★ This book is written by Elina Karnitskaya, a renowned Russian art historian and museum scholar, and recipient of the title “Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation”!
★ The illustrations are by Mikhail Bychkov, a celebrated Russian artist who has been honored by IBBY as one of the world’s best illustrators. Several of his works have already been licensed for publication in China!
★ This book is written in simple, easy-to-understand language that children will love, and it includes many fascinating facts about Peter the Great’s life and personality.
★ It is perfect for all children who are interested in great historical figures and aspire to achieve great things in the future.

Across the vast expanse of Russian land, history flows like a long, tranquil river, bearing witness to the rise and fall of countless heroes. Yet in this timeless river, one monarch’s name shines like a brilliant star, forever illuminating the annals of time: Peter the Great, the famed tsar in Russian history. Peter the Great is not only one of the most celebrated rulers in Russian history but also one of its greatest reformers and the founder of Russia’s modernization. He was a self-taught scholar who mastered mathematics, astronomy, and anatomy, and he displayed an extraordinary passion for shipbuilding and navigation. To acquire advanced Western technologies, he sent diplomatic missions to Western Europe and even traveled incognito as “Private Peter Mikhailov” to learn shipbuilding and maritime skills firsthand. In his relatively short life, he accomplished so much that it seems almost impossible for a single individual to achieve such feats. His reign not only transformed the face of Russia but also left a profound impact on the course of European—and indeed, global—history.

“Like Peter: A Story About How to Become Great” is a captivating book that explores the life of Peter the Great and examines how he became a truly great leader. The book recounts Peter the Great’s formative years and key achievements, while also guiding young readers to delve into the inner strengths that drove his success. It highlights how he made sound decisions, took responsibility for his actions, and harnessed his beliefs and personal qualities to pursue his boldest dreams, achieving remarkable success in numerous fields—even seeming at times to bend the forces of nature to his will. What inner power enabled Peter the Great to make the right decisions and stand by them? How were his beliefs and personal qualities shaped? And why did he manage to maintain the poise of a victor even in the face of failure? The author invites young readers to view Peter I’s personality and accomplishments through the lens of his inner strength and unwavering convictions. While becoming a figure as extraordinary as Peter the Great is no easy feat, the book conveys an inspiring message: with the right mindset and determination, nothing is truly impossible.

[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 text but also delves into the literary and national history, studying even the smallest details before picking up his brush. In his creations, 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 contexts of literary works, greatly influencing how readers grasp and feel about 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 received widespread acclaim and recognition both domestically and internationally, making a significant contribution 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—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青少年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 (considered on par with the Hans Christian Andersen Award in the field of children's literature)!