you go to the bookstore or library, allow yourself as much time as possible.
• Whenever possible, take your child, so that she can experience the pleasure of browsing through books.
• If you are choosing a book for your child to look at, choose one suitable for his age level. When selecting a book for story telling, select one aimed about a year and a half above your child’s age.
• Choose a mixture of short and long stories, and as your child gets older, she could have a bedtime book, with a chapter that is read every night.
• Check to see if the book has any images or ideas that might frighten your child; this is especially important if it is a book for bedtime. Also avoid just glancing at the first two pages; you might be caught out by an unexpected ending.
• Choose books that you know your child has an interest in- for example animals or transport. Also consider books that deal with childhood issues like feelings, sharing and friendship.
• Make sure that there is a balance of books between the fantastical and the everyday, with a wide range of human emotions.
• Non-fiction books are great for dealing with First time situations like new baby in the family, going to the doctor, or the first day at school. They can also be used to explore an interest your child may have-for example dinosaurs-or to answer questions about the world around us.
• Choose books that contain clear illustrations that illuminate the text, and in the case of fiction, give an idea of the sequence of the story.
• Finally, and very importantly, allow your child to have some input into the selection of books.