Interestingly about the unpleasant: Roman Osinchuk's popularization experience in the ""Ranok"" youth library

The unique experience of renowned Ukrainian physician, practitioner, and scholar – member of Scientific Society by Shevchenko – Roman Osinchuk (1902–1991) in the field of popularizing medical knowledge for children is examined through the example of one of the publications in the Youth Library “Ranok” series: “Enemies of Health: (Contagious Childhood Diseases)”. Modest in length and ascetically designed, this booklet stands out for the substance and, above all, the presentation of the material – a brilliant example of the author’s popularization ingenuity. With his solid medical expertise, experience in writing scientific studies and journalistic articles for mainstream adult publications, and an impressive editorial background (founder and first editor of the magazine Narodne Zdorovya), Dr. Osinchuk responded to a proposal from the management of the Ukrainian Press publishing concern and wrote a popular brochure. It proved equally useful for children (its primary audience) and for adults without medical training or practical knowledge, while also demonstrating how complex and “unpleasant” topics can be communicated clearly and vividly. Aware that children best respond to “somewhat fantastic stories,” Osinchuk invented a fairy tale – the feverish nightmare of a sick boy who, in his delirium, witnesses a “black council of the enemies of health.” At this “council,” each disease speaks about its characteristics and symptoms – effectively revealing how to fight and prevent it. Thanks to the precision of his descriptions, the metaphorical text reads as a clear medical guide written in accessible language. The technique Osinchuk employed undoubtedly deserves to be adopted by contemporary science communicators. Considering his overall body of work and achievements as a journalist and editor (both in his homeland and in the U.S. diaspora), Roman Osinchuk deserves a rightful place in the history of twentieth-century Ukrainian publishing.

Keywords: popularization of medical knowledge, children’s audience, mass audience, publishing industry, journalism, publishing concern Ukrainska Presa, Youth Library Ranok.

doi: 10.32403/0554-4866-2025-2-90-216-226