Philipok

by Leo Tolstoy, Gennady Spirin (Illustrator), Ann Keay Beneduce (Retold by)

Philipok's mother has told him that he is too young to go to school like his older brother Peter, but one day he sets out on his own, braving wintry winds and a fierce dog to surprise Peter, the other children, and the teacher. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Russia, Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Cultural

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: Лев Николаевич Толстой; most appropriately used Liev Tolstoy; commonly Leo Tolstoy in Anglophone countries) was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist fiction. Many consider Tolstoy to have been one of the world's greatest novelists. Tolstoy is equally known for his complicated and paradoxical persona and for his extreme moralistic and ascetic views, which he adopted after a moral crisis and spiritual awakening in the 1870s, after which he also became noted as a moral thinker and social reformer.

His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and anarcho-pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philipok is a sweet-faced little boy who wants nothing more than to go to school like his older brother. How far is he willing to go to make his wish come true? There's not much more to Tolstoy's tale than that, but the detailed watercolor illustrations by Gennady Spirin are lovely.

(I LOVE the cat washing her leg!)

This is one I suspect grownups will enjoy more than the kiddos.

[Veronica Palazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Troppo breve!
Meravigliose le illustrazioni.
Filipok vuole andare a scuola come il suo fratellino Pietro

[Linda Lipko · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the time of writing this book, Tolstoy was a well-known, well-regarded and successful author. Both parents died when he was young, leaving him in the care of relatives. Perhaps that was the motivation for starting a school for peasant children in 1850.

This is a tale of shy, introverted, little Philipok who is determined to attend school. Even though his mother insists he stay home in the care of his grandmother, one day Philopok braves the snowy, cold weather and a fierce dog, to walk to school so that he can attend school.

When he arrives at his destination, he is very shy, afraid to enter. When he gets the courage, he is excited to be there and is rather boastful to the teacher regarding his reading accomplishments. The teacher admonishes him, telling him he needs to stop bragging and start learning. Thereafter, Philipok happily walks to school with his brother.

Lush illustrations pull the reader into this lovely story.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo Tolstoi ist einer meiner Lieblingsschriftsteller, ich habe ihn früher ständig gelesen. Vor Kurzem entdeckte ich, dass er ein Kinderbuch geschrieben hatte, und ich wusste, dass ich es meiner Tochter vorlesen musste, die ein angehender Bücherwurm ist. Das Exemplar von Thienemann-Esslinger ist einfach wunderschön, mit so niedlichen Illustrationen, die mich an die Bücher erinnern, die ich als Kind in Rumänien gelesen habe und von denen viele sogar aus dem Russischen übersetzt wurden. Philipok hat unsere Herzen erobert. Das war eine wunderschöne Geschichte, die ich mit meiner Tochter gelesen habe.

Meine Meinung:

Diese Geschichte ist ein absoluter Klassiker, der sicher allen Kindern gefallen wird. Der kleine Philipok ist die Art von Charakter, die dein Herz gewinnt, ohne dass du es überhaupt versuchen musst. Er träumt nur davon, zur Schule zu gehen und schleicht sich aus dem Haus, um seinen Traum zu verwirklichen. Trotzdem ist es eine abenteuerliche Reise, die so schön erzählt und dargestellt wird. Ich finde, diese Geschichte ist perfekt für die Kinder von heute, die es so eilig haben, erwachsen zu werden. Leo Tolstoi ist ein meisterhafter Geschichtenerzähler, er verzaubert so leicht, während die Illustrationen dich in die Geschichte hineinziehen.

Meine Tochter ist sechs Jahre alt und fand die Geschichte einfach herrlich. Ich denke, ältere Kinder könnten versuchen, diese schöne Geschichte selbst zu lesen. Ich mochte die Figur des Philipok. Trotz seines jungen Alters ist er klug und wissbegierig, ganz zu schweigen von seiner Entschlossenheit. Er will einfach nur zur Schule gehen, genau wie sein älterer Bruder, und er gibt seinen Traum nicht auf. Es gibt so viel Werbung, mit der er konfrontiert wird, aber er bleibt standhaft. Eine wunderbare Lektion über Widerstandsfähigkeit.

Auch wenn die Geschichte auf den ersten Blick simpel erscheint, glaube ich, dass sie viele wichtige Lektionen zu bieten hat, besonders für junge Kinder. Wenn man bedenkt, dass sie vor so langer Zeit geschrieben wurde, ist sie auch heute noch aktuell, was beweist, dass sich manche Dinge nie ändern. Wie ich schon sagte, erinnerte mich das Buch auch an Bücher, die ich als Kind gelesen habe. Bücher wie dieses sind wahre Schätze und ich bin für jedes einzelne dankbar.

Zusammenfassung:

Dies ist zweifelsohne eines der schönsten Bücher, die ich in den Händen halten durfte. Meiner Tochter ging es genauso, sie fühlte sich zu dem kleinen Philipok und seiner Geschichte hingezogen. Es ist erstaunlich, wie Bücher die Generationen überdauern und wie wir den Nervenkitzel einer verlorenen Kindheit spüren können, wenn wir unseren Kindern eine solche Geschichte vorlesen. Wir haben die Geschichte absolut geliebt, sie war wirklich schön und emotional!

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philipok by Leo Tolstoy, Re-told by Ann Keay Beneuduce Illustrator Gennady Spirin- Children’s Russian coloured story book- Russia is a cold country. Winter, snow effect the life of Russians. The coloured pictures in this book show Philipok’s residence, his winter dress, shoes and socks, his grandmother’s winter dress, cooking stove etc. Philipok is small child and his parents think that he must play. They do not wish to loading his mind with primary school counting and tables. It appears from the story that primary education for children is free. Philipok wants to go to school like his older brother. His refuses and instructs him to stay with at home with Grandma. As soon as he finds that his grandma has fallen asleep, Little Philipok slips out of the house to make his way to school through the snow. Philipok knows all dogs of his area. They do not bother him. As Philipok crosses his village and moves towards the Church, he finds snow covered road and dogs barking at him. He runs about he slips on the snow and falls down. An old man scolds the dogs and Philipok runs to the school. On the gate, he finds a lady carrying water for the children. He asks him to go to his class. He is cold and frightened still he moves in the class. He finds children being taught by a teacher. When the teacher witnesses Philipok, he questions him about his name. Philipok does not reply. He questions the children. One child replies that he is Peter’s younger brother. He also informs that Philipok always wishes to attend school but his parents do not allow him. Teacher questions about whether he can write and count. Philipok replies that Peter has taught him to write and count. Teacher writes his name on the board. Philipok is able to read. Teacher says that he will ask Philipok’s parents to send him to school from tomorrow. For children the prose is simple, illustrations bind the reader to the story. I have read this book in Hindi language.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations evoke Russian life of the period and though the story is simple and relatable for small children eager to be like their older friends/brothers, it's also a jumping off point for further exploration of another country, lifestyle and time. It's also an early exposure to Tolstoy. His observations and writing speak so much to the time in which he lived and the attitudes of people at that time - which incidentally are still quite relevant. The details are beautiful, interesting and worth discussing with children.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story of a boy who wants to go to school. Not much conflict, but Gennedy Spirin's illustrations are nice.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

original text, not the one redacted by the Soviet censors.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is meaner than the average modern children's book. I make the story kinder, especially the teacher kinder, when I read it to Zander.

[Shaundell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally this story was told by Leo Tolstoy, a Russian author. Philipok is a small boy who desperately wanted to go to school, like his older brother, Peter. However, his mother insisted that he was too young and needed to stay at home with Grandma. When Grandma falls asleep, the curious boy puts on his coat and his father’s old hat, places a book underneath his arm, and sets out for school. He had adventures along the way - friendly dogs, not-so-friendly dogs, and slipping on the ice. Finally he makes it to the building and enters. The teacher demands to know who he is and why he is there. Philipok insists that he can read and write, even though he is young. The teacher gladly says that he may now come to school every day with Peter.

A touching story! A Russian author and a Russian illustrator combined together for a wonderful picture book! I love the details that Gennady draws and paints; it adds so much to the story. I imagine it takes quite a bit of time and practice to become a master like he is.

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

the illustrations are pretty, but terrifyingly soulless. Wherever eyes are visible, they are staring into the distance with the sort of dread more closely associated with finding out that everyone you know has all died in a terrible explosion which you inadvertently caused than with trying to go to school.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful old-style illustrations make for a very pretty book. The part with the stray dogs might be scary to youngsters. Nice enough story overall, but a little strange. Seemed like it didn't have much of a plot or ending.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations by Gennady Spirin carry this story, originally written by Leo Tolstoy.

[Kelley]

If only all children were this determined to go to school. I like be able to tell someone that now I've "read a Tolstoy." Haha.

[Jeana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about a little boy who is so eager to go to school that he takes matters into his own hands. Portia and I have been reading this almost nightly since she started kindergarten.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Tolstoy would have liked this retelling/translation and the illustrations of his short story.

[Randi]

Yay! My first book in Russian! (I read the Филипок version--original text, same illustrator.)

I love the illustrations best. <3 ;D

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely illustrations feature largely in this very well-done retelling of a Tolstoy tale.

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Philipok runs away to go to school with his brother and the teacher lets him stay (even when he spells his name wrong)?!?! Ugh!