Uncle Styopa facts for kids
Uncle Styopa (also known as Dyadya Stepa) is a series of popular poems written by the Russian children's poet Sergey Mikhalkov. These poems tell the stories of a very tall and kind policeman named Stepan Stepanov, or Styopa for short. Styopa is a brave and noble character who helps people and fights against unfairness.
Styopa is known for his amazing height, which makes him stand out. He does many good deeds, like saving people, stopping train accidents, helping firefighters, and even dealing with school bullies. He is a wise, brave, and generous person who inspires young people.
Sergey Mikhalkov became very famous because of these poems, which were written in the 1930s in the Soviet Union. Many people connected Uncle Styopa's image with Mikhalkov himself, who was also tall. Over 250 million copies of the poems have been sold!
Contents
The Poems of Uncle Styopa
The Uncle Styopa poems were released over many years, each telling a new part of his life.
The First Story
The very first poem, Uncle Styopa, was published in The Pioneer magazine in 1935. It introduced everyone to Stepan Stepanov. This poem was so popular that it was soon published as its own book.
Sergey Mikhalkov later shared that he showed the poem to another famous children's writer, Samuil Marshak. Marshak liked it a lot and encouraged Mikhalkov to write more stories about Uncle Styopa.
Uncle Styopa the Policeman
The next poem, Uncle Styopa The Militsioner (which means "policeman"), came out in 1954. Mikhalkov decided to write this sequel after meeting a very tall police officer in Moscow. This officer reminded him so much of his character that he felt inspired to continue Styopa's adventures.
In this poem, Uncle Styopa, who used to be in the Navy, becomes a policeman. He continues to help people, showing how important it is to serve the community.
Uncle Styopa and His Son
The third poem, Uncle Styopa and Yegor, was published in 1968. In this story, Uncle Styopa becomes a father to a son named Yegor, who is born very strong. Mikhalkov got the idea for this poem when a child asked him if Uncle Styopa had any children.
The poem follows Yegor as he grows up. He isn't as tall as his dad, but he is incredibly strong and becomes a famous weightlifter, even winning an Olympic gold medal! His dream is to become an astronaut.
Uncle Styopa the Veteran
The final poem, Uncle Styopa The Veteran, was published in 1981. In this story, Uncle Styopa is retired but still enjoys life, playing with children and traveling. The poem ends by saying that even though people get old, Uncle Styopa will always be a young and inspiring character in the hearts of his readers.
What Happens in the Stories?
Let's look at some of the exciting things Uncle Styopa does in his poems.
Uncle Styopa's Early Life
The first poem describes Styopa as a "gigantic" man, so tall that people call him "Fire Tower." His height causes some funny problems: he can't fit into a normal bed, and he has to sit on the floor at the cinema! But even with these challenges, Styopa is a very kind person and a great friend to all children.
He uses his height to do good things. He saves a boy from drowning and rescues pigeons from a burning house by reaching up to open a high window. Styopa decides he wants to serve his country and joins the Navy. When he comes home for a visit, he tells exciting stories about the war to the children, who then give him a new nickname: "Lighthouse."
Styopa as a Policeman
In Uncle Styopa The Militsioner, Styopa joins the police force. Everyone respects him, both adults and children. He continues to help people in amazing ways.
For example, when a small boy gets lost at a train station, Styopa lifts him high above the crowd so the boy can see his mother. Another time, when a traffic light breaks down and causes a big traffic jam, Styopa simply reaches up and fixes it with his hand! Because of this, he gets another nickname: "Traffic Light." He even wins a speed skating competition, making the police proud.
Yegor's Adventures
In Uncle Styopa and Yegor, we meet Styopa's son, Yegor. Yegor is born very big and strong. The poem follows him as he takes his first steps and goes to school. Yegor is a great student and athlete. He is known for his strength and for helping his classmates.
As he grows up, Yegor becomes famous for his amazing strength. He wins big weightlifting competitions, including a gold medal at the Olympic Games. But his biggest dream is to become an astronaut and fly among the stars! The poem ends with him training to become a space traveler.
Uncle Styopa on Screen
The popular poems about Uncle Styopa have also been turned into animated films.
The 1939 Film
The first animated film, also called Uncle Styopa, was made in 1939. It was a black-and-white film directed by Vladimir Suteev at the Soyuzmultfilm studio. It was one of the first animated movies made by this famous studio.
The 1964 Film
Another popular animated film, Uncle Styopa The Militsioner, was released in 1964. This colorful film was directed by Ivan Aksenchuk. It brought Uncle Styopa's adventures as a policeman to life for a new generation of children.
Other Ways to See Uncle Styopa
Besides the films, there were also two filmstrips made about Uncle Styopa in the 1960s, which were like simple animated stories shown with a projector.
Uncle Styopa was so popular that there was even a candy named after him in the USSR and Russia! You can also find sculptures of Uncle Styopa in different cities in Russia, like Moscow, Prokopyevsk, and Samara. These statues show how much people loved this tall, kind hero.
