The Pioneer of the Pioneers (1962)

This books celebrates the voyage of Yuri Gagarin and how he inspired the Soviet nation. It has impressions of the flight, history of Gagarin, b&w photographs, and a large number of children's drawings of space flight. I have chosen to highlight these drawings as capturing the excitement children may have felt at the idea of people going into space. 

The Pioneer of the Pioneers. Moscow : Young Guard Press. 80 p. 20 cm. 1962.

On Space Flights (1956)

 

On Space Flight is a softcover Russian scientific book. It was published by The Young Guard publishing house and was intended for older children interested in rockets and space. The author was a Soviet astronomer who was known for his studies of gas dynamics. The book is mostly text but does have several nice illustrations.

Kirill Petrovich Stanyukovich. On Space Flights. Moscow : Young Guard. 32 p. 20 cm. 1956.

New Year's Night of Sputniks (1967)

 

A strange and yet seasonal children's book for New Year's Eve. This is a long Estonian poem with illustrations by Olev Soans. His style of art is a strange technical collage. The images are beautifully drawn but also slightly disturbing (not unlike the past year). Happy New Year and the rise of hope.

New Year's Night of Sputniks. Helvi Jurisson. Drawn by Olev Soans. Tallinn : Eesti Raamat. 19 p. 13.5 cm x 19.5 cm, 1967.

Colored Legend About Space (1979)

 

Merry Christmas. As my Xmas posting I would like to share the joys of drawings by children about space. I hope you are having a chance to recharge and do something fun.

Out of scope for my blog with its 1979 Estonian publication date.  It seems to be illustrated entirely by paintings of space flight done by young children. I had came across an actual book of drawings done in 1972 by American schoolchildren which this current book reminds me a lot of. I blogged about that book in 2017.

https://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-is-for-astronaut-classroom-tribute-to.html

The book is almost too big to scan since every 2 page spread is a work of art.  Enjoy!

Tiia Toomet. Colored Legend About Space. Tallinn : Kunst. 1979

Our Conversations With Vovka (1960)

 

Our Conversations with Vovka is a book of stories for junior schoolchildren. Almost no space content except for the cover and 1 story inside.

V. Golyavkin. Artists, M. Belomlinsky and B. Starodubtsev. Our Conversations with Vovka. Leningrad : Children's Literature Publishing House. 44 p. 8.5 inches. 1960.