Barankin, Be a Human! and Other Stories

Yurka Barankin's life is not easy! All he hears from those around him is, "Barankin, be a human!" But what if Yurka is tired of being that? You get just one failing grade in geometry, and you have to study... on your only day off, plus work in the school garden. It's a terrible injustice. How I wish to be a sparrow or a butterfly and live carefree! But Yurka could never have imagined that this wish would unexpectedly come true... Dima Kolchanov is also not lacking in imagination, his friends have aptly nicknamed him Captain Make-it-up. Sometimes he searches for treasure, other times he trains snakes, and sometimes he even conducts scientific closures. Of course, his own fantasies sometimes backfire, but that's just how Captain is — he can't spend a day without adventures! The beloved works of Valery Medvedev, cherished by generations of readers, included in this collection, are enhanced by wonderful illustrations by Heinrich Valk and Arnold Tambovkin — artists whose mastery history has long rated at the highest level.