Old Lion Publishing House Rights Guide 2014

The Old Lion Publishing House Rights Guide 2014

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International rights contacts: Ivan Fedechko t: +38 097 69 60 703 e: honzik89@gmail.com, lev@starlev.com.ua

the OLD LION PUBLISHING HOUSE 15-A, Lemkivska Str., Lviv, Ukraine, 79008 f: +38 032 240 47 98 e: lev@starlev.com.ua www.starylev.com.ua

The Old Lion Publishing House (Vydavnytstvo Staroho Leva) was founded in 2005 in Lviv. Now it is one of the leading Ukrainian publishing houses that specializes in children’s literature for different age groups. We publish board books for the youngest kids, picturebooks for pre-school and middle grade readers, as well as poetry and fiction books for children and young adults. We work with the most talented authors, translators and illustrators from Ukraine and from abroad. We try to popularize and promote literature for children and young adults (for instant, by publishing books in Braille). We have 18 book series for children and young adults, including educational books, fairy tale classics, and realistic fiction (about otherness, living in multicultural families, etc). Having received more than 30 awards during its history, the publishing house continues to develop, increasing the number of books, improving their quality, and actively engaging itself and its partners into socially important projects.

Felix Austria

Cover design by Art Studio Agrafka Picture by Joseph Edward Southall

by Sophia Andrukhovych

Details:

2014 288 pages 130×200 mm Hardback

Keywords:

love, food, relationships, history

ISBN:

978-617-679-082-2

Genre:

realistic fiction

AaGduElt:

Stanislav of late XIX – early XX century. An ordinary town at Krecy of “Happy Austria” where people live, suffer, indivisibly fall in love, admire the science and quack performances of world renowned illusionists, entertain themselves on balls and carnivals, take walks and hide secrets in carved chests. And against the backdrop of the era, which for generations has increasingly overgrown with myths of an idyllic life – the fate of two women who are so closely intertwined, as trees – in close connection that does not allow living or breathing or staying or going.

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Sophia Andrukhovych is a famous Ukrainian writer, translator, and publicist. She was born in 1982 in Ivano-Frankivsk.

She is the author of 4 books of prose and numerous publications in different media in Ukraine and abroad.

“Felix Austria” is her new and long-awaited novel.

How I Ruined the Empire

by Zirka Menzatyuk

A13G-1E7:

cover design by rostyslav popskyy Details:

2014 272 pages 145×200 mm hardback

Keywords:

Soviet Union, Ukraine, adolescence

ISBN:

978-617-679-056-3

Genre:

realistic fiction

This is the first Ukrainian novel about the last years of the Soviet empire, especially written for teens. Yaryna, the 13 years old girl, who lives in Kyiv and spends summer holidays in Bukovyna region in Western Ukraine, sees local people beginning to shape their desire to live in an independent state.

Yaryna and her friends, argue over banned political topics, deliberately engage in various mischiefs, fall in love and suffer from heartbreak. They live during the times when history turns it wheel around and a new country appears on the map of Europe.

Zirka Menzatyuk is a prizewinning Ukrainian writer and journalist. She is a member of National Writers Union of Ukraine. Menzatyuk currently works at the National Radio of Ukraine. Her books were published in the USA, Slovenia and Poland.

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Pumpkin Year

Illustrated by Julia Pylypchatina

by Kateryna Babkina

A6G-1E0: Details:

2014 48 pages 210×220 мм hardback

Keywords:

friendship, disability, family, growth

ISBN:

978-617-679-090-7

Genre:

realistic fiction

This chapter-book is about growth and change, about making friends and becoming adult.

Little readers and their parents will equally appreciate its bright and witty style with notes of sweet sadness.

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Kateryna Babkina is a famous Ukrainian writer, journalist, playwright, scriptwriter and videomaker (videopoetry). She works as an editor for Esquire Ukraine, but wrote columns for different media, such as Le Monde newspaper and Focus magazine. Her poems have been translated into Russian, Polish, German, English, Romanian, and Sweden. “Pumpkin Year” is Kateryna’s first book for children.

text Sample: All the garden dwellers fell silent, because they knew fully well what it meant to grow up. Girl grew up one day and left home never to come back; instead of her a strange woman sometimes comes with a strange man and a big belly. Mom and Dad hug her and cry. The previous Pup grew into a lazy dog and was one day taken away by the vet’s car also never to come back; instead of him the current Pup appeared.

The pear and apple trees grew up and one couldn’t chat away on long summer days with Pears and Apples hanging off the branches, that’s how high they ended up.

Translated by Helen Harney

Julia Pylypchatina is a Ukrainian illustrator and artist. She is a teacher of history by education but works as a designer in a publishing house.

Her works are very sweet, full of dynamics and transparent melancholy.

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Stars and Poppy Seeds

by Romana Romanyshyn & Andriy Lesiv

the translation rights are sold to France, argentina, south korea Details:

2014 24 pages 200×220 мм hardback

Keywords:

mathematics, counting, dream

A4G-8E:

ISBN:

978-617-679-058-7

Genre:

realistic fiction

This is a story about a very peculiar little girl who is a daughter of two great mathematicians. Her name is Dora and she has a dream: to count each and every thing in the world, because counting is her favourite thing to do. She counts dots on her dress, trees in the park, bricks in the fortress, birds and animals all around her, and even stars and poppy seeds. You may ask: is it really possible? O yes, if you really love counting and if you are lucky enough to have such a wise mother as Dora has.

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The book is written and illustrated by Art Studio Agrafka (Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv).

They are always together – together in work and in their life.

They live and work in Lviv, and a spirit of this old city is living inside them. Their studio is filled with books, paintings and coffee.

They like what they do, being inspired by every new idea and realising it into a new form.

text Sample: During the evening, Dora looked with delight at the starry sky through a telescope, and, of course, she tried to count all the stars.

There were models of the solar system, maps of the starry sky, and a whole collection of meteorites in her room.

Translated by Oksana Lushchevska and Michael M. Naydan

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Antomimes

by Romana Romanyshyn & Andriy Lesiv

A2G-5E: Details:

2014 24 pages 200×220 мм hardback

Keywords:

antonym, humor, activity

ISBN:

978-617-679-068-6

Genre:

concept book

This funny picturebook is inhabited by antomimes, jolly monsters that show words of opposite meanings. Through brightly detailed illustrations, the authors create a humorous and playful quest for readers young at heart. With each doublespread, readers can dive into the process of identifying moods, shapes, colors, and textures. The book includes a drawing activity of a personalized antomime.

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Ukrainian Proverbs Illustrated by Anastasiia Stefurak

A6G-1E0: Details:

2014 36 pages 210×220 мм hardback

Keywords: proverbs, wisdom, learning

ISBN:

978-617-679-06-17

Genre:

concept book

The picturebook “Ukrainian Proverbs” is an artfully illustrated collection of proverbs. It is designed to familiarize children with well-known proverbs and provide a platform for an open discussion in regards to the meanings and ideas represented. Vivid and original illustrations are closely interwoven with the proverbs and provide a visual element to reinforce understanding by the young reader.

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Anastasiia Stefurak is a Ukrainian illustrator and graphic designer. She was born in 1990 in IvanoFrankivsk. Nastya has an MA degree in Fine Arts. She works with computer graphics and collages. Nastya is fond of magic realism in literature and art.

Anything is possible

Never fry a fish till it’s caught

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by Marjana Prohasko and Taras Prohasko the translation rights are sold to south korea

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Who’ll Make the Snow

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A6G-1E0: Details:

2013 72 pages 240×210 мм hardback

Keywords:

family, dayto-day life, fears, love, friendship

ISBN:

978-617-679-027-3

Genre:

animal fantasy

Written in the classic tradition of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Marjana Prohasko and Taras Prohasko’s novel Who’ll Make the Snow will delight readers with its fast paced simplicity and its timelessness.

Following a family of moles from Beechtree Forest, readers will learn about their treasured day-to-day life, the birth of two newborns and the adoption of a young rabbit, which turn out to be a new experience for them all. This book will provide questions to discuss and answers to look for and will become a must-read for home and classroom libraries.

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Taras Prohasko is a famous Ukrainian writer, journalist, and representative of the socalled “Stanislavsky’s Phenomenon.” In 1992 he entered the literary circle of “Chetver” (Thursday) magazine, where his fiction was first published. Since that time he wrote several books which have been translated into Polish, Russian, Serbian, Czech, and English. He is a member of Ukrainian Writers Association.

Where the Sea Gone

by Marjana Prohasko and Taras Prohasko

A6G-1E0: Details:

2014 88 pages 240×210 мм hardback

Keywords:

family, dayto-day life, fears, love, friendship

ISBN:

978-617-679-091-4

Genre:

animal fantasy

Now when elder members of the mole family have gone to a grape yard, Crawly and Purry, and Martina the rabbit are left to themselves.

They eat sweets and have fun; they explore their neighboring places and make new friends with little wild boars: they even become detectives to try to investigate where the sea gone – thought not the real sea, but the one painted on the picture. So intrigue is interwoven into a usually quiet life of the Beechtree Forest and the story quickens its steps, offering new challenges and delights for its readers.

Mariana Prokhasko is an English philologist and educator. Since 1998, she translates and teaches English.

Her captivating illustrations invite readers to immerse themselves in the vivid routine of the mole family. Her mixed-media naive style resembles children’s drawings.

This is her first book as an illustrator and co-author.

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text Sample: As always during breakfast the mole family discussed their plans for the coming day. They always had breakfast together. Mother sometimes brewed green tea with jasmine petals for herself and father.

Father sometimes brewed coffee for himself and mother. The children always drank milk. The table was covered with fresh buns, butter, honey, jam, ham, sausages, and all kinds of cheese. Even stinky ones.

Though only the grown-ups would eat them.

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text Sample: It’s worth noting that mother mole loved leading an interesting life and genuinely admired everything new. She tried almost everything! She studied different languages, grew orchids, jumped on a trampoline. “Life’s too short to just do house work”, she used to say. On the other hand, she ran the house really well. It seemed that after she would jump on a trampoline, her soups would become even more nourishing, and her potato pancakes with mushrooms would be much tastier when she would recite French.

Translated by Oksana Lushchevska and Michael M. Naydan

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The Maidan’s Tale

by Khrystyna Lukashchuk

A6G-1E0: Details:

2014 36 pages 210×220 мм hardback

Keywords:

maidan, Ukraine, revolution, children

ISBN:

978-617-679-095-2

Genre:

fairy tail

The picturebook “The Maidan’s Tale”

by Khrystyna Lukashchuk presents an adapted story of the dramatic events that unfolded during the past year in Ukraine.

This book is a first attempt to talk to children about Maidan through the means of a tale.

Vivid and powerful collage illustrations highlight the symbolism and importance of the events that shaped the history of the country for many generations to come.

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Khrystyna Lukashchuk is a Ukrainian artist and prize-winning writer.

She is an architect by education. Khrystyna took part in several art exhibitions and had one personal art show. She is an author of more than 10 books of poetry and prose and has already won popularity among Ukrainian readers.

“The Maidan’s Tale” is her first book for children.

text Sample:

But, it was not always possible to sing winter carols and spring songs. Like wild animals, envious neighbors gaped at the fertile lands. Like black vultures, they descended upon Ukraine to tear it to pieces.

Translated by Oksana Lushchevska

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A Tale about the Old Lion

by Marjana Savka

A6G-1E0:

illustrated by Volodymyr Shtanko Details:

2012 40 pages 220х290 мм hardback

Keywords:

Lviv, Old Lion, Ukraine

ISBN:

978-966-2909-75-3

Genre: poetry

“A Tale about the Old Lion” is a vivid poem that tells the story of an Old Lion, who lives on a mansard of an ancient picturesque building in the historical city of Lviv. The Old Lion invites his friends from all around the world to visit the city and look around its beauty. A Giraffe, a Crocodile, an Elephant come to Lviv and soon get into incredible adventures.

This tale is an artful culturally-conscious book with a vibrant visual narrative. Shtanko’s illustrations elaborate and specify a rhythmic text. These are not only the vivid views of the city and the layouts of its famous landscapes, but also warm colors that depict a unique authentic state of both the old and contemporary Lviv.

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Marjana Savka is a famous Ukrainian poet and children writer, literary critic, publicist, translator, cofounder and editorin-chief in the Old Lion Publishing House. She published 8 books of poetry and several children’s books.

Savka is a member of the National Writers Union of Ukraine and Ukrainian Writers Association.

text Sample:

In the noble age-old city of Lviv, Our Lion settled soon indeed.

Since he was a Lion of high birth, He found the highest top floor for himself.

It had four windows, was airy and wide, You won’t find better, try as you might.

Its small squeaking stairs led to an attic, With a little door leading onto a roof.

From there, the city stretched out wide, Higher was only a flag on City Hall to the side.

White, Blue and Others

by Tetyana Shcherbachenko

A4G-6E: Details:

2014 36 pages 240×210 mm hardback

illustrated by Zhenya Myronyuk

Keywords:

cats, dreams, colours, fun

ISBN:

978-617-679-093-8

Genre:

fairy tale

With bright and captivating illustrations and short narratives, this book explores the lives of cats. Collection of short stories about blue, white, green, black and tabby cats bring in focus many everyday children’s experiences: fortunes and misfortunes, ups and downs, adventures and simple modes of life. This book encompasses details about surrounding worlds and our coexistence in difference and could be a valuable read aloud.

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Tetyana Shcherbachenko is a Ukrainian writer, literary critic, and editor in chief of the first Ukrainian universal informational portal about children’s and YA books – “Barabooka. The Space of Ukrainian Children’s Literature”. She is a member of Ukrainian Writers Association and Research Center of Children’s and Young Adults Literature.

Our Child Idea by Iryna Macko

Details:

2014 32 pages 250×250 mm hardback

Keywords:

newborn, family stories, photos

ISBN:

978-617-679-072-3

Genre:

memory book

This is an adorable album for collecting and fixing newborn’s precious moments of life.

It will be an invaluable memento for you, your family and future generations to cherish.

illustrated by Olha Shynhur Olha Shynhur is a Ukrainian artist and designer. She works in different technics and cooperates with some periodicals in Ukraine and abroad.

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