Among the new offerings for the smallest children, we would like to note Veronika Marék's latest Boribon the Bear book: Boribon Rides in a Car (Boribon autózik). A generation of Hungarians have grown up with Marék's character and now her latest effort is sure to make her a favourite with another.
Naphegy Kiadó, a new publisher on the Hungarian market that specialises in relatively unknown Eastern European writers and illustrators, has put out several remarkable picture books that parents will enjoy as much as their children.
Another of our favourites this year was the continuation of the Csiribi and Panka series, by Judit Berg. The two fairies' latest adventure takes them to Fairy City. The book is the third in the series, and we hope the fourth is soon to follow.
Classics in a New Colour
There was no shortage of classic fairy tales this year. The prize for the best illustrations should go to Katalin Szegedi for her marvelous rendering of Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland (General Press Kiadó). Alíz Mosonyi's reworking of Sleeping Beauty and of Hansel and Gretel by Pagony Kiadó also impressed us. Other notables were Elek Benedek's The Two-hearted Prince (A kétszívű királyfi) and Pipes, Drums, Songs - Musical Tales (Dudák, Dobok, Dalok - Muzsikás mesék), a collection of stories in which music plays a central role.
For Young Readers: An Invitation to Adventure
Naphegy Publishing House
Hungary's publishers did not short supply older children this year either. Perhaps the most exciting offering for young readers was Judit Berg's Rumini, which was named Book of the Year by the local chapter of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Those who have already read the book will be pleased to know that a follow-up is in the making and will be published by year-end. Other new notable books for young readers were Ottó Schmuck's The Secret Church of the Calaxtines (A kelyhesek titkos temploma), published by Móra Kiadó; Ottó Kiss's Knights of the Roundtable (A terepasztal lovagjai), and reissues of Boldizsár Bárány's Fairy Lala (Tündér Lala), Island Blue (Sziget-kék) and Tell It To Little Sophie (Mondják meg Zsófikának).
A World of Verse
We can never get enough of children's verse. Fortunately for us, neither can Hungary's poets nor its publishers. After the publication of the well received Fresh Ink! (Friss Tinta!) anthology of children's verse, we can easily select several poets whose works we know will not disappoint. In no particular order, our favourite collections this year were János Lackí's Between Dwarf and Giant (Törpe és óriás között), Péter Nyulász's What is That (Miazmi) and Krisztina Tóth's Animalities (Állatságok).
