Children’s Literature Critique in Russia during the First World War ( based on the periodicals “Children’s Literature News” and “What and How to Read for Children”

Abstract

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russian periodicals, Children's Literature News and What and How to Read to Children, made attempts to rework the criteria for evaluating children's books. The traditional view of children’s books was subject to revision, which considered them as an educational tool and new aesthetic criteria were suggested. During the First World War, when it became necessary to protect children from the war propaganda, the pedagogical potential of children's books that asserted humanistic ideals, once again came to the forefront, but as once before, both critics and pedagogues appealed to the artistic imaginary as it was looked at as the most effective way to influence the young reader.

Keywords: World War I, 20th century Russian children’s literature, children’s literature critique