★ *The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors* is a classic fairy-tale novel brimming with fantasy and profound moral lessons. Written by renowned Russian author Vitaly Gubarev, it has been beloved by readers since its publication and has become a children’s literature classic, even adapted into a play and film of the same name!
★ Set in a unique mirror world, the adventurous story of Olya and Yalo vividly explores themes of courage, kindness, and personal growth, guiding children to reflect and mature through reading.
★ Illustrated by artists Sergei Boldyuk and Natalya Trepenok! Their delicate artistic style perfectly captures the fantasy and adventure of the story, immersing readers as if they were part of Olya and Yalo’s magical journey, sparking children’s imagination and creativity.

*The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors* is a fantastical fairy-tale novel by renowned Russian author Vitaly Gubarev. The protagonists are Olya, a schoolgirl, and her mirror twin, Yalo. By chance, they arrive in a peculiar land—the Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors. Here, everything is starkly different from the real world: distorted mirrors, deceitful inhabitants, and rampant injustice form this bizarre and absurd realm.
Olya and Yalo’s arrival is like a stone cast into a still pond, immediately stirring waves in this magical kingdom. With their kindness and courage, they bravely challenge the kingdom’s injustices, striving to change this world of lies and unfairness. Along the way, they grow personally, learning that even small flaws can hinder great deeds and feeling compelled to correct them.
The book is adorned with illustrations by artists Sergei Boldyuk and Natalya Trepenok, whose delicate style perfectly interprets the story’s fantasy and adventure, immersing readers in Olya and Yalo’s journey. With its unique fantasy narrative and deep educational value, this book is ideal for elementary school children, encouraging them to think and grow through reading.

【Author】Vitaly Georgievich Gubarev (1912–1981)**
A renowned Russian animation writer. Starting in 1931, he worked for Moscow’s *Friendly Youth* magazine and well-known newspapers like *Pionerskaya Pravda* and *Komsomolskaya Pravda*, eventually serving as editor-in-chief of *Pionerskaya Pravda*. In 1951, he debuted in literature with the fairy-tale novel *The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors*, which became a reader favorite and was adapted into a play and film, the latter released in 1963 to widespread acclaim. Gubarev’s creative talent extended beyond this work—he also authored other famous sci-fi fairy tales like *Journey to the Morning Star*, *In a Faraway Kingdom*, and *Ancient Legends*, making significant contributions to Russian children’s literature.

【Illustrator】Sergei Boldyuk
An artist and graphic designer from St. Petersburg, specializing in book illustration. Born in 1953 in Murmansk Oblast to a naval officer father, he studied at art school in Leningrad and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. Since his first book illustration in 1979, he has designed dozens of children’s literature and educational books.

【Illustrator】 Natalya Trepenok
A renowned Russian illustrator, designer, graphic artist, and book designer. She graduated from the graphic arts department of the All-Russian Academy of Arts in 1978 and now lives and works in St. Petersburg. Her delicate illustration style perfectly captures the fantasy and adventure of stories.