V. NESTAIKO’S NOVEL “TOREADORS FROM VASYUKIVKA” AS AN EXAMPLE OF ADVENTURE LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN

Abstract

The article analyzes the poetics of Vsevolod Nestaiko’s adventure novel “Toreadors from Vasyukivka”, which represents one of the most remarkable examples of Ukrainian children’s literature of the second half of the 20th century. The study focuses on the plot and compositional features of the text, emphasizing the role of adventurous elements and unexpected narrative twists that create dynamism and sustain the interest of young readers. The combination of humorous and folkloric motifs, as well as the use of epistolary fragments, songs, legends and folk beliefs is explored as a part of the artistic mosaic of the novel. The article highlights the function of historical and cultural allusions that broaden the semantic space of the work and integrate children’s literature into the wider context of national culture. Particular attention is paid to the portrayal of the main characters and the representation of friendship as a central moral and value-oriented category. The novel is presented as not only an entertaining text but also as a significant cultural phenomenon that merges traditional and modern artistic models.