Bianki, V. The Doughnut from the Wood with a Prickly Hood (Lesnoy kolobok — kolyuchiy bok), 1958. Illustrated by G. Nikolsky. In English.

Bianki, Vitaly. The Doughnut from the Wood with a Prickly Hood. / Illustrated by G. Nikolsky. Translated from the Russian by Dorian Rottenberg. Series: Soviet Children's Library for Tiny Tots.
Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1958.
16 pp.: ill. Softcover, illustrated publisher's wrap, encyclopedic format. Printed in the USSR. In English.

This charming 1958 edition presents one of the most beloved nature tales by Vitaly Bianki (1894–1959) to an English-speaking audience. Published by the Foreign Languages Publishing House in Moscow, this book was part of the Soviet Union's extensive program to export its finest children's literature, showcasing high-quality translations and world-class illustration to readers abroad during the Cold War.
Vitaly Bianki, a master of "scientific fiction" for children, reimagines the classic Russian folklore trope of the Kolobok (The Doughnut/Runaway Bun). In this version, the "Doughnut" is actually a hedgehog, and the story follows its encounters with various forest predators. Bianki’s deep knowledge of biology shines through, as he teaches young readers about animal defenses and forest ecology through a whimsical and rhythmic narrative.
The book features stunning illustrations by Georgy Nikolsky (1906–1973), a preeminent Soviet animalist artist. Nikolsky’s ability to imbue animals with character while maintaining anatomical accuracy made him the perfect collaborator for Bianki. His soft, textured drawings bring the "prickly hood" and the lush Soviet forest to life, making the book a visual delight for "tiny tots."
The translation was expertly handled by Dorian Rottenberg, one of the Soviet Union’s most prolific translators of poetry and children's prose, ensuring that the charm and rhythm of Bianki’s original Russian text were preserved for the English ear. This 1958 printing remains a nostalgic artifact of the Khrushchev Thaw, representing the peaceful cultural expansion of the Soviet Union through the universal language of children's fairy tales.