Discover Thousands of Soviet-Era Children's Books from Princeton University

A vast collection of rarely accessible Soviet children’s books is now digitally accessible. The project, Playing Soviet: The Visual Languages of Early Soviet Children’s Books 1917-1953, leverages Princeton University’s archive of 2,500 Soviet picture books to craft an engaging digital showcase. This exhibition highlights the significance of illustrations and children’s literature in the Soviet Union, featuring digitized books complemented by scholarly essays and historical annotations.

The website elaborates, 'The curated selections offer a firsthand glimpse into how Russia’s rapid and tumultuous political, social, and cultural transformations between 1917 and 1953 were depicted. As emphasized by Soviet cultural leaders—writers and government figures alike—the visual design and illustrations in children’s books were crucial tools for disseminating practical and ideological knowledge in the new Soviet state.'

Numerous books were crafted to instill in children the 'correct' perspective on Soviet culture and history. For example, in How the Revolution Was Victorious (Как победила революция), the explicit goal was to educate children born shortly after the 1917 October Revolution about the events. As Yuri Leving notes in the book’s analysis on the site, the aim was 'to guarantee that the younger generation of Soviet readers interpreted the anti-government uprising accurately.'

The focus on children’s picture books as a medium for Soviet ideology elevated illustrators and artists to a prominent cultural status. They were regarded as equals to the era’s most celebrated writers and were encouraged to experiment with avant-garde styles in their works for children and young adults.

Youth, Go! (Юность, иди!), a manual commissioned by trade unions to teach young workers efficiency, showcased Cubo-Futurist and Constructivist art. These illustrations encouraged youth to transform themselves into highly efficient machines, both in mind and body.

The books featured in Playing Soviet lack full English translations but are enriched with annotations that highlight key elements of the artwork and text. Users can browse the digital versions page by page or explore curated selections. The platform also allows searches by artist, author, subject, year, or even color. Princeton notes that the project is continually expanding, with plans to add approximately 100 new images annually.