Korkin, V. F. The Elephant Remembered Ceylon (Vspomnil slon pro Tseylon). Verses for Preschool Age. Illustrations by Yu. Zaltsman, 1967. In Russian.

В. Ф. Коркин.
Вспомнил слон про Цейлон.
Стихи. Для дошкольного возраста. Иллюстрации: Ю. Зальцман.
Москва: Советская Россия, 1967.
22 с. : ил. ; 27 см. Мягкая издательская обложка.
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V. F. Korkin.
The Elephant Remembered Ceylon.
Verses for preschool age. Illustrations by Yu. Zaltsman.
Moscow: Sovetskaya Rossiya, 1967.
22 pp. : ill. ; 27 cm. Softcover.

This delightful 1967 edition of Vladimir Korkin’s children's poetry represents a vivid example of Soviet children's book design from the late Thaw period. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of a child's imagination, including the arrangement of whimsical rhymes that take the reader from the snowy landscapes of the USSR to the exotic, sun-drenched memory of Ceylon. Korkin, known for his ability to blend educational themes with playful rhythm, uses the titular elephant as a vessel for nostalgia and wonder, introducing young readers to distant geographies through accessible and engaging verse. This volume serves as a vital primary source for the study of mid-20th-century Soviet pedagogical literature, illustrating how "Sovetskaya Rossiya" publishing sought to broaden the horizons of preschool children through high-quality storytelling and art.
The physical identity of this Moscow imprint is defined by its large 27 cm format and its dynamic visual language. The 22-page book is defined by the exuberant illustrations of Yuri Zaltsman, whose stylistic approach combines bold, saturated colors with expressive character design typical of the 1960s aesthetic. Zaltsman’s artwork does not merely accompany the text but expands upon it, creating a rich sensory experience that documents the exact moment when Soviet children's illustration was moving toward more experimental and painterly forms. Published in a large format on quality paper, this softcover edition remains a sought-after acquisition for bibliophiles and collectors of vintage Soviet children's books. It preserves the charm of a bygone era of publishing, where the simplicity of a nursery rhyme was matched by the sophistication of professional graphic art.