By Eduard Uspensky

Illustrated by Vladimir Shpitalnik.

Translated from Russian to English by Nina Ignatowicz.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, (1994).

First edition in English, first printing.

First printing number code sequence 1 through 10 to the copyright page.

Shpitalnik's endearing illustrations are original to this first U.S. edition.

Uspensky, a highly acclaimed prolific Russian children's author, playwright, poet, screenwriter, and TV host, draws on his own childhood toys: a girl doll, a plastic crocodile, and a stuffed animal so cheaply made nobody knew what it was, for this delightful and charming tale of helping others and making a welcome friendship center for all, including the very different.

This story was adapted to a successful stop-motion animation Russian film 'Gena The Crocodile', which was followed by three film sequels.

Fine, quite tight and fresh in white tweed linen over green boards with blind embossed illustration by Shpitalnik to the front cover and with green embossed titles to the spine; in a fine crisp dust jacket with wraparound color art by Shpitalnik; original printed $15.00 price still intact to the front inner flap.

Octavo; 122 pages; author's  introduction; plus author's two page Russian cultural explanation to 'American boys and girls'; plus author/illustrator bio. page to the rear.

Scarce, especially in such fresh condition.

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