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Uspensky Eduard
(b. 1937)

Eduard Uspenskiy is a Russian writer and author of several children's books. Among his most beloved characters are a serious but adventurous boy known, for his serious disposition, by the sardonic nickname of Uncle Fedya (Uncle Fyodor), from «Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat»; and the anthropomorphic duo of Crocodile Gena and Cheburashka, featured in a children's novel by Uspensky about the adventures of the two animal friends.

Uspenskiy was born near Moscow. After graduating as an engineer, he earned his living by writing and producing animations. Besides writing and producing, Uspenskiy has enjoyed a professional role as a long-lasting figure in radio and television: he was instrumental in the creation of the popular radio program «Radio Nanny», produced with the aim of featuring songs and humorous dialogue as integral elements of an educational radio program explaining concepts in grammar, mathematics, scientific subjects, and courteous behavior to children. In recent years, he has been working as host of the musical TV show «V Nashu Gavan' Zahodili Korabli», dedicated to bringing old popular songs, performed by talented amateur singers, to nostalgic older audiences. In addition to children's books, Uspenskiy's creative output also includes plays and poems.

Uspenskiy's first book about Uncle Fedya, «Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat», was first published in Russian in 1974. The main character is a six-year-old boy who is called Uncle Fedya because he is very serious. After his parents don't let him keep Mr. Matroskin, a talking cat, Uncle Fedya leaves his home. With the dog Sharik, the three set up a home in the country, a village called Prostokvaschino (from the Russian for buttermilk). After finding a treasure, Uncle Fedya can afford to buy a tractor that runs on soup and potatoes, and a portable sun to do the heating during the winter. The book was made into a successful animated film, «Three from Buttermilk Village» (and its two sequels). Uspenskiy continued with Uncle Fedya in other books which have not, however, been as successful.

Belarus, 2010, Children read book

Japan, 2006, Dog and Cheburashka (Kobayashi Ryota)

USSR, 1988, Gena the Crocodile and Cheburashka

USSR, 1976, Crocodile Gena and Cheburashka in car