Salon

The organizers of the non/fiction book fair, which opened Wednesday and runs to Sunday at the Central House of Artists, have announced children's literature as this year's central theme. This decision might finally shift the focus of the fair away from fuzzily defined "intellectual literature" to nonfiction proper, which is well represented on the local children's book market.

Although Russia has never had a strong tradition of nonfiction for grown-ups -- and still lags far behind the West in this respect -- popular educational books for children were a sturdy part of Soviet tradition. I remember lots of extremely readable books on physics, biology, art history and even mathematics (which I otherwise loathed). This tradition also brought us Mikhail Gasparov's "Amazing Greece," the best book on ancient culture for young readers. So the children's book theme seems both appropriate and potentially fruitful.

Indeed, it looks as if the most interesting presentations at the fair will be devoted to children's books. One such event, organized by the Swedish Embassy, will honor "Pippi Long Stocking" author Astrid Lindgren, whose centenary we've just celebrated. Well-known children's author Grigory Oster will talk about works including his popular "Nasty Advice" series of books, which give jokey tips on naughty behavior. Meanwhile, web designer Artemy Lebedev will promote a series titled "Look What I've Got!" Aimed at young designers, the books describe the process of creating everyday objects such as a cell phone, a lipstick and a pair of spectacles.

Lyudmila Ulitskaya will present a series she edits that is intended to fight xenophobia and promote tolerance through stories about different ways of life. Among the books are a collection of the "founding myths" of different nations and an introduction to culinary cultures around the world.

The events for adults will also have educational value. Poet and singer Psoi Korolenko will present a new program of parodies of famous Russian authors, titled "Classics Are Fun," while another presentation will feature the story of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved several thousand Jews from imminent death in Nazi-occupied Budapest and then disappeared in the Soviet gulag. A stand organized by Academia Rossica, a charity promoting Russian literature in the West, will liaise between Russian publishers and the London Book Fair.

This year, there is a considerable emphasis on illustration, design, creativity and picture books. And that's not unwelcome when the weather is so gloomy.