The first in a series of Russian picture-books setting out the adventures of Dunno (Незнайка in the original, meaning "don't know") to be published by Moscow-based Raduga Publishers - I am not entirely sure, but I think this entire multi-volume sequence may have been released as one volume initially, in 1954 - The Mites of Flower Town introduces the fairy-tale world that Nikolai Nosov would make the backdrop for his famous little hero's exploits. Tiny people who lived in a pretty little town on the banks of the Cucumber River, the Mites were divided into two kinds - the boy-Mites and the girl-Mites - who didn't always peacefully coexist. In this initial story, Dunno, so named because he knows, well... nothing, becomes convinced that a piece of the sun has broken off, and is heading for earth. His wild tale sets off a town-wide panic, until Doono - Dunno's opposite, who knows everything - sets everyone straight.

I own the first ten installments of this series, bought at a rummage sale a few months ago, and am curious to see how the story-arc develops. I can't say I was that impressed by this initial volume - it was just a little too self-consciously cutesy for my taste - but am withholding judgment on the whole, particularly as this may not originally have been written as a separate book (I wish I knew). The artwork is appealing, in a sweet, vintage kind of way, and I liked the decorated endpapers. All in all, an interesting beginning! - I'll have to see how I like subsequent titles, like Dunno Takes Music Lessons. ( )