A book published in 1926 has two equally important contributors: an outstanding poet Osip Mandelstam (1891-1938) and a painter Nikolay Lapshin (1891-1942). For Mandelstam, one of the most prominent poets of the 20th century, it was a rare occasion to write for children. Lapshin, on the other hand, worked for children’s magazines, illustrated first Soviet science-fiction books for children and was granted the grand prix of a contest organised by a New York publisher for the book The Marco Polo’s journey (1933). BALLOONS is a collection of eight poems dedicated to everyday life. The image which inspired the book’s title, colourful balloons, an integral element of any street festival, is a metaphor of happiness of an ordinary citizen.