Vitaly Georgievich Gubarev (1912-1981) was a children's writer and journalist. He was born in Rostov-on-Don into the family of a teacher and the daughter of a clergyman. Vitaly spent his childhood on a farm where his grandmother ran a school; there he graduated from nine grades. His rich imagination and passion for creativity helped him write his first plays while still in school. At the age of fourteen, the young man made his literary debut: his first story was published in the magazine "Horn" in 1926. After some time, Gubarev joined the association of proletarian writers. For quite a long time, he worked as an editor in magazines and newspapers, combining journalism with teaching at the Institute of Children's Movement. In 1933, an article about Pavel Morozov was published in the newspaper "Collective Farm Boys," which the author later adapted into a novella, and subsequently - into a play. The plot about Morozov as rendered by Gubarev caused public resonance and brought the writer wide recognition. Gubarev served as a front-line correspondent during the Great Patriotic War, and in the post-war period, he traveled extensively across the country, seeking original material and trying to better understand the interests of his readers. As a result, several fairy tales for children and novels for teenagers were published, loved by many generations of readers.
Gubarev's works were highly valued in the Soviet Union. They were repeatedly reissued in popular book series and enjoyed success with both children and adults. One of the most significant works of the writer became the fairy tale novella "The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors," published in 1951. The events unfold in the mirror world, where a girl named Olya unexpectedly finds herself. There, she meets her reflection Yalo and together they travel through a magical city, confront evil forces, and correct her shortcomings. The novella sharply stood out against the backdrop of other children's literature of its time. It gained immense popularity and was translated into foreign languages. Based on it, plays were staged and films were made.
Charming colored illustrations for the text were created by Soviet artist Igor Leonidovich Ushakov (1926-1989). He studied at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute and then worked as an illustrator for newspapers and magazines. His works could also be found at all-Union art exhibitions and in Soviet editions of world literature. Ushakov's bright, detailed drawings superbly convey the fairy-tale atmosphere, the dynamism of the narrative, and the emotions of Gubarev's characters.
