Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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For millions of children, the poet's lines are familiar from childhood and have remained ingrained in their memories for a lifetime. "They dropped the teddy bear on the floor," "The bull walks along, swinging," "The bunny's owner abandoned her"—these aren't just quotes from poems; they represent an entire world where favorite toys come to life and kindness is felt by the very youngest. Even after many years, they warm the heart and remind us of simple truths.
Childhood, family and education
Agnia was born on February 17, 1906, in Lithuania. Her family later moved to Moscow, where her mother worked as a housewife and her father as a veterinarian. Her childhood was filled with a love of books and rhymes: her intelligent parents taught her to read from Leo Tolstoy and recited Ivan Krylov's fables before bed. Agnia then attended a prestigious gymnasium and, concurrently, the Lydia Nelidova Ballet School. She later entered the Choreographic School. After graduating in 1924, Agnia served in the ballet troupe for a year.
Early attempts at writing and career development
Her first poems were born while she was still studying at the academy. People's Commissar of Education Anatoly Lunacharsky attended a graduates' demonstration concert and, admiring her poetry reading, invited her to join him. At the People's Commissariat, he convinced Agnia that her talent should serve children.
To make a final decision, Barto turned to her friend, idol, and renowned poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. She attended his performance, and at the end of the evening, Vladimir pointed to the children in the audience and said, "That's who I should write for." So, Agnia decided to write for them. Anna Akhmatova became another poetic inspiration for the budding poet.
By 1925, her first poems, "Teddy Bear the Thief" and "Little Chinese Van Li," were published. She also co-wrote "Counting Rhyme," "The Grimy Girl," and "The Crying Girl" with her first husband and poet, Pavel Barto. In 1927, the couple had their first child, Edgar, who died in 1945 when he was hit by a truck. Her second husband was Andrei Shcheglyaev, a correspondent for the USSR Academy of Sciences, with whom Agnia had a daughter, Tatyana. Although Barto preferred to "seek out" her heroes in schools and pioneer camps, the famous lines "Our Tanya cries loudly" are dedicated specifically to her.
In 1936, a true miracle of children's literature occurred: the publication of the famous collection "Toys," which became the poetess's most popular poem cycle. The celebrated poems "Little Bull," "Bunny," "Bear," and "Ball" became integral parts of young readers' lives, teaching them empathy and caring. Equally popular were the collections "Funny Poems" and "Poems for Children."
The Great Patriotic War and social activities
Agniya Barto was a supporter of Soviet power and reflected its values in her educational poems. She emphasized the importance of discipline, accuracy, and hard work.
During the Great Patriotic War, Agnia's family was evacuated to Sverdlovsk, where she learned the trade of a lathe operator and worked at the factory alongside everyone else. Teenagers also worked there, inspiring her to portray the children of war in her works ("In the Days of War" (1941), "Zvenigorod" (1947)). For her labor achievements, she was awarded a prize, which she donated to the construction of a tank. After the war, the writer held literary evenings in orphanages, bringing much-needed warmth and attention to orphans.
A deep desire, even a need, to help people led her to create her own program, "Find a Person," on Mayak Radio in 1965. For eight years, letters of remembrance from those who had lost their families were read weekly. Thanks to this, thousands of people were able to find their loved ones.
Agniya Barto became one of the most celebrated Russian children's poets. Her poems have been translated into numerous languages and are still heard in every home with children. For her work, she was awarded the Lenin Prize and became a second-degree Stalin Prize laureate, but her greatest reward is her vast literary legacy and the bright, happy childhood she has given to several generations.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 17, 2026.
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