The Wonderful World of Mirabáj

Hungarian Classics for Children

Classics for Children series

Picture Book Age: 6+

h 240 × w 200 mm 24 pages, hardback full colour throughout

Titles of the series

The Old Cobbler (by Attila József) The Shivering King (by Ferenc Móra) The Classics for Children series was launched in 2013, our aim was to publish and thus preserve Hungarian classic tales.

Preserving values was the aim of founding one of our most beloved series. The poems, tales and stories of the most renowned Hungarian writers, poets (like Attila József, Ferenc Móra, Sándor Petőfi, Endre Ady) are still among the favorites of small or even older children. They meet in the kindergarten or in the school with these classics, but we feel it important to create the opportunity to bring these stories to homes, where children can listen to them again and again from their parents. All the stories are accompanied by contemporary artists’ beautiful illustrations, thus the books offer literary and visual experience at once. The series was awarded by the Beautiful Books award several times.

The Three Kings (Christmas poems) To Laci Arany (by Sándor Petőfi) In Family Circle (by János Arany)

The Old Cobbler

by Attila József • illustrated by Rozi Békés

Children category Beautiful Books awarded by the Hungarian Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association

One day, a shabby-looking schoolboy enters the workshop of grumpy old Csoszogi (Shamble). The boy came to have his worn-out shoes repaired. In the course of their conversation, the first dismissive old man learns that the boy’s mother is a hard-working cleaner. Not only does he then mend the boy’s shoes, but by way of a generous trick he helps the child out with a couple of dimes.

This concise, heart-warming tale of mercy is a real gem of Hungarian literature. Attila József (1905–1937) is the best known of the modern Hungarian poets internationally. His poems have been translated into many languages. His only prose piece, The Old Cobbler forms part of the national elementary school curriculum.

About the illustrator

Rozi Békés’s drawings and aquarelles exhibit an extraordinary ability to capture magical moments and a variety of complex emotions.

AWARDS

IBBY Award (2008, Hungarian section) Ferenczy Noémi Award (2012, the most prestigious applied arts medal) Beautiful Books Award (2013, 2014, 2017 Children category, the most prestigious honours in Hungarian publishing)

AWARDS

Beautiful Books Award (2013, Children Category)

English translation available

Rights sold to: Turkey (Yapi Kredi Publications) China (Tomorrow Publishing)

In Family Circle

by János Arany illustrated by Rozi Békés

Picture book h 264 × w 220 mm 48 pages, hardback full colour throughout