Play Box

Beautiful children's illustrations by Russian painter and illustrator Tatiana Glebova (1900-1985) taken from this wonderful, hitherto unpublished book of hidden images

found in this superb Play Box edited by Julian Rothenstein at Redstone Press.

I'm thrilled to bits with my Russian Diary for 2010 and couldn't resist this marvellous collection for my children. Redstone's Play Box would make an excellent gift for Christmas. It's chock-full of unusual word games, optical illusions, hold-to-light images, cards, puzzles, flick books and so much more. A perfect present for rainy days, long winter nights and festive family gatherings. No TV, no computers, just good old-fashioned play that won't break the bank. Hurray!

Redstone's Russian diary

If you enjoyed reading this, you might be interested in buying this Russian Diary for 2010.

Through the '20s and '30s, in the early Soviet Union, there flowered briefly a golden age of children's books. Great artists and writers, often prohibited from other work, created a benign and fabulous alternative world. It was a world made for children, where learning went hand-in-hand with enchantment. Redstone's Diary for 2010 gives us, every day, a glimpse of that magical domain.

Available from Redstone's online shop or from here. Found via the excellent Grain Edit.