Baruzdin, S. How Aleshka Drew (Kak Aleshka risoval). Illustrated by I. Pyatkin. Moscow: Malysh, 1969. In Russian.

Баруздин, Сергей Алексеевич. Как Алешка рисовал / рисунки И. Пяткина.
Москва : Издательство «Малыш», 1969. 36 страниц, цветные иллюстрации.
Мягкая издательская иллюстрированная обложка. Энциклопедический формат (28 х 21,5 см). Тираж 150 000 экземпляров.
Состояние очень хорошее. Обложка с незначительными поверхностными потертостями по краям и корешку. Книжный блок крепкий, страницы чистые, без надрывов, пятен и — что особенно важно для этой книги — без детских рисунков и каракулей.
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Baruzdin, Sergei Alekseevich. How Aleshka Drew (Kak Aleshka risoval) / illustrations by I. Pyatkin.
Moscow : "Malysh" Publishing House, 1969. 36 pages, color illustrations.
Original publisher's illustrated softcover. Enlarged (encyclopedic) format (28 x 21.5 cm). Print run of 150,000 copies.
Condition very good. Cover shows minor surface wear along the edges and spine. The text block is firm, and the pages are exceptionally clean, free of tears, stains, and—crucially for a book of this theme—completely free of children's scribbles or markings.

A visually fascinating and conceptually unique Soviet children's book written by Sergei Baruzdin and illustrated by Igor Pyatkin. Published in 1969, the book tells the story of a young boy's development through his evolving drawings—from simple, childlike sketches of everyday life to complex geometric and architectural drafting as he grows older. Pyatkin's artwork is a brilliant showcase of 1960s Soviet graphic design. He masterfully blends a sophisticated, highly textured mid-century aesthetic (using lithographic and monotype-like textures) with faux-naïf "children's" art. The spreads offer a nostalgic and stylish glimpse into Soviet modernity, featuring classic Soviet automobiles (Volga, Moskvich, Chaika), Moscow cityscapes, and the iconic cruiser Aurora. Because the book's entire premise is about drawing, surviving copies were almost inevitably colored in or scribbled on by their young owners. Finding a pristine, unmarked copy is a rare treat, making this an outstanding piece for collectors of international mid-century graphic design and Soviet illustration.