In the last two years, different stories were published, inspired, however, by one author, the legend of American literature Mark Twain.

One of them, “The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine” (Doubleday, 2017), is an unfinished tale by Twain himself, which was found by chance in his papers by a scientist, who was searching for the recipes. Then Caldecott Medal winners, Philip and Erin Stead, received an opportunity to complete the story and bring it back to life.

The second was a book by Italian author Davide Morosinotto, “Il rinomato catalogo Walker & Dawn” or, in English, “The Pocket Watch Gang” (Mondadori, 2016). The story begins in 1904 in Louisiana, United States. In the delta of the Mississippi River, among the canals and marshes, in the palm forests live Te Trois, Eddie, Julie, and Tit – all of them are so different, but it is hard to imagine friends closer. They have a Walker & Down shopping Catalog, 3 dollars and a great desire to discover the world. And when, instead of an ordered revolver, they receive an old clock that does not even work, the four, without a second doubt, travel to Chicago to get their revolver.

During the trip, they will meet with professional fraudsters, corrupt cops, villains who seem to be kind and nice people-although they are not, unsolved crime and big, just huge money…

Well, that sounds great, but where is the connection between Morosinotto and Twain I mentioned above, you may ask? As the author himself said in one of the interviews, for him it is a very personal work, a tribute to the memory of his own childhood and the book he loved a lot. This book obviously was “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and the plot and the whole stylistic of “The Pocket Watch Gang” is very similar to Twain’s masterpiece.

In my heart, Morosinotto’s story has a very special place. It is the first book I have ever translated from Italian into Russian. The narration is separated into four parts: every hero tells his own story in the adventure and I was the voice of the only girl among them, Julie Dart.

The book is stylish: it is illustrated with old maps and the chapters are kin to newspapers of the beginning of the XX century. Plus the plot is strong: it is interesting, it is captivating, it has a mystery – and a reader has a chance to figure out who is the bad guy by himself.

“The Pocket Watch Gang” won important European literary awards like Andersen prize in 2017 in 12+ category. I’m dying for it to be published in English because the artistic merits of this book are doubtless. Moreover, it is also very American by the atmosphere, and of course, by the location.

I know that “Book on a Tree” agency has already done the English translation and now this wonderful story is waiting for its publisher. Cross my fingers!

There is a short book that every Russian speaking person knows (well, it gained huge popularity mainly after the release of the eponymous cartoon) – The Hedgehog in the Fog by Sergei Kozlov.

Yuriy Norshtein, the most famous Russian animator and one of the best in his profession in the world, used Kozlov’s script and made a short cartoon. And, believe me, it’s an absolute must see.

The plot is plain: there are two friends, Hedgehog and Bear, and almost every evening they drink tea with raspberry jam and watch stars. The narrative begins when Hedgehog goes to Bear’s house and suddenly a dense fog comes: Hedgehog can barely see the road. He met Eagle-Owl, who scared him, he lost his sack in the darkness, but a huge Dog found it and returned it to Hedgehog. And then he saw a white Horse, so mysterious and kind and huge… But Eagle-Owl chased him and scared Hedgehog, who couldn’t see a thing in the fog and fell into the river. The Fish helped him and carried to Bear’s home.

Although the plot may seem abstract and incoherent, the charm of this story lies exactly in its poetry. In fact, the whole tale is an eternal metaphor of the opposition between darkness and light, fear and love. Its secret is in the method of impact on readers: the story seeps into you not at the level of logic, but right through your heart.

Hope, power of real friendship and love will lead you through the darkest night and thickest fog. And the whole world will seem a better place if you have someone you can share a cup of tea and a star in the sky with.

When you turn the last page of the book, you see the postscript: “For reading by adult kids”. It is true. When you immerse into the story, you make a journey to the world of your childhood dreams and phantasies. It is so easy to associate your inner child with this small hedgehog, lost and frightened in the foggy world without guidance. The only guide he has is his friend – we all, I am sure, remember this feeling of petrifying fear when you lose sight of your mom or dad especially among the crowd or in the dark room.

Therefore, Hedgehog’s story is totally suitable for little children as well.  It is all about how many layers you can perceive: you see the story from one side as a kid, and then, as you get older, more hidden sense is revealed to you.

I often think about the special things that form the mentality of every nation.

We, Russians, possess the talent of describing depressive, though powerful inner movements of a soul: pity and sorrow, grief and apathy without a reason – and light melancholy when you know that everything comes to an end, and it is fatalistic but yet beautiful to tears. It would be easier to catch this feeling if you just watch the legendary cartoon “Hedgehog in the Fog” and read the book.

Marie-Aude Murail is a contemporary French children books author who is very famous across Europe.

I don’t speak French that is why I read her in Russian translation which is nonetheless great, not least due to the past tradition: there was a long period in Russian history and culture when we admired everything French and every noble and educated person spoke French even better than Russian.

Her last book, “Miss Charity”, is a story about Victorian age girl Charity Tiddler, who is more smart than beautiful; who wanted to be a scientist, but became a book author and illustrator – and who totally disagreed with Victorian ideal of a woman as a person with only one purpose – to marry successfully.

The fact that this book hadn’t been translated into English absolutely astonished me because the author herself admitted that she was inspired by the life of the iconic British writer and illustrator, who is well-known all around the world – Beatrix Potter.

It’s not a biography, rather a story based on life events. Mrs. Murail said she had added more colors – and the only way to spice a story a little bit is to add a handsome young gentleman. Charity not only fell in love but also met Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, which made the plot even more interesting.

In spite of the fact that the events take place in the past, the questions it raises are incredibly modern and relevant. In the époque of feminism, we still don’t have enough good fiction children books where heroines wouldn’t be stereotypical and grotesque.

Charity wants to find herself, to do what she likes – but we all hear even nowadays that a woman’s destiny is to sacrifice her interests to the interests of the family. That’s why this young lady is very skeptical about the institution of marriage: for her, it means the denial of her lifework, painting, and literature.

However, it’s a happy ending story both in the book and in life. Charity was lucky to combine a love for a man with love for work and creation – like real Beatrix, who married her publisher. The publisher yet died from cancer a few weeks later, which is in fact not a happy ending, but Beatrix married again years after.

“Miss Charity” is the very book which is valued not only for its plot but also for the atmosphere created. It is humorous, airy, filled with hope and courage– and I love it so much. 

“Pollyanna” has a special place in my heart among all of my favorite books.

It is probably one of the sunniest and happiest books in the world – and I must admit – only grownups can fully appreciate its optimism.

Pollyanna, an orphan girl, came to the house of her only relative alive, Aunt Polly, who doesn’t demonstrate much compassion. Although she is not a witchy stepmother from old fairy-tales, she just considers Pollyanna’s nurture her burden and does it without love. Aunt Polly is trying to be strict and demanding; however, she would soon realize with a huge amusement that Pollyanna accepts any punishment with gratitude.

The key of her attitude to every single occurrence as a positive thing is a game invented by her father, poor priest, who taught her to see good in all things and find advantages even in troubles. One day when Pollyanna asked for a doll and was given crutches instead, father told her that it was certainly for good and she could be happy because she had no need for them.

From this moment little Pollyanna played this game regularly and seemed to be an odd optimist who doesn’t notice the tragedy of life.

I don’t really know how a child can perceive Pollyanna’s joy: is it an essential condition for young readers, do they see the protagonist as an ordinary girl who plays a funny game? Or perhaps they might consider her strange with her constant state of gratitude and happiness?

Talking about adults, one thing is obvious for me: we all know how hard it is to be happy, to feel the harmony and grace of the world in everyday life. We have already learned that happiest people are not born optimists but choose consciously to be them; they possess strength and courage to overcome sadness and trouble.  

Apparently, Pollyanna is not a kind of a “God’s fool” with a blissful smile. There is a moment in the book when she explains to Nancy, Aunt Polly’s maid, her philosophy and she appears before us as a strong person and critical thinker who knows how hard life actually is. As we immerse deeper into reading, she begins to seem so incredibly cheerful that it’s easy to forget about all the circumstances of her life: her mother died when she was very young; less than one year ago her beloved father died too and now she is living with a strict woman who feels no love for her and who could only provide an attic for her only niece in her big rich house.

Pollyanna’s optimism, as a matter of fact, is nothing else but an elaborated attitude. This little girl deliberately chose the hardest path: she sees grief, pain, trouble, but tries to smile anyway.

And that’s why she is my hero.

I was extremely surprised when I didn’t find a good modern edition of “Pollyanna” in English. The masterpiece of the American children literature remained unattended by great illustrators. That’s why I want to show you the last Russian edition (Malysh, 2013) with illustrations by Anatoly Slepkov. I found them absolutely perfect: so sunny, vintage, full of light and colors.

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I surely knew Roald Dahl. But it was only after I moved to Canada that I realized that I have never read his children novels, with the exception of a few ironic and dark humor short stories.

Well, I must admit it was a huge mistake. His “Matilda” is not only a real masterpiece but also one of a few examples of good children literature for girls of the 90s.

But first let me remind you the plot: there is an extraordinary girl Matilda who started to read when she was 3 and finished almost all Dickens by the age of 5. Her parents are totally gormless: telly is their only love. The story begins when Matilda’s father, Mr. Wormwood, insults the girl and she decides to seek revenge and does some smart tricks. When the time to go to school has come Matilda meets a young teacher, Miss Honey, who soon realizes how amazing this girl is. But the new acquaintance with the smart adult who appreciates Matilda hasn’t made her school life easier; the headmaster, Miss Trunchbull, terrorizes the whole school and Matilda attracts her special attention. Soon Miss Honey’s secret related to Miss Trunchbull is revealed and Matilda becomes her savior.  

“Matilda” for me is an epitome of so-called “girls’ literature”: a clever and humorous book about an extraordinary girl who, however, is totally understandable in her ordinariness. It is easy to relate with Matilda: we all had problems with parents; we all get angry and can’t control strong emotions.

But “Matilda” is also a true gem of British humor: smart and sarcastic, subtle and sharp, it works as a spell against the terror and imbecility. Matilda is a rare hero who wields the power of laugh: her tricks against Mr. Wormwood devaluate his own sense of worth – and exposes his stupidity and narrow-mindedness.  Professor Lupin from “Harry Potter” once said about Boggart, the creature that represents the fear itself: “The thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter”.

That’s“Matilda”’s message to young girls: intelligence, self-esteem, declaration of your own feelings and sense of humor definitely rule the world. 

By the way,  to help me with memorizing new words (and for me the best way to do it is to listen to someone who pronounces them), I found an audiobook read by Kate Winslet. How gorgeous is her narration! Well, the text is already marvelous without any doubt, but the magic of Kate’s talent somehow made it even better.  Highly recommended!