PETER PARLEY'S TALES ABOUT THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS, OR WHAT IS IT, WHO IS THIS…

The article examines book publishing practices in the USA, Great Britain and Russia in the middle of the 19th century. Peter Parley's Tales about the Sun, Moon, and Stars is taken as an example. Editions of this book in Boston, Philadelphia, London and St. Petersburg from 1831 to 1862 are identified. The dynamics of texts and illustrations are traced and interpreted. It is shown how the content, visuals and methodological equipment of The Tales changed when "crossing" the borders of states and languages (increase in the total volume of text, new topics of chapters and sections, other illustrations, updating of scientific knowledge). The transfer of cultural practices (publishing, translation, didactic) is traced through the improvement of elements of the book for children. The reaction of critics (teachers and publicists) to the Russian edition of The Tales is analyzed. The analysis made it possible to determine the mechanism of publishing practices of Mauritius Wolff when working with translated children's literature.