Illustration © Galina Miklínová Kosprd a Telecí, A lbatros 2013
CHILDREN‘S BOOKS SPRING 2013
Contacts: Albatros Media a.s., Na Pankráci 30/1618, 140 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic www.albatrosmedia.cz/en | foreignsales@albatrosmedia.cz | +420 261 397 298
LITERARYCompetitionWinner
1st prize in
Albatros Literary Competition
Featherbutt and Veal Kosprd a Telecí
age +4
Author: Eva Papoušková Illustrations: Galina Miklínová Little boy Featherbutt and little girl Veal suffer from their funny names, which the other children laugh at. But when they meet each other in preschool they can finally relax and have dumb names together. For example, to make a potion against the hated sardine-spread they are so often served, the two friends stick a worm in the lunchlady’s coffee. Once, Veal makes an impressive hat out of her mother’s lace bloomers, something neither her teacher nor her mother appreciates… The story captures true–to–life moments that could happen in any preschool, but it also revels in the incredible imagination of small children. Featherbutt and Veal’s friendship and adventures enchant and amuse, yet remain believable throughout.
F: 163 x 238 mm, 56 pp, hard cover
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CZECH TVEdition
The Comforter O Kanafáskovi
age +4 comics
Author: Galina Miklínová
On the highest mountain in the world, there is a castle called Dreamchester, where Marelin, the wizard of dreams, sleep elves and other mystical creatures live. Sneaky Nokular reports what is happening on Earth and which children are not yet sleeping. The sleep elves visit those still awake, bundling them in blankets and lulling them to sleep. The most restless boy of all, Jonas, is visited by the greatest sleep-blanket of all, The Comforter. But the two immediately become best friends and set out on incredible adventures together – like when The Comforter transforms Jonas’ room into an ocean, or when they save a toy store from burglars, to name just a couple of their exciting experiences. The comic book is based on the new Czech TV bedtime story by renowned artist Galina Miklínová.
F: 300 x 225 mm, 80 pp, hard cover
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CZECH TVEdition BEST SELLER
The Little Rats Krysáci
age +5
Author: Jiří Žáček Illustrations: Ivan Mráček Hubert and Hodan, two rats, live in a little junkyard in a faraway countryside. Together with their garden gnome friend, Ludvík, they live in the drawers of a sewing machine, overlooking a vacuum cleaner. One day, Eda – a white rat from Prague – involuntarily arrives in a fresh load of garbage. Hubert and Hodan are clever country rats; Eda, on the other hand, is a smart and sophisticated lab rat. Their different backgrounds balance each other out, and soon our heroes set out with Eda to tour the “advanced civilization” that Eda knows so well. Bestseller based on the popular Czech TV bedtime story.
F: 194 x 254 mm, 88 pp, hard cover
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ANIMALAdventures
The White Tiger Princess Princezna bílých tygrů
age +6
Author: Eva Bešťáková Illustrations: Dagmar Ježková An enchanting adventure story about a white tiger cub, one of our planet’s endangered species. After she was born, the tigress Zorí was a happy and adorable kitten learning from her mother how to survive in the jungles of India with her brother Sark. Her carefree childhood comes to a sudden end, unfortunately, when she sees hunters “shoot” her mother and drag Sark away in a net. Without her family, Zorí must overcome struggles on her own. Dangerous situations abound until the panther Ogalí finds her and treats her like her own daughter. Along the way she encounters fascinating animals and makes good friends. Eventually, though, she too is caught and shot with a tranquilizer dart. In a haze she sees her mother and Sark running towards her. Is it real or just a dream? She wakes up to find herself with her family living in an endangered species reservation where she can lead a safe and peaceful life. A fairy tale full of scientific and educational elements.
F: 163 x 238 mm, 136 pp, hard cover
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FANTASY
Amélie and the Darkness Amélie a tma
age +8
Author: Petra Neomillnerová Illustrations: Lubomír Kupčík Amélie is twelve... and she has been for 122 long years. She has black hair and wears black clothes; she even rides a black bicycle. Her hands are cold and it is only at night that Amélie leaves the house where she lives with her mom. Having no friends and being different makes her sadder with each of her 122 years… until an unexpected encounter with Markéta cheers her up. All of a sudden she has a friend to laugh and play with, someone to talk to. Markéta also has her own troubles – her friends don’t understand her and her mom is just scraping by. The girls keep their friendship a secret until Amélie saves Markéta’s life... then their lives change dramatically. The mysterious atmosphere is enhanced by the bewitching illustrations by Lubomír Kupčík. This compelling, unusual and sensitive story about an extraordinary friendship will enchant children and their parents alike.
F: 163 x 238 mm, 92 pp, hard cover
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HISTORICALNovel
They Called me Leni Říkali mi Leni
age +9
Author: Zdeňka Bezděková Illustrations: Iku Dekune Following World War II a 10–year–old German girl Leni begins to suspect that she may have different origins as she tries to reconcile the many discrepancies of her life at home and at school. During the war, little Alena was adopted from a Czech family to live as Leni with a German family, unaware of her origins. At school, she is called “Czech bastard”, and when she overhears her adoptive family fighting about her behind the closed doors and discovers a suitcase in the attic filled with traces of her past, she understands and starts to search for her Czech parents. At the end of the story Leni finally meets her mother. “For the first time, I felt love. But I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t know how to say Mommy in Czech.” This strong and delicate novel was first published in 1948 and later translated into English, German, Dutch, Swedish and other languages. This new edition has been illustrated by a recognized Japanese artist based in Prague, Iku Dekune.
F: 145 x 205 mm, 152 pp, hard cover
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VINTAGE
Seventh Heaven V sedmém nebi
age +8
Author: Vladimír Fuka Illustrations: Jiří Kolář At the beginning there was the idea to draw a diary, every day from the year draw one picture and meet one funny story – so was born the Vladimir Fuka’s artwork. Then the painter-poet met a poet-painter, Jiri Kolar, who wrote the texts. The result is a fantastic artifact full of humor, non-senses, beautiful pictures, where every detail is so surprising. Originally published in 1964, gained golden medal in Bologna in 1965 (Torchio d´oro). Illustrated jokes, rebuses and games for children and adults alike Co-edition opportunity for delivery in October 2013
F: 215 x 235 mm, 160 pp, hard cover
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“The drawings in this book are a selection from 365 which together made up my diary for last year. Each day I recorded pictorially an event that had amused me or puzzled me, or a remark or snatches of an overheard conversation that stimulated me, and thus I build up my picture of a year. Here, then, are some days from my life which I hope will amuse you and give you pleasure and perhaps a little puzzlement.” Vladimír Fuka, Prague, 1965
VINTAGE
Little Lucy‘s Book Knížka pro Lucinku
age +2
Author: Milena Lukešová Illustrations: Jana Sigmundová, Marcela Walterová A great big picture book for the littlest of children. The intended audience includes two-year-olds whom the book will be read to, and beginning readers who are just learning to recognize their letters. The simple tale details the daily life of Lucy and her friend, Dominic the cat – what they do, where they go, what they see, whom Lucy likes and who likes her. The book is notable for its large letters, number of pictures, and the simplicity of its writing. It even has an illustrated glossary in the back. This book that first came out in the 1970s, one of the pioneering art-and-education books for very young children, is timeless. We are reprinting it now so the generations who cherished this book when they were little can now give it to their own children. This is a book you must have – especially if you have a little one at home like Lucy!
F: 195 x 255 mm, 88 pp, hard cover
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THE WITCH’STextbook
The Magical Tools Workshop Dílna magických pomůcek age +8 Author: Iva Hoňková Photo: Štefan Tomka This guide to magic is a textbook for everyone who wants to practice magic. In this publication for both groups and individuals, children can learn about types of herbs, their magical names, and their use in sorcery. Children can make magical tools such as amulets for luck, and they will even learn a mystical alphabet of secret symbols. Two little wizards, Jonášek and Klárka, who are also trying to learn “witchcraft,” serve as guides for the readers. Individual spells and acts are accompanied by descriptions, while photographs illustrate the instructions step by step. Many of the creations would even make great presents.
F: 210 x 297 mm, 64 pp, hard cover
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AMUSINGScience Chemical Elements Chemické prvky
age +10
Author: Milan Bárta Illustrations: Tomáš Profant Chemical elements create our food, our bodies, the tools in our workshops, bathrooms, and pantries ... We can even find them in places we wouldn’t expect. Additionally, their discovery, production and use have fascinating stories. This book introduces over forty elements, concentrating on those that feature most frequently in school syllabi. In this book you will find: Correction of inaccuracies, mistakes and myths • Present use of the elements and their compounds • Historical curiosities • Practical and theoretical projects • Funny illustrations and full–color photographs • Periodic table • Mnemonics • Jokes from chemistry class F: 170 x 243 mm, 112 pp, paperback
Mechanical Fish Mechanické rybičky
age +8
Environmental comics
Author: Vojtěch Otčenášek Planet Earth has become uninhabitable. People couldn’t stop plundering and destroying it, and as a result doomed themselves. The only things left on the planet are AI machines. The last vestiges of human creativity – two mechanical fish made of metal, unnamed they carry the numbers 7 and 8 on their sides. Let’s follow their fantastic journey to the bottom of the sea and finally beyond the Universe.
F: 210 x 297 mm, 48 pp, paperback
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COOLWorkshop
Creative Work for Teenagers Kreativní tvoření pro náctileté
age +12
Author: Radka Fleková The best ideas for creative girls! For all the girls who want to stand out and make themselves original jewelry, T-shirts, make-up bags, broaches, rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, headbands – simply cool and fun stuff. In a detailed way the book describes, step by step with the help of photos, how to easily create all of the accessories. With some enthusiasm and a little patience every girl can create the coolest accessories in the world – ones she’ll be proud to wear. Material and tools • Techniques • 27 unique projects • Beads, polymer clay, textile, steel wool • Tons of ideas
F: 210 x 270 mm, 104 pp, hard cover
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