Sakharnov, S. Tembo's Friend (Drug Tembo), 1976. In Russian

Сахарнов С.
Друг Тембо. / Рассказал Святослав Сахарнов; Рисунки Льва Токмакова.
Москва : Детская литература, 1976.
16 с. : ил. ; Энциклопедический формат. Мягкий издательский переплет.
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Sakharnov, Svyatoslav.
Tembo's Friend. / Told by Svyatoslav Sakharnov; Illustrated by Lev Tokmakov.
Moscow : Detskaya Literatura, 1976.
16 pp. : ill. ; Encyclopedic format. Original softcover. In Russian.

This 1976 picture book, intended for preschool children, is a vibrant collaboration between two masters of Soviet children's literature: the writer Svyatoslav Sakharnov and the artist Lev Tokmakov. The book tells the story of an African boy and his elephant friend, Tembo, drawing from the authentic impressions the creators gathered during their personal travels across the African continent. This direct experience infuses the narrative and imagery with a sense of wonder and ethnographic detail that was rare for the period. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of a child's discovery of nature, including the arrangement of the Savannah's wildlife, the customs of local inhabitants, and the profound bond between humans and the animal world.
The large encyclopedic format allows for the full display of Lev Tokmakov's iconic artistic style—characterized by bold colors, expressive lines, and a whimsical yet respectful approach to foreign cultures. Tokmakov’s illustrations do not merely decorate the story but actively expand Sakharnov’s prose, turning the 16 pages into a cinematic journey through an exotic landscape. Published by Detskaya Literatura, the premier state house for children's books, this edition represents the high aesthetic standards of the 1970s "Golden Age" of Soviet illustration. It remains a cherished item for bibliophiles specializing in children's books, collectors of Tokmakov's graphic art, and those interested in how the theme of international friendship and global exploration was presented to the youngest generation of Soviet readers.