★ This series is a brand-new creation and exquisite illustration by Mikhail Bychkov, the renowned Russian artist honored by IBBY as one of the world’s best illustrators, reimagining world children’s classics!
★ His work “Lev Tolstoy’s Children’s Works Illustrated: The Dive • The Rescue Dog • The Shark” has been licensed to China!

There are books whose publication is an honor for readers, and this book is one of them. The collaboration of a great poet and a genius painter once again brings us to the incredible path by the bay, immersing us fully in the fairy-tale atmosphere to admire the magical wonders. Under the brush of the famous artist Bychkov, the familiar lines from Pushkin’s poetry from childhood transform into beautiful landscapes with vibrant visuals, a fairy-tale world where a green oak tree stands tall and a learned cat that tells stories resides.

By the bay stands a green oak tree; a golden chain is firmly tied to the oak; a learned cat, day and night, follows the golden chain, pacing back and forth; to the right—it sings a song, to the left—it tells a story. There, it is truly wondrous: forest spirits roam, mermaids rest on branches; on paths never trodden by people, traces of unseen beasts remain; there, a hut stands on chicken legs, with no door, no window; valleys and forests are filled with strange things and creatures...

Mikhail Bychkov

One of the most outstanding contemporary illustrators and artists in Russia, renowned for his exquisite artistic works, especially his prominent contributions in the field of book illustration, and a winner of many domestic and international awards!
He has participated multiple times in the International Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), and for over a decade, he has served as the chairman of the IBBY jury for the Saint Petersburg section of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB)!
His works are regularly exhibited in museums and libraries, preserved in the Russian Museum, Dostoevsky Museum, Tolstoy Museum, other Russian museums and private collections, as well as international collections.
In 2020, the renowned Russian documentary filmmaker Evgeny Gorinkin filmed “Return to Childhood,” a documentary about creators of children's books, and Mikhail Bychkov was one of the key figures featured!
In 2021, Mikhail Bychkov received the Gold Medal, the highest achievement award for book illustration art, presented by the Russian Union of Artists!
In 2020 and 2021, he was nominated as a candidate for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is considered in the children's literature world to be on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award!
From April 12 to May 20, 2023, the exhibition “Mikhail Bychkov: Illustration and Books” was grandly held at the Russian State Children's Library, with participation from multiple 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 Institute of Arts. From 1970 to 1973, he studied in the mural studio of the I.E. Repin Institute of Arts under Professor A.A. Mylnikov. In 1975, he graduated from the Leningrad branch of the Moscow Polygraph Institute, specializing in book graphics. Since 1982, he has been a member of the Russian Union of Artists. From 2011, he has served as the chairman of the IBBY jury for the Saint Petersburg section of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB).
Bychkov’s illustration style is often characterized by intricate details and vivid expressiveness, bringing the plots and characters from the text to life for readers. Growing up reading classics, he approaches creating pictures for them with reverence and apprehension, completing page after page of artistic work. Before starting a project, he not only reads the original text carefully but also researches the national history in the literature, studying minute details before picking up his brush to create. Bychkov respects tradition while daring to innovate; his illustrations are delicate, exquisite, and elegant, with oil paintings evoking the distant exotic charm of bygone eras, perfectly blending art and literature. This not only enriches readers' sensory experiences but also deepens their understanding of the emotional, cultural, and historical contexts of literary works, greatly influencing their overall grasp and perception. Mikhail Bychkov is dedicated to creating illustrative works with literary value. He believes that in children’s books, the artist’s task is to create a world of kindness, love, and confidence, showcasing the beauty of the material world shaped by human hands, fostering children’s love for books, and admiration for beauty and the diversity of nature.
Bychkov’s work is not limited to book illustrations; he has also participated in various art projects and exhibitions, theater productions, museum exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural and artistic activities. His artistic style and techniques have received widespread acclaim and recognition domestically and internationally, making significant contributions to contemporary Russian art. Many of his works, such as “The Dive • The Rescue Dog • The Shark,” “The Sea,” “Childhood,” and “The Silver-Hoofed Goat,” have been licensed for publication in China!

[Awards and Honors]
1997—Silver Award for illustration works at the Moscow International Book Fair!
2002—IBBY Honor Certificate from the International Board on Books for Young People!
2002—Included in the IBBY Honor List of the world's best illustrators!
2003—Won the “Book of the Year” award in the All-Russian “Illustrator Competition”!
2004—Annual Book Award from the Russian Book Publishers Association!
2004—Honorary Medal at the Second Independent Graphics Biennale in Saint Petersburg!
2005—Honorary Certificate from the Russian Academy of Arts!
2006—Winner of the “Book of the Year” competition by the Russian Book Publishers Association!
2006—First Prize in the International Art Competition for Books in CIS Countries!
2008—Literary and Art Award from the Saint Petersburg Government!
2013—First Prize in the “Image of the Book” International Illustration and Book Design Competition in Russia (category: Best Illustration for Children and Adolescents)!
2013—Certificate for Best Book of the Year from the Leningrad Children’s Book Club Jury!
2014—S. Marshak Literary Award—“Best Artist of the Decade”!
2015—Certificate for Best Book of the Year from the Leningrad Children’s Book Club Jury!
2015—Formal recognition from the Saint Petersburg State Academy of Art and Industry.
2016—Certificate for Best Book of the Year from the Leningrad Children’s Book Club Jury!
2020—Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (one of the largest global awards for children’s and young adult literature)!
2021—Gold Medal for achievements in book illustration art from the Russian Union of Artists!
2022—Nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (considered in the children’s literature world to be on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award)!