This is how it always happens: you are looking for something by relatives and friends of a rabbit for 10 years, and asking Uncle Google comes to mind after the statute of limitations has expired.

Hooray! Young Emil's favorite book has been found!
It's a fun time for everyone!

**************************************** ******************************
Irina Tokmakova,
"Evening Tale", 1983

I've been wandering in the woods all day
I look - it's already evening on the nose.
There is no more sun in the sky
All that's left is a red mark
The fir trees fell silent, the oak fell asleep.
In the darkness, the hazel tree drowned.
Sleepy pine subsided
And there was silence:
And the crossbill is silent, and the thrush is silent,
And the woodpecker no longer knocks.
Suddenly I hear - an owl hooted,
So much so that the foliage trembled:
– Whoo! Time is wasted,
Dawn faded in the sky,
Let's drag the screamer
Until the moon came out. -
The second grunted in response:
- I haven't finished my lunch. -
And again the first: - Wow!
You are always talking nonsense.
We won't be able to fly
After all, they can lock the doors.
Drop lunch, let's fly now
Let's take it and the story is over.

I parted the branches with my shoulder
And he shouted: -Owls, what are you talking about?

After cleaning the beak, one of them
I answered for two:
There is a strange boy in the world.
He himself knows how to eat porridge,
Battleship can draw
And train evil dogs.
But they will only say: "It's time to sleep!" -
He roar starts until the morning:

"Don't extinguish
fire,
don't ask
me,
Doesn't matter
I won't sleep
Whole bed
turn over,
I don't wish
I can not,
Better for owls
I'll run away..."

We reasoned: so and so,
Since this little weirdo
Doesn't want to sleep at night
He needs to become an owl.
We'll bring the boy into the hollow,
Let's say five terrible words,
Let's give magic grass
And turn him into an owl. -
Here the owls rose from the branches
And they were carried away into the darkness of the night.

I knew where they were going
Who do they want to bewitch?
After all, this is Zhenya, my neighbor,
He is five and a half years old
And he's all night long
Screams, rages and roars:

"Don't extinguish
fire,
don't ask
me,
Doesn't matter
I won't sleep
Whole bed
turn over,
I don't wish
I can not,
Better for owls
I'll run away..."

How to get ahead of these owls?
How can I warn Zhenya?
No one can help me
It's completely dark, it's night.
The mist has risen,
A star lit up in the sky...

I rushed to wake the woodpecker:
- Listen, woodpecker, how can I be?
My best friend got into trouble,
And I can't find the way...

The woodpecker thought, was silent
And shook his head:
- I won't put my mind to it
I'm going to wake up the mouse. -
Now a mouse has come running
And she squeaked: “What are you sad about?
After all, my friend is an old mole
Dug a straight underground passage.
You can go straight
You won't go astray there. -
And despite the darkness
I ran to the mole.
But here I was in trouble:
The move was wide with a mole!
Well, how do I go on the road,
When will I not fit in it?
You have to climb on top
But how to find a path in the darkness?
Glasses won't help me...
But the woodpecker called out: “Fireflies!” -
And the fireflies came
Such good bugs
And immediately the darkness receded,
And I ran like an arrow
Like a runner
like a helicopter
Like a jet!

Here I am at home. Owls before!
Ordinary Zhenkin hear the roar:

"Don't extinguish
fire,
don't ask
me,
Doesn't matter
I won't sleep
Whole bed
turn over,
I don't wish
I can not,
Better for owls
I'll run away..."

I shouted: - Zhenya, brother, trouble!
After all, two owls are flying here!
Here you made a mess! -
And I told him everything.
And Zhenya immediately fell silent,
As if he had never screamed in his life.
And more he in the evenings
Does not raise rams.
As soon as they say: "It's time to sleep!"
He sleeps until morning.
And owls don't sleep at night
Capricious guys are guarded.

1181

The name of the poetess Irina Tokmakova is well known in children's literature. She began writing in the 1950s. A philologist and translator by profession, Tokmakova chose children's literature not by chance. Irina's childhood was military, her mother worked in an orphanage. According to the memoirs of the poetess, at home all the conversations were about children: who is sick, who is recovering, who is gifted, who is athletic. This was the choice of the children's direction in literature.

Tokmakova's first book was in the full sense of the family. She translated Scottish songs for her little son, and her husband drew illustrations. So the book "Little Wily Winky" appeared. In translations, the writer uses the lessons of Marshak, a pillar of children's literature, and focuses not on the letter, but on the level of children's perception.

"An Evening Tale" is an instructive story for children who are difficult to put to bed in the evenings. The tale is written in the major rhythm that corresponds to the movements of the child. The poem sounds like the reader is making up a story as they go along.

Here Tokmakova skillfully uses the intonation and emotional mood peculiar only to her poems. The narration is in the first person, it is interesting to observe how the intonation changes throughout the poem. In the first lines we see a tired man who "wandered in the forest all day long." The situation is described in short, simple sentences. And we feel that night is falling on the earth, everyone is getting ready to sleep. Everything is quiet, only the hooting of an owl is heard. And here appears a fabulous intonation, fabulous images. Owls, it turns out, can talk and told the author a story about a boy who knows how to do everything, very smart, capable, only he can’t go to bed in the evenings and “roar gets you up until the morning.” The situation is common, probably, many parents are faced with the fact that the baby does not want to go to bed. What awaits the little brawler, the hero of Tokmakova? The owls decided to take him to their place and with the help of magic grass turn him into an owlet.

The author recognizes his neighbor Zhenya in the story of the owls and hurries to him to warn him about the owl's plan. The rhythm and intonation of the poem changes. Together with the author, we are running, we are worried about Zhenya. And then bad luck, the author got lost, he asks the woodpecker to help, he woke up the mouse, called the fireflies. Whole animal world came to the rescue, and the author, like an arrow, a runner, a helicopter, a jet plane rushed to Zhenya and managed to do it before the owls. He told the neighbor boy what he heard in the forest, and Zhenya realized that the jokes were over.

And again, with a calm homely intonation, Tokmakova finishes the story of a naughty boy, the tension disappears, everything is fine with Zhenya. But owls do not sleep, they guard naughty guys.

The writer tells this story about Zhenya in the expectation that the children, having heard her, will do the same as Zhenya, and will no longer arrange ramblings in the evenings. Images of a sympathetic neighbor and his forest helpers will serve as an example of humanity and will contribute to moral education. In addition, the book carries not only instructive information, but also introduces kids to forest dwellers.

The book was made in good quality on coated sheets. The colorful illustrations by Nina Noskovich are age-appropriate and not overloaded with details. Realistic drawings have a hint of fabulousness, owls are endowed with character, the artist gave them a conspiratorial, cunning look so as not to scare the little reader. Here we see a mysterious forest, for the image of which shades of purple are used, a kind woodpecker, a responsive mouse.

Buy the book Evening Tale

Thanks to the duet of Tokmakova and Noskovich, this book turned out to be interesting, informative and exciting. And special thanks to the Rech publishing house for publishing Tokmakova’s work in the Mom’s Favorite Book series. Such authors should not be forgotten.

Evening tale.
1...
I've been wandering in the woods all day
I look - it's already evening on the nose.
There is no more sun in the sky
All that's left is a red mark
The fir trees fell silent, the oak fell asleep.
In the darkness, the hazel tree drowned.
Sleepy pine subsided
And there was silence:
And the crossbill is silent, and the thrush is silent,
And the woodpecker no longer knocks.
Suddenly I hear - an owl hooted,
So much so that the foliage trembled:
– Whoo! Time is wasted,
Dawn faded in the sky,
Let's drag the screamer
Until the moon came out. -
The second grunted in response:
- I haven't finished my lunch. -
And again the first: - Wow!
You are always talking nonsense.
We won't be able to fly
After all, they can lock the doors.
Drop lunch, let's fly now
Let's take it and the story is over.
I parted the branches with my shoulder
And he shouted: -Owls, what are you talking about?
2...
After cleaning the beak, one of them
I answered for two:
There is a strange boy in the world.
He himself knows how to eat porridge,
Battleship can draw
And train evil dogs.
But they will only say: "It's time to sleep!" -
He roar starts until the morning:
"Don't put out the fire,
Don't ask me
I still won't sleep
Turn the whole bed
I don't want, I can't
I'd better run away to the owls ... "
We reasoned: so and so,
Since this little weirdo
Doesn't want to sleep at night
He needs to become an owl.
We'll bring the boy into the hollow,
Let's say five terrible words,
Let's give magic grass
And turn him into an owl. -
Here the owls rose from the branches
And they were carried away into the darkness of the night.
I knew where they were going
Who do they want to bewitch?
After all, this is Zhenya, my neighbor,
He is five and a half years old
And he's all night long
Screams, rages and roars:
"Don't put out the fire,
Don't ask me
I still won't sleep
Turn the whole bed
I don't want, I can't
I'd better run away to the owls ... "
How to get ahead of these owls?
How can I warn Zhenya?
No one can help me
It's completely dark, it's night.
The mist has risen,
A star lit up in the sky...
3...
I rushed to wake the woodpecker:
- Listen, woodpecker, how can I be?
My best friend is in trouble
And I can't find the way...
The woodpecker thought, was silent
And shook his head:
- I won't put my mind to it
I'm going to wake up the mouse. -
Now a mouse has come running
And she squeaked: “What are you sad about?
After all, my friend is an old mole
Dug a straight underground passage.
You can go straight
You won't go astray there. -
And despite the darkness
I ran to the mole.
But here I was in trouble:
The move was wide with a mole!
Well, how do I go on the road,
When will I not fit in it?
You have to climb on top
But how to find a path in the darkness?
Glasses won't help me...
But the woodpecker called out: “Fireflies!” -
And the fireflies came
Such good bugs
And immediately the darkness receded,
And I ran like an arrow
Like a speedboat, like a helicopter,
Like a jet!
4...
Here I am at home. Owls before!
Ordinary Zhenkin hear the roar:
"Don't put out the fire,
Don't ask me
I still won't sleep
Turn the whole bed
I don't want, I can't
I'd better run away to the owls ... "
I shouted: - Zhenya, brother, trouble!
After all, two owls are flying here!
Here you made a mess! -
And I told him everything.
And Zhenya immediately fell silent,
As if he had never screamed in his life.
And more he in the evenings
Does not raise rams.
As soon as they say: "It's time to sleep!"
He sleeps until morning.
And owls don't sleep at night
Capricious guys are guarded.

My husband still remembers how his mother read this fairy tale to him))))

From a child psychologist:

At one time my son did not want to go to bed. What I just did not invent, but all to no avail. In the evening, it's time to sleep at our house scandal and tears. The son screams I don’t want to, I won’t, and so on. This fairy tale helped me then, only I had to learn it by heart. And when it came time to go to bed, my son started again, which was another 10 minutes, then tears, then I said: "I have one very true story that my mother told me as a child, do you want to tell me?" And she told me ... And after a couple of days, he himself asked me to tell him about owls and went to bed peacefully. As soon as I said that it was time to rest and that it was already dark, which means the owls woke up ... Try it, maybe it will help you.
Irina Tokmakova

Evening tale

I spent the whole day wandering in the forest.
I look - the evening is on the nose,
There is no more sun in the sky
Only a red mark remained.
The firs fell silent. Oak fell asleep.
In the darkness, the hazel tree sank.
Sleepy pine fell silent.
And there was silence:
And the crossbill is silent, and the thrush is silent.
And the woodpecker no longer knocks.
Suddenly I hear - an owl hooted,
So much so that the foliage shuddered:

Wow! Time is wasted,
Dawn faded in the sky.
Let's drag the screamer
Until the moon came out.
The other grunted in response.
- I didn't finish my lunch.

And again the first: - Wow!
You are always talking nonsense!
We won't make it:
After all, they can lock the doors.
Drop lunch, let's fly now
Let's take it - and the tale is over.
I parted the branches with my shoulder
And he shouted: - Owls, what are you talking about?
After cleaning the beak, one of them
I answered for two:
- There is a strange boy in the world
He himself knows how to eat porridge,
Battleship can draw
And train evil dogs.
But they will only say: "It's time to sleep."
He roar starts until the morning:
- Don't put out the fire
Don't ask me
Still I won't sleep
Turn the whole bed
I don't wish
I can not,
Better to run away to the owls...
We reasoned: so and so,
Since this little weirdo
Doesn't want to sleep at night
He needs to become an owl.
We'll bring the boy into the hollow,
Let's say five terrible words,
Let's give magic grass
And turn him into an owl.
Here the owls rose from their place
And they were carried away into the darkness of the night.
I knew where they were going
Who do they want to bewitch?
After all, this is Zhenya, my neighbor,
He is five and a half years old
And he's all night long
Screams, rages and roars:
- Do not extinguish
fire,
don't ask
Me,
Doesn't matter
I won't sleep
Whole bed
I'll turn over
I don't wish
I can not,
Better for owls
I'll run away...
How to get ahead of these owls?
How can I warn Zhenya?
No one can help me
It's completely dark, it's night.
The mist has risen,
A star lit up in the sky...
I rushed to wake the woodpecker:
- Listen, woodpecker, how can I be?
My best friend is in trouble
And I can't find a way...
The woodpecker thought, was silent
And shook his head:
- I won't put my mind to it
I'm going to wake up the mouse.
Now a mouse has come running
And squeaked: - Why are you sad?
After all, my friend is an old mole
Dug a straight underground passage.
You can go straight
You won't go astray there.
And despite the darkness
I ran to the mole.

But here again trouble awaited:
The move was wide with a mole!
Well, how do I go on the road,
When can't I fit in it?
You'll have to climb on top.
But how to find a path in the darkness?
Glasses won't help me...
But the woodpecker shouted: - Fireflies!
And the fireflies came
Such good bugs.
And immediately the darkness receded,
And I ran like an arrow
Like a runner
Like a helicopter
Like a jet!

Here I am at home. Owls before!
Ordinary Zhenkin hear the roar
- Do not extinguish
fire,
don't ask
Me,
Doesn't matter
I won't sleep
Whole bed
I'll turn over
I don't wish
I can not,
Better for owls
I'll run away...
I shouted: - Zhenya, brother, trouble!
After all, two owls are flying here!
Here you made a mess!
And I told him everything.
And Zhenya immediately fell silent,
As if he had never screamed in his life.
And more he in the evenings
Does not raise rams.
As soon as they say: "It's time to sleep,"
He sleeps until morning.
And owls don't sleep at night.

Someone may say that after such a fairy tale, the child will be even more afraid, but this is not so. My owl was not afraid, although not the most courageous boy either. After reading it, I told him that owls live in the forest, but if you scream and make a lot of noise, cry in your throat, then they can hear and fly in. The son then asked, and that they would take me away? I answered, of course not, my mother will not give it back, but they will fly in and look out the window, who is screaming so much? He calmed down and we did not become afraid of owls, but when he again began to buzz about sleep, I told him: "What are you calling owls for?" And after that, he sort of calmed down.

I do not presume to claim that I know all the variants of Lev Tokmakov's illustrations for "An Evening Tale" by Irina Tokmakova. But today I wanted to re-read it and compare the drawings in at least those three books that were at hand.
Separate editions of "Evening Tale" were published in the series "My First Books" - in 1968 and 1983.

I met a slightly earlier version of the illustrations in the collection "Carousel" of 1967:

In the collection of 1967, on 8 pages reserved for a fairy tale, the main thing is rapid movement. First - a rush to him, which is already felt in the rapid inclination of the protagonist (a typical intellectual of the 60s). This slope is the diagonal on which the entire reversal composition is built:

On the following pages, the harbingers of movement and anxiety are the curtains flung up on the window:

On the third turn, everything is subject to movement. Owls frowning in flight and an absolutely stunning silhouette picture:

The movement ends with the slam of the open door and the impetuous gesture of the adult hero:

Bright, concise, finished.

The "Evening Tale" of 1968 has 16 pages and, despite the presence of only two colors - black and white, there are much more lyrical shades. A village evening, a walk through the woods... The book begins with such a quiet note:

And the protagonist- not an impetuous young intellectual, but a short-sighted eccentric in thick glasses, the lenses of which gleam in the evening light:

And the fairy tale almost does not look like a fairy tale, its situation is so real:

Pay attention to the boy Zhenya. In the editions of the 60s, he is an ordinary cheerful tomboy:

In the book of 1968, there was a place for the dialogue of an eccentric with a woodpecker, a mouse and a mole:

And here is his run from the dense evening forest to the lights of the village:

The last spread almost repeats the drawing from the "Carousel" collection, but how the movements of the eccentric are broken, they do not have the wholeness of the impulse that we saw before:

The book of 1983 is made in a completely different manner. The main character is a modern "tourist" in a baseball cap and with a camera. And Zhenya is no longer a tomboy, but a real capricious. And the fairy tale is real, so toy and warm.