★A delightful and fantastical children's literary work by the renowned Russian children's author, playwright, and television scriptwriter Edward Uspensky! In 2020, the children's literature award "Big Fairy Tale" was established in his name to commemorate his outstanding contribution to children's literature!
★This book presents a unique perspective on an imaginative animal school, immersing readers in a wonderful fairy-tale world. Edward Uspensky, with his humorous writing and rich imagination, creates a warm and thrilling reading experience for children.
★Illustrations for this book were created by Viktor Chizhikov, the People's Artist of the Russian Federation, a distinguished Russian illustrator and cartoonist, and the creator of the Moscow Olympics mascot, Misha the Bear!
★ A heartwarming read for kids and nostalgic adults alike—join the furry students on their unforgettable escapades!

The protagonist is a fourth-grade student named Lucia. As she was about to leave her countryside vacation home, she accidentally encountered a talking, upright-walking badger named Mehemeh. Mehemeh invited Lucia to a place called the "Fur Boarding School" to teach the animals "good behavior and writing." Intrigued by this peculiar offer, Lucia decided to accept the job. She discovered that the students at the boarding school were creatures that looked like ordinary animals but possessed human intelligence and language abilities, including wolves, squirrels, and marmots. These furry students at this ultra-secret institution attended classes and received grades just like real elementary school students. Lucia's job at the boarding school was very interesting; she not only taught the animals but also built deep friendships with them. These animals had unique ways of thinking and technology, for example, they used a special "Hendrik" as currency to pay her salary.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. The "Fur Boarding School" often received harassment from the outside world. One day, after a student was nearly kidnapped by poachers, Lucia found only a farewell letter and an empty schoolhouse upon her next visit. The letter revealed that the "Fur Boarding School" was an attempt at contact from an advanced animal civilization in the Himalayas, but it was ultimately deemed a failure—humans were apparently not ready yet. In the end, the animals decided to temporarily leave the human world and return to their home in the Himalayas, leaving Lucia with their sincerest blessings and a magical gift.

Come and read Edward Uspensky's cheerful novella, and you won't be able to resist wanting to sit at the desks with these mischievous furry students—ferrets, wolves, squirrels, and other little animals!

【Author】Eduard Nikolaevich Uspensky (1937–2018)
A iconic Soviet/Russian children’s writer, playwright, and TV host. Creator of beloved characters like Cheburashka and Gena the Crocodile, *Prostokvashino* villagers, and the Kolobkov brothers. His works, brimming with wit and warmth, have charmed generations.
Honored with the *Korolenko Literary Award* (2010) and a national *TV Award* (2015) for children’s programming. The *Big Fairy Tale* Award was named posthumously in his honor (2020).

【Illustrator】 Viktor Alexandrovich Chizhikov (1935–2020)
Vladimir Chizhikov is a prominent illustrator and comic artist from the Soviet Union and Russia. His most famous work is the mascot of the 1980 Moscow Olympics—Misha the Bear, which became one of the most popular cartoon characters at that time. Chizhikov's artistic achievements have also been highly recognized. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation (2016) and received numerous honors, including the "Order of Honor" (1980), the H.C. Andersen Honorary Diploma (1980), and the Honorary Diploma of the Russian Children's Book Committee (1997). He is also a member of several art and journalism unions and has made significant contributions to children's literature and the arts in Russia.

1. Fur Boarding School Opens!
2. Meet the Students
3. The Australian Lead-Chaki
4. The Hendricks Family Arrives
5. Fur School Olympics and Music Festival
6. Teacher Kira Tarasova
7. A Sniffing Tour of Moscow