The Ant and The Grasshopper: A Georgian Folk Tale (Strekoza i muravey), [1955]. In English.

The Ant and The Grasshopper. A Georgian Folk Tale. / Drawings by G. Filippovsky; translated from the Russian by Fainna Solasko.
Moscow : Foreign Languages Publishing House, [1955].
12 pp. : color ill. Softcover, encyclopedic format (29 x 22.3 cm). In English.

This mid-1950s edition of the classic Georgian folk tale The Ant and The Grasshopper is a beautiful example of Soviet international outreach through children’s literature. Published by the Foreign Languages Publishing House in Moscow, this book was part of a larger initiative to share the diverse folklore of the Soviet republics—in this case, Georgia—with the English-speaking world. The translation by Fainna Solasko expertly captures the rhythmic and moralistic tone of the Caucasian oral tradition, which shares thematic roots with Aesop's fables but possesses a distinct regional flair.
The visual narrative is provided by the prominent graphic artist Gleb Filippovsky (1905–1983). Filippovsky’s illustrations for this volume are characterized by their dynamic composition and vibrant use of color, which reflect the sun-drenched landscapes and cultural motifs of Georgia. His depictions of the industrious ant and the carefree grasshopper go beyond simple animal portraiture, imbuing the characters with expressive personality and placing them within a beautifully rendered natural environment. The large, encyclopedic format of the book allows Filippovsky’s artwork to take center stage, making the lessons of foresight and labor visually compelling for young readers.
During the 1950s, the Foreign Languages Publishing House set high standards for its "export" editions, using quality paper and sophisticated lithography. These books were not only educational tools but also artifacts of cultural diplomacy, showcasing the USSR’s artistic talent and its respect for the unique heritage of its constituent nations. This Georgian tale, with its universal message, served as an ideal bridge between cultures.
For collectors of Soviet children's books, admirers of Gleb Filippovsky’s graphic art, and historians of Georgian folklore, this English-language edition is a significant and rare find. It represents a specific era of Soviet publishing where high-quality book design was used to project the country's cultural diversity onto the global stage.