Maria Belakhova (Russian: Мария Андреевна Белахова, 1903–1969) was a Russian writer and educator known for her work in children's literature and education in the Soviet Union, mentorship of many of the country's prominent children's writers, and her own works. She was editor of the Soviet magazine "Children's Literature" and the head of the commission for children's literature of the Soviet Guild of Writers.
Maria Belakhova (maiden Maria Bogoslovskaya) was born in the town of Old Hops near Michurinks, Russia in 1903.[1] A thirteenth child in the family, she left the family to study. For several years she taught in an elementary school, before continuing her studies with a masters degree in child education and literature. Then she worked at the Children's Literature magazine and eventually became its editor.
She wrote several books of her own and authored or edited numerous works by other writers, including Samuil Marshak.
A school and a street are named after Belakhova in her birth town and a street in the city of Michurinks.
Belakhova was married to Leonid Belakhov, a Soviet general and administrator, and whose name she took.
