Ilustrations by Lina Dudaite

This book by the popular Latvian writer Juris Zvirgzdiņš was intended as a children’s story about animals, flowers and toys, speaking about serious matters like compassion, putting oneself into someone else’s shoes, solidarity and working together towards solving problems in an easy and lighthearted manner. The author does not instruct his reader or try to teach him a lesson – nor does the illustrator of the book, the renowned artist Lina Dudaite. It was her ideas that inspired the writer to create this book.

Contacts: mara.uljanova@petergailis.lv, www.petergailis.lv

Illustrations by Reinis Pētersons

— The National Book Art Contest Award ‘Golden Apple Tree’  2012

— Latvian Children’s Jury Award 2011

— White Raven 2012

The amazing story of a baby rhino’s travel from Northern Europe to Africa. Muffa is an orphan; zoo keeper Ibu assumes care for him. Soon Muffa learns to speak and read and hides from cold and heat by wrapping himself up in the newspapers he has read. Muffa speaks the HUMAN language: no matter which country the two friends end up in, Muffa understands everybody and everybody understands him. But when Muffa reaches Kenya where a huge variety of animals live on the lakeside, they are attacked by poachers.

Contacts:  pasts@lielsmazs.lv, www.lielsmazs.lv

Illustrations by Elīna Brasliņa

— The National Book Art Contest Award ‘Golden Apple Tree’  2015

The protagonist of the book is a boy who has lost his parents in a car accident. For four years he is tossed from one family of relatives to another like a football. The boy’s relatives do not need such a ‘retarded’ and ‘slow’ child. The boy is sent to a specialised establishment, after that – to an ordinary school, where, following countless complications, he finds his classmate`s friendship and his first love.

Contacts: mara.uljanova@petergailis.lv, www.petergailis.lv

Out of pure curiosity and recklessness, two bears - Tobias and his friend Charley – embark on a series of mischievous adventures. Responding to an advert they find impossible to resist they go to a flat at 13, Fog Monkeys Boulevard; the home of an unusual and not altogether pleasant family. There they meet an invisible creature who changes their lives entirely – a creature who makes them experience a wide range of feelings from shyness and fear to interest and compassion. The bears are very good-natured and always eager to help - it is these personal qualities which ensure the story has a happy ending.

The story has a wealth of comic episodes interwoven with sadder, more serious nuances – encouraging the reader to reflect upon the qualities of responsibility, compassion and honesty while at the same time enjoying an adventurous, fast-paced plot.

Contacts: mara.uljanova@petergailis.lv

Maybe you had read about a girl named Rasa, her Mom, her teddy bear Tobias and her dog Zorro from “The Lion’s Roar”? In the autumn, Rasa will go to school. Her dog Zorro has grown up too, and her teddy bear Tobias claims to have reached a respectable age for teddy bears. Tobias announces that it’s time to continue the story of their summer adventures. When they go to Grandma’s home in the country, they all will read their favorite books for rainy days, and they will also have to visit Rasa’s stupid cousins (Tobias says “stupid” very quietly.) And the adventures begin for new friends too – full of danger and fear. And courage and wisdom.

Contact: kaspars.eizentals@petergailis.lv

Minister of Strategic Planning gets up on the wrong side of the bed and is late for the Cabinet Ministers’ meeting. He blames it on a little bear cub, causing him to miss his ride. At the meeting he suddenly remembers: The bear! Now, that is the real issue! The Minister exclaims in a booming voice: “Respected colleagues! We have a terrible situation in our capital city! There are bears wandering the streets!” Ministers are concerned about violating private property and offer to buy the bears. The Cabinet agrees to request co-financing from the EU to relocate the bears and form a working group.

Contact: kaspars.eizentals@petergailis.lv