Māris Rungulis (born in 1950, in Liepāja) is a Latvian poet and author of numerous children's books of poems, as well as stories for teenagers. His books have been awarded the Latvian Children's Jury awards for a record ten times, making him one of the most recognised authors among the young readers. He incorporates history, traditional and current folklore, nursery rhymes, traditional jokes, puns and ghost stories into his works revealing new perspectives, discussing important themes in a compelling way. He emphasizes the importance of being brave and inventive in addressing children and youth audiences in literature. Rungulis' poems was first published in 1968. He is a member of the Latvian Writers' Union since 1988, the same year he made his début with a collection of poems Rasas pilieni/ Drops of Dew. In 1989, Māris Rungulis started working for the legendary children's magazine “Zīlīte” whose edtor at the time was the celebrated Latvian author Jānis Baltvilks, and in 1991 he created its supplement magazine for small children “Ezis”. In 2013, he took over the role of editor in chief of “Zīlīte” and until 2013 was involved in designing its new nature-oriented issues.
Prose
Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā [A Walk in the City of the Dead]. Rīga: Liels un mazs, 2016.
Sāļās pankūkas [Salty Pancakes] Rīga: Pētergailis, 2015.
Sikspārnis [The Bat]. Rīga: Pētergailis, 2017.
Poetry
Rasas pilieni [Drops of Dew]. Riga: Liesma, 1979.
Vēja spēles [Wind Games]. Riga: Liesma, 1984.
Vakara pasakas [Evening Tales]. Riga: Sprīdītie, 1991.
Balti putu viļņi lēkā [White waves ]. Riga: Zīlīte, 1993.
Pele un karamele [Mouse and Caramel]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 1999.
Čiepa liepā [Chicklet in a Lime Tree]. Riga: Preses nams, 1999.
Lietus attin bārdu [Rain unfurls your ]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 2001.
Pūce pūcējas visu nakti [Owl Bawling All Night Long]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2004.
Pasaka par Tebras bebru [Tale of the Beaver of River Tebra] 2007.
Tipu, tapu, plunkš! [Tip, top, splash!]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2008.
Tuk, tuk, mizgrauzi! [Knock, Knock, Bark Beetle!]. Riga: Valters un Rapa, 2008.
Olu skola [Egg School]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2010.
Stories
Ilmārs un Laima [Ilmārs and Laima]. Riga: Sprīdītis, 1990.
Stāsti par Ādolfu un Emīliju [Stories about Adolph and Emily]. Riga: Preses nams, 1994.
Tas, kas lēkā visu nakti [The One that Hops all Night]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 1999.
Platmales acis [Hat's Eyes]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 2000.
Frīda – frikadele [Frieda the Meatball]. Riga: Preses nams, 2000.
Divdabis un Stulbcepure [Participle and the Stupid Hat]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2003.
Vardes kurkst kabatās [Frogs Croaking in te Pockets]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2004.
Sirsniņsalas [Little Hearts Islands]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2004.
Gliemežvāks [Seashell]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2005.
Zaļā menca [The Green Cod]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2006.
Taksis Maksis [Dachshund Max]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007.
Avenes [Raspberries]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2008.
Sniega cilvēki [Yetis]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2008.
Kaķu ģenerālis [Cat General]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2009.
Aste, ko luncināt [A Tail to Wag]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2011.
Nekrietnais Alfrēds [Mean Alfred]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2012.
Mana mīļā učene [My Favourite Teach]. 2013.
Lapsu kalniņa mīklas [The Puzzles of the Fox Hill]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2014.
Books to fall for
Salty Pancakes
Salty Pancakes (Sāļās pankūkas)
Illustrations by Elīna Brasliņa
A spooky adventure story for school-aged children, set in the 1960s. If someone is as adventurous as Mārtiņš, trouble is never far away even in today’s world. However, at the time when the events described in the book took place, books held a more esteemed place in people’s lives – even when it came to choosing a life’s profession.
Contacts: mara.uljanova@petergailis.lv, www.petergailis.lv
Salty_Pancakes_by_M.Rungulis.pdf
Title
:Salty Pancakes
Title*
:Sāļās pankūkas
Authors
:Genre
:Publisher
:Rīga, Pētergailis
Pages
:108
Year
:2014
Foreign rights
:All languages available
A Walk in the City of Dead
A Walk in the City of Dead (Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā. Pārupes spoku stāsti )
Since the mid-1980s, Māris Rungulis has been collecting the scary stories children love to tell each other. Now, he has brought these together into a book about sixth-grade pupils working on a school project in which they have to collect and tell each other the local scary stories they know.
Illustrations by Kristiāns Brekte
Contacts: pasts@lielsmazs.lv
Title
:A Walk in the City of Dead
Title*
:Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā. Pārupes spoku stāsti
Authors
:Genre
:Publisher
:Rīga, Liels un mazs
Pages
:160
Year
:2016
Foreign rights
:All languages available
Reviews
Excerpts, about Mean Alfred // "Liels un mazs" homepage [EN]
Excerpts, about The Puzzles of the Fox Hill // "Liels un mazs" homepage [EN]
The Riddle of Fox Hill // LaLiGaBa [EN;LV]
2017, Jānis Baltvilks Prize for A Walk in the City of the Dead.
2014, the International Baltic Sea Region Jānis Baltvilks Prize in the Children's Literature and Book Art for The Puzzles of the Fox Hill
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013, recognized by the Children’s Jury for various works
2009, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Cat General
2007, The Pastariņš Prize for The Green Cod
2004, The International Jānis Baltvilks Baltic Sea Region Award for his contribution
to literature for young people
2000, "Preses nams" Award for Frieda the Meatball
