In this commentary, the author stresses that reading habits in Russia have changed since the Soviet era, and the more intellectual journals and magazines in particular have lost their importance. Audiences for books and magazines have fragmented, and there are fewer sources of commonly shared information and ideas than was true a few decades ago.…

It is acknowledged that the value of reading has gone down in today's Russian society, and this is rated as unequivocally negative. Instead of "the most well-read country in the world," Russia is now called a "society of TV viewers" by the some observers; it is not a nation of independent thinkers but passive objects of the…

Reviews the life and works of Kornei I. Chukovsky and discusses his contribution to children's literature. (RB)

Children's literature in the Soviet Union is of four types: 17 stories based on old tales, adaptations from great Russian literature, original writings for children, and translations from foreign works. (JH)

Information is provided on the following books: (1) Duewel, W., "Geschichte der klassischen russischen Literatur"; (2) Juenger, H., "Geschicte der russischen Sowjetliteratur"; (3) Grasshoff, H., and others, "Russische Literatur im Ueberblick"; (4) Juenger, H., and others, "Russische sowjetische Literatur im Ueberblick"; (5) Ludwig, N.,…

This second in a series of annotated bibliographies of books from and about Russia provides annotations for more than 70 books containing Russian folk and animal tales. (FL)

Provides annotations for 25 books containing stories from and about countries that are now part of the Soviet Union. Suggests that they can help children become aware of cultures other than their own. (FL)

The third in a series of articles presenting annotations of books from and about the Soviet Union. (FL)