Hedgemond the Hedgehog in Hong Kong

Little Hedgemond the Hunter from the story "Hedgehog's Home" (Ježeva kućica, Branko Ćopić) landed in Hong Kong and had a great fun with some 5-7 year old studens, who enjoyed the forest advantures of this brave and modest hedgehog, translated in English by Susan Curtis, published by Istros Books.

Hedgehogs are not a very common sight in Hong Kong, and some kids thought that hedgehogs' spikes can be poisonous and deadly. However, all the kids immediatelly fell in love with little Hedgemond.

Little Hedgemond (Ježurka Ježić) also told kids about his native home in the forests.

E-books for all ages

My latest discovery is this wonderful e-book publisher of translations for children by authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Style Writers Now. The translations are mostly in English, with some are in Spanish and in German. There are more than 20 authors, and about 50 books you can get for just 1 to 3 US$. Most are picture books, but there are collections of short stories and novels. My personal favourite is Sirenoteka Fairy Tales and Rujana.

The driving force of the publisher is Marija F. Sullivan, who is also one of the authors and translator of some of the stories. Her book The Mermaid's Dream has first been published in Singapore (1995) and then in Sarajevo (2003). Adrian Mitchel compared this collection of original children’s stories to Andersen’s fairy tales. You can download a copy for free and play with the lovely little Mermaids.

You can also find Marija's books in paperback on amazon

Of spiders and winds

One more picture book you can read online from the International Children's Digital Library is Otto the Spider (2004) by author and illustrator Manuela Vladić-Maštruko, translated into English by Tamara Budin.

This book was awarded The Best Picture Book in 2005 at the Croatian Interlibera. Just three days ago Manuela Vladić-Maštruko has received the 2013 Best Picture Book again, for her tenth picture book Mauro - the blue whale. This is Manuela's third award for best picture book.

Manuela Vladić-Maštruko has organized art workshops for children in museums and galleries, she illustrated the German magazine for children and adults "Vorhang auf". She lives with her family  in Zagreb, Croatia.

Discovering little secrets

Another e-picturebook free to read online is Secret's Secret written by Dragana Kršenković Brković and illustrated by Suzana Pajović Živković. The book was published by the School of Fine Arts, University of Montenegro [Fakultet likovnih umjetnosti, Univerzitet Crne Gore] in 2011 and nominated for the 2011 Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB) award.

One of the most prominent characteristics of Dragana Kršenković Brković's writing is her love for innovation based on mythology, legends and fairy-tales. One of her other books for children The Genie of the Manito Lake, unfortunately not yet translated in English, was selected for the 2011 White Ravens list for books that deserve wider reception due to the innovative artistic and literary style. She also won the best children's play award for The Marvelous Star (1990).

Dragana Kršenković Brković and her husband established the first children's puppet theater in Montenegro, Blue Lagoon.

Where is home?

Andrea Petrlik Huseinović is a writer and illustrator for children. She has received the 2014 GRAND PRIX at the Oita Biennial of Illustrations, Japan and the 2003 BIB GOLD PLAQUE in Bratislava. Her two most awarded and most read books are The Blue Sky and Ciconia Ciconia, translated into English by Ludwig Bauer.

Andrea Petrlik Huseinović wrote and illustrated Maleni in English and Croatian. Together with her husband Kašmir Huseinović they created Oscar, Hector and A Tale of Snowman. She also wrote and illustrated adaptations of the famous children's classics Little Red Ridding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.

The Digital Children's Library is a great source of free multicultural e-books for children. And if you have time you can put your translation skills to great use and translate the books in as many languages as you know. It is my favorite translation volunteer  work.

If you check the web site of the publisher Kašmir promet you may find more of their books available in English, and other languages too.

For the Youngest

There is a colorful, bright and lyrical story staring animals that comes from former Yugoslavia. I have recently written a post about this book, but in Macedonian, so here it is in English as well. Some of you might be familiar with this beautiful picturebook, since it has been published in London by Istros Books, a new but rapidly developing publisher specialized in Eastern European literature, and Balkans literature in particular. Their only publication for children, so far, is Hedgehog's Home by Branko Ćopić.

The translation of the story in rhyme is craftily done by Susan Curtis and the illustrations are by Sanja Rešćek.

The original story was first published in 1949 in Zagreb inspiring young readers to love and protect their home, something so precious to the generation who just gone through the Second World War. Many generations in former Yugoslavia grow up with this story and the song based on the text. In its 2011 translation for the English speaking audience this love for the home shifts to the love for the natural environment and habitat, something so important to the kids of today.

The book has been many times put on stage in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia, most recently in Zagreb, Osijek and Sarajevo. Similarly the story was adapted for stage in UK as children's opera and musical.

Another review for this book is available at Outside In World, and if you want to buy your copy contact Istros Books directly.