#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The most famous children’s writers and illustrators took part in the events of Children’s Book Week from March 23 to 31.
“I understand why the harsh and cruel Taimyr allowed these very people to settle on its land – the Dolgans, Nganasans, Enets, Nenets and Evenks. They love to laugh and make people laugh. He (Taimyr) wanted to intimidate them with frosts, winds and wild animals, but they made him laugh, and he simply forgot what exactly he was going to do”, children’s writer Sofya Belova began the presentation of her new book with these words.
One of the week’s highlights for all northerners was the presentation of the Polar Star book series, which includes children’s literature in the languages of the peoples of the North. The presentation of the first book in the series, a collection of children’s stories in Russian and Dolgan languages, was held by the author – children’s writer Sofya Belova and one of the most famous polar artists Dmitry Gusev.
At a meeting with readers, which took place in the ethnographic library No. 86 of Moscow, they not only presented the first books from the Polar Star series, but also announced for the first time that a gift was being prepared for the children of the Krasnoyarsk region and other territories of Russia – the second collection of funny stories about adventures of a schoolboy who went on vacation to his grandfather, a reindeer herder.
“The first stories about the boy Seryozha, his grandfather and their dog named Gray were published in the Yakut publishing house Ayar in 2023. We are now preparing a complete edition. It will be published not only in Russian and Dolgan, but also in Nenets and Yakut languages”, the author of the book, Sofya Belova, shared at the meeting with readers.
The adventures of a modern schoolboy in the tundra really appealed to readers.
“This will be a very beautiful book, as it tells about the beauty of the Yenisey’s lower reaches – the most affluent river in Russia. Five peoples live together there: Nenets, Enets, Dolgans, Nganasans and Evenks. Each of them has its own culture: unique clothing, reindeer harnesses, homes, and even dog breeds. Our book is designed to show not only the unique landscapes of this region, but also the charm of its inhabitants – cheerful and hardworking”, Dmitry Gusev explained.
As the author said, the idea for the book was born when she listened to stories about Taimyr by Sergey Sizonenko, the North Minorities Union’s head.
“He surprised me with his desire to attract all the people to Taimyr. Sergey is the most active defender of the indigenous peoples’ culture that I know, because he himself is a Dolgan. Therefore, I decided that the main character – the Dolgan boy who gathers everyone on adventures – should be called Seryozha (Sergey)”, the author of the book said during her speech.
The Polar Star book series includes fiction and educational literature in the native languages of the peoples of the North. The series includes texts found during the Clean Arctic – Vostok – 77 expedition, as well as literary works by authors writing about the life of indigenous peoples.
Earlier, This Is Taimyr reported that new Arctic all-terrain vehicles could be named after the indigenous peoples of the North.
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Text: Polina Lyubimaya, Photo: Sofya Belova’s personal archive
