★ Rights sold to China!
★ A rare masterpiece that seamlessly blends literary classics, folk legends, and artistic enlightenment!
★ Newly illustrated by Mikhail Bechikov, a twice-nominated Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award illustrator and recipient of the title “World’s Best Illustrator”!
★ Bechikov has accomplished a monumental cultural feat: he has constructed a habitable visual palace for Pushkin’s immortal epic poem, with every page in the book evoking a dream awakened from an ancient parchment!
★ A literary and artistic treasure for readers of all generations! This is not only a feast of literary and artistic enlightenment for children, but also a treasured keepsake that allows adults to revisit the profound depths of literature and savor the beauty of art—inviting every soul to immerse themselves together in this epic world forged through words and images.

There are books whose publication is a privilege for readers—and this book is one of them. The collaboration between a great poet and a brilliant painter once again transports us to the incredible paths by the bay, immersing us completely in a fairy-tale atmosphere and allowing us to marvel at every magical detail. Under the brush of the renowned artist Mikhail Bechikov, Pushkin’s verses—familiar to us since childhood—are transformed into vivid, breathtaking landscapes, where verdant oak trees stand tall and a wise, storytelling cat inhabits a fairy-tale world.

When Pushkin’s most enchanting long narrative poem meets the magical brush of contemporary illustration master Mikhail Bechikov, this beloved literary treasure is presented for the first time in the form of a panoramic visual epic that truly takes your breath away! Follow the hero Ruslan as he journeys through a forest shrouded in magic, and watch as talking oak trees stretch their branches across the sky; witness the mysterious bay, where Doctor Cat paces along golden chains, recounting millennia-old legends; dive into the water witch’s palace and see mermaids glide beneath an amber dome; and, facing the curse of the Black Sea demon, feel how lightning seems to rend the heavens right on the page…

With astonishing artistic ambition, Bechikov transforms the triple weave of folkloric tradition, heroic epic, and fantastical imagination in Pushkin’s poem into a richly layered visual symphony, bringing each scene to life like a dream awakened from an ancient parchment.

[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 as a candidate 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 meticulous attention to detail 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 within the literature, 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 perceive and appreciate these works as a whole. Mikhail Bychkov is committed to creating illustrations that possess literary value. He believes that in children's books, the artist's task is to create a world filled with kindness, love, and confidence, showcasing the beauty of the material world created by human hands, and fostering children's love for 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 earned him widespread acclaim and recognition both domestically and internationally, making significant contributions to contemporary Russian art. 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—Winner of the "Book of the Year" award at the All-Russian "Illustrator Writer Competition"!
2004—Annual Book Award from the Russian Publishers Association!
2004—Honorary Medal at the 2nd Independent Graphic Biennial in St. Petersburg!
2005—Honorary Certificate from 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—Literary and Artistic Award presented 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—Certificate for the Best Book of the Year from the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2014—Marshak Literary Award—“Artist of the Decade”!
2015—Certificate for the Best Book of the Year from the Jury of the Leningrad Children's Reading Club!
2015—Honored by the St. Petersburg State Academic Institute of Art!
2016—Certificate for the Best Book of the Year from 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—Gold Medal for Achievement in Book Illustration awarded 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!