Tatyana Kovalkova. A new name in modern children's literature. Review of the book by L. Kuzmina-Zavyalova “On the Kudykin Mountain”. Lyubov Kuzmina-Zavyalova. On Kudykina mountain Lyubov kuzmina zavyalova heavenly peach content of the story

If you are a connoisseur of children's works in the style of "Alice ...", then you may like the book "On Kudykina Gora". Of course, one must have a certain courage, I would even say, literary impudence, in order to take a swing at our Lewis Carroll, but Lyubov Kuzmina-Zavyalova (and the surname is suitable :)) was not afraid.

You can, of course, suspect her of copying, borrowing some of the plot moves of Alice's adventures: here too main character girl (Nastya), she also accidentally and miraculously finds herself in an unusual and fairy-tale world where animals can talk and all sorts of fables and absurdities happen ... True, unlike Alice, Nastya has a self-formulated goal: to find her older brother in the imaginary world.

Well, of course, parallels with the great books of Carroll are observed here and there, but ... if you come to terms with the idea that this book does not pretend to originality and superiority, then you can simply enjoy reading, because this work has its own highlights there will be plenty too.

Firstly, these are all kinds of "squiggles" of the Russian language. which are generously scattered throughout the text. It is interesting to look for them with the child and discuss, because not everything will be clear to him. (Some puzzles in the style children's competition in linguistics "Russian bear cub", who knows, he will understand.)

Secondly, just funny situations in which the main character finds herself. And finally, Tatyana Emelyanova's curious and original illustrations, which are on every page.

Here is a quote from one of the children's literature sites:

"Lyubov Nikolaevna Kuzmina-Zavyalova is a Russian children's writer. The text of the story "On Kudykina Gora" is literally permeated with "pearl drops" of genuine folk speech. The heroes use proverbs and sayings, riddles, jokes in conversation. This tale can be considered a kind of children's encyclopedia of Russian folklore. "

For my taste, there is of course some protracted plot and in some places the artificiality of situations. But in general, it does not spoil the overall impression.

Who is the book for? Apparently for children who are the same age as the main character - from 8 to 10. It is recommended to read with their parents.

And finally, two passages:

The street is full of chirping May air, pierced by golden rays; the trees have finally unpacked and are now boastfully shaking their clean foliage; herds of drowsy goats graze in the sun, burdocks crowd and watchdogs itch with inspiration ...
In a word, wherever you turn - around cheerful pictures native nature, in every way pleasing to the eye (unless, of course, he accidentally fell on the acetic physiognomy of Nastya Zagogulina ...).

Weaving, then Nastya home and on the way thinking intently. Her thoughts are approximately the following: “Well, this is already impudence - three times a week torturing children like that! May they burn, these stupid dictations, and whoever invented them, may they also burn! And at the same time, the school to burn down! Oh, there are shortcakes with raisins in the buffet ... Well, okay, let it burn with the shortbreads!

It is immediately evident that a heavy stone lies on the soul of a person.

- Well, now I'll check you for IMAGINATION - and stomp.
Ah, and here, perhaps, to answer, as in school ?! - Nastya was indignant. - No way I won't!

You don't really break our rules! - snapped the mole. - Otherwise, I can tame you! How to call someone more terrible from the forest!

Ask already, - grumbled Nastya. - What if I don't have a drop of this ... IMAGINATION? What then?

Yes, don’t be afraid, - the Bureaucrot softened, - all the questions are nonsense, kindergarten ... You, Nastya, how old are you?

Already past eight...

So why are you shaking like you're three and a half? Tell me, what is a bagel?

Mmm ... This is a bagel that was chasing and chasing its tail and even caught up with it! - Nastya blurted out and immediately thought with horror: “Oh, moms! What kind of stupidity have I screwed up? Well, now they will slap me a deuce! .. "

Lyubov Kuzmina-Zavyalova "On Kudykina Mountain". The story is a fairy tale. St. Petersburg: Children's International Cultural Center, 2006

Letters come to the author of this book through children's libraries. For example, such: “Dear author, Lyubov Nikolaevna! I like your book very much. She has a very interesting name. My mother and I have already read about the adventures of Harry Potter, and I myself read about Carlson, about Captain Vrungel and, of course, Russian fairy tales. And I especially like the book “On Kudykina Gora”, I sometimes re-read individual chapters or very funny words and expressions. For example: “In short, this is a long story”, “... I rinsed my brains in the river” ... “And lunch at Kudyka: borscht - do not wrinkle your nose, fear is so windy, or soup from boiling cereals - famously-manki, etc. etc." Thank you so much for such a great book! My brother Zhenya and I will be waiting for your new books. Kostin Kirill and Zhenya.

“Recently I read the book “On Kudykina Gora”. It is written in the Russian folk language, in the language of proverbs and sayings. I read this book with great pleasure, I just read it thanks to this language!” - continues the dialogue with the author ten-year-old Maria Solyar.

And here is what eight-year-old Alena Pletneva from Petershule writes: “I really liked your book. And if a film was made on it, then I would be happy to play Nastya, especially since I already have the cat Zhulik (in the face of the cat Ksyusha). And I also love adventure and travel. I want to have all the books about Nastya in my home library. Thank you".

Reviews of professional philologists do not differ in mood from children's ones. Here is part of the review by A.Yu. Kozhevnikov, in the year of publication of the book - Associate Professor of the Department of the Russian Language of the Faculty of Philology of the Russian State Pedagogical University named after A. I. Herzen: sense "On Kudykina mountain" can be regarded as a kind of encyclopedia of Russian folklore, which, without excessive edification, simply and naturally helps us understand and love the great Russian speech, "the great Russian word".

Head of the Department of Children's Literature of the same university, Dr. pedagogical sciences, Professor M.P. Voyushina believes that this book should be included in school curriculum: “Love and attention to the native language are born in childhood, so it is very important in which language environment the child grows up. Unfortunately today language environment created by means mass media, not just far from literary language, but gives rise to aggressiveness, introduces jargon into the child's active vocabulary. The book by L. Kuzmina-Zavyalova makes it possible to join the elements of folk speech, introduces children to the figurative, capacious Russian word. The abundance of proverbs, sayings, jokes creates a feeling of "thick" speech, creates an interest in learning mother tongue. A fascinating plot, unusual characters, entertaining situations make the story-tale "On Kudykina Gora" interesting and accessible to junior schoolchildren. The book can be recommended for extracurricular reading in elementary school.

This book is the first in a trilogy, which, according to the author's definition, should give the little reader an idea of the great triad Russia-West-East based on folklore tradition. The next two books have not yet been published.

The second book - "The Chateaunoir Scarecrow or the Master of the Black Castle" - introduces the little reader to the fabulous and verbal folklore of France. This story is more "detective", one of its main characters is Baron Bluebeard. This is a kind of "horror story"; endless pursuit and overcoming all sorts of dangers - but, of course, with a happy ending.

The third book - "Heavenly Peach" - transfers the main characters of the trilogy - the girl Nastya and the talking cat Zhulik - into a fabulous Ancient China. This book is the most ethnographic, full of real details of the life of that time - from peasant to imperial. Her characters often behave, according to our concepts, rather strangely: “The East is a delicate matter ...” Chinese folklore is inhabited by werewolves, dragons, evil spirits. They also made it onto the pages of Heavenly Peach.

But let's get back to the first book - "On Kudykina Gora". It is beautifully published - a rare example of the outgoing printing culture! - and variously illustrated by the talented St. Petersburg artist Tatyana Emelyanova. These are color inserts, and black and white graphics in the text box. There are pictures on almost every page! The book was published thanks to private donations and the efforts of the Sobesednik publishing house.

Unfortunately, there is no reputable publishing house that would make the trilogy available to the general reader. It is worth citing a fragment of a letter from Lyubov Nikolaevna Kuzmina-Zavyalova, which has already lain on the tables of editors-in-chief in many publishing houses of children's literature in the two capitals. Alas, this is a sincere letter, similar to Vanka Zhukov's letter to his grandfather in the village, and a few years later remains so in essence.

“... How long will we look at the West with eyes shining with delight - with its “computer”, and not artistic, figurative thinking and different from our system of spiritual values? Meanwhile, Russian writers who write for the “young tribe” are practically deprived of the opportunity to get through to their readers. This must be why from television screens and from newspaper and magazine pages there are bleak statements that the current level of literature for children is very, very low. But such books - addressed to the soul of the child, awakening his imagination, developing his horizons - are written, but only hopelessly gathering dust on the tables. For two decades I have been writing fairy tales and poems for children. A little was published in Moscow newspapers and magazines (once I graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University) - but that's all. And how to overcome this situation for people who do not have the skill to work furiously with their elbows and beat the bows of the earth right and left is completely incomprehensible.

An analysis of the situation in children's literature must begin with a reflection on the fate of modern children's writers - those who did not have time to make a name for themselves in Soviet time. Their talent has grown beyond the control of the Writers' Union and away from the "masters" - Grigory Oster and Eduard Uspensky, without whose blessing today not a single "newcomer" can appear in our cultural space. (By the way, I recall what one well-known St. Petersburg editor said, patting on the shoulder an unknown talented writer who could not get published in any way: “My friend, 50 years is not an age for a prose writer!”) However, the “masters” should also sympathize - it was not easy for them to get pedestal. Having replaced the Soviet children's writers - Sergei Mikhalkov, Agniya Barto and others like them (whom they vilified for their "iron" loyalty to the party line, for "general's" arrogance and tyranny, and also for their unforgivable proximity to financial flows) - the happy winners have now taken place of their predecessors on ideological (and, of course, material) heights. And since money has been the new ideology in Russia for 20 years now, achieving personal well-being through literature no longer seems like a shameful service to mammon. “To sow the reasonable, the good, the eternal” has become an absurd anachronism today.

Indeed, it is highly impractical to admit the existence of competitors and let the reader make his own choice. Wouldn't it be easier to announce: "Children's literature is me!"?

But the saddest thing is that publishers listen to this "high" opinion! However, there is nothing incomprehensible here: gentlemen publishers are for the most part business people, and not connoisseurs and connoisseurs of literature. And therefore their "professional" scent is very peculiar.

The situation can change only in one case: if the power of money is regulated by a consistent public policy aimed at protecting national interests Russia in all cultural and economic areas of life. Well, until then, the “Bad Advice” for children, which has long been set on edge, will not run out, the adventures of the ageless Cheburashka and Uncle Fyodor, who show miracles of opportunism and resourcefulness, will not stop. Literature now lives according to the laws of show business: they try to squeeze the maximum possible benefits out of it. Agree - it is impossible to imagine that the adventures of "Baby and Carlson" or "boy Mio" lasted for years. It is immoral to exploit once successfully found an image! And no reasoning about the cynicism and licentiousness of those who today dominate our society and against which the desire to “make money for the family” may look noble, will not turn a lie into truth. As you know, there are no small lies. But the truth is simple: if you root for a cause - support a colleague, if you root for yourself - say that you are not at home ...

Departments of children's literature in bookstores full of tasteless crafts "for little princesses and princes." This is a real bourgeois kitsch of the era of wild capitalism. There are, of course, informative publications in the spirit of discovery, there are also reissues of the classics. But modern fiction for children is represented by such an assortment that is unlikely to instill in children a taste for real literature.

In most of today's Russian families, the concept of “reading circle” has been generally lost, especially “children's reading circle”. The culture of drawing up this circle specifically for your child, taking into account his individual characteristics also almost lost. School reading lists for extracurricular reading are often bewildering; sometimes they overlap. Eg, " little prince» Exupery can be found in the recommendations for both grades 3 and 7. Although the bitter philosophy of this tale can only be understood by an intelligent and sensitive adult who has not forgotten that he himself was once small.

In a word, the situation is gloomy. It is all the more necessary to raise the issue of the development of a national literary fairy tale, because a fairy tale is the main genre of children's reading. Books by Lyubov Kuzmina-Zavyalova undoubtedly continue this tradition, which is extremely important. They are kind, and besides, there is one secret in them: they are written in such a way that wealth, wisdom, artistic imagery, musicality of genuine Russian speech, which our ancestors used hundreds of years. To give a feeling of the native language as a treasure is the main task of the author. Following the adventures of the heroes, the little reader organically learns the context of the use of proverbs and sayings, the meaning of which is sometimes already incomprehensible to the city dweller. After all, today's kids have almost no village grandmothers who know folk tales and songs...

"Kudykina Gora" is the most fascinating textbook on Russian literature that I have ever read.

Tatyana Kovalkova. A new name in modern children's literature.// "RUSSIAN WORLD. Space and Time of Russian Culture” No. 2, pages 323-326

It's done!!! Fans of the resilient heroes of L.N. Kuzmina-Zavyalova "On Kudykina Gora" waited for its continuation!!!
In the second part of the trilogy, subtitled "Salad from French Fairy Tales", second grader Nastya Zagogulina and her cat friend Zhulik, who used to live with the sorceress Kudyka, find themselves in ancient France, where adventures take place that are simply breathtaking...
The couple who arrived on a charmed broom land in an abandoned castle and get acquainted with its inhabitants: the blind raven Roger, the owl Justine, a lover of learned Latin, and the cheerful bat Roland, who knows medieval epic poetry well.
The Chateaunoire Scarecrow is written in the same amazing, rich and perfect Russian language that we have already encountered in Kudykina Gora:
“Oh, how many wonderful memories were stored in the nooks and crannies of bird brains! Nastya vividly imagined cheerful sunny lawns, and above them - golden sparks of moths? And sleepy radiant backwaters, in which decrepit coastal willows rinse their silver beards? Witch thickets breathed coolness on her, full of shadows and fluttering light highlights, whistles and rustles, the fragrance of wild lavender and thyme; full of bird nests and hidden animal lairs?
Oh, how beautiful it was! .. "

This is how the chapter begins, introducing readers to the owner of the Black Castle ... But who is he? You'll never guess if you don't read it! What is the scariest French fairy tale? Well, of course, "Bluebeard" by Charles Perrault! Oh, where did our crazy people go! And it turns out that the villainous baron did not die for good, but once a year he crawls out of his portrait and does this! ..
Hidden under a goat skin, a girl and a cat are watching a terrible fight between a gang of robbers - and, of course, our heroes have been discovered! The creepy baron immediately starts to sharpen his terrible knife... A scene from which the frost is just tearing at the skin!
Here's a salad, richly seasoned with pepper!

Or maybe that's the way it should be - to learn not to be afraid? How, for example, did Roni, the daughter of a robber, learn not to be afraid to jump over the abyss from the story of Astrid Lindgren? ..
After all, the forces of good from various French fairy tales are already gathering to help our heroes ... And the delightful old peasant, who, giving the girl and the cat the opportunity to run away from the chase, deliberately bargains for a long time with the miserly baron:

Well, how much will you give me your rickety leg for?
- For as much as it will be sold for.
- How much will you sell it to me?
For as much as you give me...
- Oh, you swindler! Well, be honest, you are such a rogue, is your horse young?
- Yes, not old: I have never shaved my beard ...
And in the snow-covered, thoroughly frozen forest, our heroes are waiting for good meetings: with the Boy-with-a-finger - the resilient leader of his ragged brothers - and the prince who got lost in search of the Sleeping Beauty. And, of course, with the wise and kind Marius, the wandering juggler and poet, his pupil Lisetta and the funny monkey Fanchetta.
How wonderful is the poetic language of Marius:

"My poor girl! Oh, how the stove would warm you! I see that your little legs do not go at all ... Sit on a stump, rest a little! And soon, Lisetta, the snow will melt, the meadow will put on a colorful dress, the swallows will bring out the tomboy chicks ... Our troubles will end in the end! .. "

What charming tales the old artist tells to cheer up the whole stiff company!
The tales that our travelers find themselves in are very different: familiar from childhood and unknown, insanely funny and touching. They organically replace one another, causing surprise and joy. But what they don’t have is the now cultivated children’s leaf with princes and princesses, fairies, elves, etc. The gnomes who met once are exclusively business guys engaged in important work: it turns out that the earth will give birth to a crop for them only once a year, and gotta collect it. And that at the same time they do not have time to ventilate their gold - it does not matter: let someone else get it! And the gold goes to those who lack it so much: the family of a poor woodcutter... A cold prince with a head hung with icicles and therefore looking like a chandelier staggers the imagination. His social status is hardly recognized by the heroes of the fairy tale, but his kind heart immediately wins universal sympathy.
The extreme accuracy of the descriptions, the mastery of the dialogues take readers either to the dusty halls of a gloomy castle, or to winter forest with mighty columns of pines, then to the lumberjack's hut. And all this is written with such wonderful humor that you want to read and reread the story endlessly! What is one fat moth-guide worth, inspiredly painting her chest with past delicious rarities!

Oh, live monkey! Nastya clapped her hands.
“Barely alive,” the muzzle grimaced. Immediately she sneezed and said to herself: - Be healthy, dear Fanchetta! Still got a runny nose? How many times have I told you: keep your feet warm, my dear!

Or the lumberjack turned into a donkey - the father of the Boy with a finger and his brothers! The heroes of the story follow this adventure with excitement: the woodcutter is justly punished: after all, he abandoned his sons in the forest! But the children feel sorry for their father - and young readers learn kindness with them.
How good it is that in fairy tales friendship wins, and faithful hearts, and justice - and our heroes, with the help of their new friends, return home safe and sound.

I have no doubt that the trilogy L.N. Kuzmina-Zavyalova (and in about a year its final part, The Heavenly Peach, about the adventures of heroes in China, should be released) will become the favorite book of Russian children, and eventually not only Russian children. The only thing that causes sincere regret is how far the path of a masterpiece to the reader in our homeland is: fairy tale"On Kudykina Gora" was written in 1994 ...

Of course, you can suspect her of copying, borrowing some of the plot moves of Alice's adventures: here the main character is also a girl (Nastya), she also accidentally and miraculously finds herself in an unusual and fabulous world where animals can talk and all sorts of fables and absurdities happen ... True unlike Alice, Nastya has a self-defined goal: to find an older brother in an imaginary world.

Firstly, these are all kinds of "squiggles" of the Russian language. which are generously scattered throughout the text. It is interesting to look for them with the child and discuss, because not everything will be clear to him. (Some riddles-tasks in the style of the children's linguistics competition "Russian Bear", who knows, he will understand.)