Concept
An illustrated travel book about a journey from Moscow to the Russian North—to Arkhangelsk, to the shores of the White Sea. Alongside the characters, the reader will visit several cities along the way to the final destination, learn about their unique characteristics, and observe how nature changes.
Problem and Relevance
Travel helps uncover new regions of the country and notice the diversity of its nature, history, and culture. However, getting to know a region is often limited to individual landmarks, leaving its unique characteristics scattered and unconnected.
My project proposes viewing travel as a complete narrative—a journey where cities, people, architecture, natural phenomena, and local traditions are interconnected along a single route. Combining storytelling, illustrations, comic elements, and popular science materials will not only educate readers but also encourage them to observe the world around them more closely. The book also offers the advantage of being usable during family trips: it can spark interest in the itinerary among kids and teens and help the entire family notice more interesting details while traveling.
Heroes
The main characters are a family of four. Each one views the journey from their own perspective, helping the audience discover something new throughout the entire travel experience.
Papa — dreams of catching cod in the White Sea. Through his passion, rivers, lakes, marine life, and fishing are revealed.
Mama — is interested in architecture, city history, folk crafts, and cultural traditions.
Daughter — notices birds, animals, flowers, and unusual plants. Through her, the local flora and fauna, natural zones, and the lives of Northern inhabitants are revealed.
Son — finds unusual stones and collects them in a small backpack, and the reader learns about the importance of stones in Northern nature.
Route
The route from Moscow to the White Sea is mapped through several cities that I find to be the most striking. Before entering the Arkhangelsk Oblast, the heroes will only stop in Vologda; the other cities are located within that region.
Moscow — the starting point of the journey, where we meet a family, learn about their interests, and discover the father’s dream of catching cod in the White Sea.
Vologda — a city of wooden architecture, lace traditions, and rich history, offering a starting point to explore the culture of the Russian North.
Velsk — a small northern town through which we can showcase its merchant past, wooden architecture, and the surrounding forest and river landscapes.
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Kargopol — a stop dedicated to ancient churches, Northern architecture, and the famous clay figurines, introducing the reader to local folk crafts.
Arkhangelsk — a significant historical port on the Northern Dvina River, exploring themes of maritime trade, the settlement of the North, and life by a great river.
White Sea — the final destination of the journey, where the family encounters marine landscapes, coastal flora, and fauna, and Dad gets closer to his fishing dream.
Additions
In addition to the book, we plan to create an interactive travel journal featuring a route map, exercises, and space for personal sketches and observations. Readers will be able to track their journey, record interesting facts, and sketch plants, animals, and architectural details.
The journal expands the capabilities of a book—it can be used both during a real journey and after reading, allowing participants to revisit studied locations and themes. It helps engage the reader in exploring the surrounding world, transforming the acquaintance with the Russian North into a personal experience, and will also serve as an added interest for younger travelers.
