★ Rights sold to China!
★ Tolstoy tells us what the sea is; Bychkov takes us on a journey into the depths of the ocean.
★ Every page is an “oceanic epic in the world of picture books,” and every child who opens this book receives an eternal blue invitation to explore.
★ Created by Mikhail Bychkov, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, recipient of the IBBY “World’s Best Illustrator” honor, and winner of the Golden Medal for Book Illustration from the Russian Artists’ Union!
★ With astonishing artistic control, Mikhail Bychkov transforms the natural philosophy, the rhythm of life, and the cosmic perspective embedded in Tolstoy’s words into a palpable visual symphony.
★ Using ever-changing brushwork and colors—from the sheer transparency of watercolor to the rich, layered textures of oil painting—Mikhail Bychkov truly captures the sea’s breath, emotions, and soul, creating an immersive reading experience where “the words sing and the images echo.”

This book is the work of one of the world’s greatest writers and thinkers, a classic figure in Russian literature: Leo Tolstoy! Beneath its exquisite pages, we will feel the spray of summer waves crashing against the ocean and the salty foam, as well as the refreshing sea breeze that blows along the shore. What unfolds before us in this book is an unparalleled, truly authentic vision of the sea.
Tolstoy’s concise and masterful prose has sparked boundless creative inspiration in the renowned Russian painter Mikhail Bychkov, inspiring him to create stunning maritime artworks. Every magnificent seascape and every majestic ship depicted in this book is the product of Bychkov’s own hand. Here you will find serene seas, tumultuous oceans, seas brimming with stories, and seas where sails billow in the wind—seas that have borne Greek galleys, pirate dragon ships, Colombian ocean-going sailing vessels, and Chinese seafaring ships... For throughout the entire history of humankind, the struggle between humanity and the sea has never ceased.

[Author] Mikhail Bychkov
One of Russia's most outstanding contemporary illustrators and artists, renowned for his exquisite artwork, particularly his remarkable contributions to book illustration. He is a recipient of numerous prestigious national and international awards!
He has participated multiple times in the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) and has served as the chairman of the IBBY jury for the St. Petersburg section of the BIB International Biennial of Children's Illustration in Bratislava for over a decade!
His works are regularly exhibited in museums and libraries and are preserved in Russian museums such as the Dostoevsky Museum and the Tolstoy Museum, as well as in other Russian museums and private collections, and in collections abroad.
In 2020, the renowned Russian documentary filmmaker Evgeny Gorinkin produced the documentary "Returning to Childhood," which focuses on creators of children's books, with Mikhail Bychkov as one of the key figures!
In 2021, Mikhail Bychkov was awarded the Gold Medal—the highest honor for achievement in book illustration—by the Union of Artists of Russia!
In 2020 and 2021, he was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an award in the field of children's literature that is considered on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award!
From April 12 to May 20, 2023, the exhibition "Mikhail Bychkov: Illustrations and Books" was grandly held at the Russian State Children's Library, featuring several top Russian artists, including Igor Oleynikov, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration!

Mikhail Bychkov was born in 1951 and graduated in 1969 from the Secondary Art School affiliated with the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts. From 1970 to 1973, he studied in the mural painting studio of the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts under Professor A.A. Mylnikov. In 1975, he graduated from the Book Graphics Department of the Leningrad Branch of the Moscow Polygraph Institute. Since 1982, he has been a member of the Union of Artists of Russia. Since 2011, he has served as the chairman of the IBBY jury for the St. Petersburg section of the BIB International Biennial of Children's Illustration in Bratislava.
Bychkov's illustrative style is typically characterized by its fine details and vivid expressiveness, bringing the plots and characters in texts to life for readers. Having grown up reading classic works, he approaches creating illustrations for them with both reverence and trepidation, producing page after page of artistic masterpieces. Before creating his works, he not only carefully reads the original texts but also studies the historical and cultural contexts of the literary works, delving into even the smallest details before picking up his brush. Bychkov respects tradition while daring to innovate; his illustrations are delicate, refined, and beautiful. The timeless exotic charm in his oil paintings seems to leap off the canvas, perfectly blending art with literature. This not only enriches readers' sensory experience but also deepens their understanding of the emotional, cultural, and historical backgrounds of literary works, greatly influencing how readers grasp and feel about these works as a whole. Mikhail Bychkov is committed to creating illustrations that have literary value. He believes that in children's books, the artist's task is to create a world of kindness, love, and confidence, to showcase the beauty of the material world created by human hands, and to foster children's love of books, as well as their admiration for beauty and the diversity of nature.

Bychkov's work is not limited to book illustration; he has also participated in numerous art projects and exhibitions, theatrical productions, museum exhibitions, educational programs, and various cultural and artistic activities. His artistic style and techniques have received widespread acclaim and recognition both domestically and internationally, making significant contributions to the contemporary art scene in Russia. Several of his works, including "Diving • Rescue Dog • Shark," "The Sea," "Childhood," and "The Silver-Hoofed Goat," have already been licensed for publication in China!

[Awards and Honors]
1997—Silver Medal for Illustration at the Moscow International Book Fair!
2002—Honorary Certificate from the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)!
2002—Included in IBBY's list of the world's best illustrators!
2003—Awarded the "Book of the Year" prize at the All-Russian "Illustrator Writer Competition"!
2004—Awarded the Annual Book Prize by the Russian Publishers Association!
2004—Awarded the Honorary Medal at the 2nd Independent Graphic Biennial in St. Petersburg!
2005—Awarded an Honorary Certificate by the Russian Academy of Arts!
2006—Winner of the "Best Book of the Year" competition by the Russian Publishers Association!
2006—First Prize in the International Art Competition for Books among CIS Countries!
2008—Awarded the Literature and Arts Prize by the Government of St. Petersburg!
2013—First Prize in the "Image of the Book" category ("Best Illustration for Children and Adolescents") at the Russian International Competition for Illustration and Book Design!
2013—Awarded the Certificate for the Best Book of the Year by the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2014—Awarded the Marshak Literary Prize—“Artist of the Decade”!
2015—Awarded the Certificate for the Best Book of the Year by the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2015—Grandly honored by the St. Petersburg State Academic Institute of Art!
2016—Awarded the Certificate for the Best Book of the Year by the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2020—Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—one of the world's largest awards in children's and young adult literature!
2021—Awarded the Gold Medal for Achievement in Book Illustration by the Union of Artists of Russia!
2022—Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—an award in children's literature considered on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award!