KONASHEVICH, Vladimir & MEKSIN, Iakov:. Kak Alla Khvorala [How Alla Became Ill] by Iakov Meksin. FIRST EDITION 1926. Moscow & Leningsgrad, 1926. 4to in the original illustrated stapled wraps. 19 pages, illustrated throughout in color. Some edgewear but overall very well preserved and clean

First edition – very rare illustrated children’s book with delightful cover design and book illustrations by Vladimir Konashevich, one of Russia’s most celebrated children’s book artists

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Konashevich (or Konasevic)1888-1963, Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg) was a Russian graphic artist and illustrator. Among his artwork are scores for Manon Lescaut and Andersen’s The Fairy Tales. Konashevich also illustrated the works of Samuil Marshak and Daniil Kharms

“After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks aimed to create a modern socialist society which would be populated by a new Soviet man, who would take control of his own destiny and build a communist future. The first generation of Soviet children were perfect modelling material for this new type of citizen and the kindergarten was marked out as one of the institutions which would foster revolutionary transformation. Picture books for young children which featured the kindergarten acted as a guidebook for the rational, socialist education which was envisaged by progressive educators. Story book kindergartens were exemplary institutions where children engaged in a collective daily routine. Stories taught the reader how play was training for work and that pre-schoolers were capable of learning to work for the good of the group. They modelled political activism with children taking part in communist festivals and spending time with Pioneers. Authors and illustrators also realized that children were still children and embedded even the most political picture books with humour, brightly coloured pictures and easy-to-grasp imagery.” – “How Alla Became Ill” is “about a group of children who miss their friend Alla when she does not turn up at the kindergarten for several days in a row. They want her to come back so that she can finish her part of the model town that they are making and they miss her laughter when they play games. The children compose a letter for Alla, which they dictate to Aunty Inna, so that they can find out what the matter is. Fedia is asked to deliver the letter, as he is Alla’s neighbour and he bravely fights his way past a big scary dog to do so. When he returns the next day with the reply, the group find out that Alla has caught malaria but she is beginning to feel better and is not contagious, so will be back soon. The children celebrate by replying to her letter, sending gifts that they have made and a poem declaring that they are not afraid of mosquitoes, so will crush all the nasty insects. The children are a firm collective, following the correct routine and procedures of the socialist pre-school, but their relationships remain close and affectionate. They are still scared of things but will do anything to overcome their fears and help a friend” (Quoting from Modelling the Socialist Kindergarten in the Early Soviet Picture Book by FRANCES SADDINGTON).