Summary
RUBINAITIS is the name of the new magazine devoted to childrenʼs literature, book illustrations, and childrenʼs readership, launched by the Lithuanian section of IBBY. In the introductory article the members of the Editorial board explain the goals and the name of the publication. Rubinaičio Peliūzės gyvenimas (The Life of Rubinaitis Peliūzė) was the title of one of the first work of letters for Lithuanian children written by Simonas Daukantas around 1846. This was a modification and adaptation of the famous Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defo. The name of the magazine itself, therefore, contains an encoded message about its aims: to speak about children’s literature and childrenʼs readership in Lithuania in the context of world literature, both in the past and present. The content of the first issue clearly testifies to these aims.
Genovaitė Raguotienėʼs article is devoted to the activities, aims, and history of the IBBY. Kęstutis Urbaʼs article entitled Žodis Pranui Mašiotui (A Word on Pranas Mašiotas) is based on his commemoration speech made on 10 December, 1993 and devoted to the 130th birth anniversary of the outstanding Lithuanian childrenʼs author Pranas Mašiotas (1863–1940). The writer, a pedagogue and mathematician, published some 90 books for children. A large part of them were translations of such foreign authors as D. Defo, J. Swift, H. Wells, J. Spyri, and others.
The magazine is planning a permanent caption entitled “Books of my childhood”. This time it is devoted to an interview with the well-known Lithuanian poet Marcelijus Martinaitis by journalist Elona Varnauskienė. The poet shares with readers his reminiscences of the books, words and colours of his childhood.
The young Finnish scholar Janne Mäkelä writes about J. Sallinger and the culture of the fifties (the article is translated from Onnimanni, Finland). Erik Krupskofʼs (Finland) article is the first introduction to the Lithuanian reader of Tove Jansson as an artist. The article is followed by Tove Janssonʼs tale about the last dragon in the world, thus illustrating the magazineʼs attention to the 80th birthday of the famous author.
In the reviews section, Loreta Žvironaitė analyzes Lopšinė ešeriukui (A Lullaby for the Little Perch) by Ramutė Skučaitė (elected as the best book for children in 1993). Jonas Linkevičius introduces a new edition in Lithuania of tales by Jurgis Jankus, an emigre Lithuanian author. Other new publications are also reviewed.
In the section of the magazine devoted to the activities of the IBBY Lithuanian Section, Onutė Kaladienė writes about the top 5 most popular books for children which for the second year running have been elected by Lithuanian young readers. Vincas Auryla and Aldona Augustaitienė contribute information about a members of other events, occasions and materials.
The magazine also carries reviews of the latest issues of Bookbird, Guliwer, Julit, and Onnimanni, which are already available at the Centre for Childrenʼs Literature of the Lithuanian National M. Mažvydas Library.
Žurnalas „Rubinaitis“, 1994 Nr. 1 (1)
