The works of L.N. Tolstoy – a classic of world literature – are studied in all classes of primary school. The collection includes all the works that children read in literature lessons; on them, they write dictations, summaries, and essays. Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828–1910) – a great Russian writer, one of the greatest novelists in the world, a thinker, educator, journalist, and participant in the defense of Sevastopol. In his estate, Yasnaya Polyana, and in the vicinity of the village, Tolstoy established schools for peasant children. A year after their opening, the writer traveled abroad to learn how popular education was organized in European schools. Tolstoy wanted to create his own education system in the Yasnaya Polyana school: he abolished all rules of discipline and canceled pedagogical programs. In 1862, the writer began publishing the educational magazine "Yasnaya Polyana" with reading books. In 1872, "The Alphabet" by L. Tolstoy was published – an educational manual for teaching children to read, write, and do arithmetic. The Alphabet consisted of four books, which included short stories, epics, fables, riddles for children, as well as recommendations for teachers, methodological tips, and general comments. With the Alphabet, children could easily learn to write, count, and read. Tolstoy often wrote about peasant children in his tales and stories. The instructive and kind stories allow readers to immerse themselves in the world of a simple Russian village, where the heroes achieve their goals and realize their dreams through perseverance, strength of spirit, and friendliness. The collection includes stories, tales, and epics from the Alphabet of L.N. Tolstoy. Filipok (1875) – a story about a small peasant boy who very much wanted to learn but was not allowed to go to school because of his age.
