Cerkabella Books - Foreign rights catalog 2022

CERKABELLA

BOOKs Fore ign r ig hts cat a lo g

BOOKs Member of the Móra Publishing Group, Publishing House CERKABELLA was founded in 1997. The aim of Cerkabella is to publish high quality literature for children and young adults.

Numerous Cerkabella books have received literary prizes in Hungary as well internationally, and many of our titles have also won awards due to the excellence of their design.

The publishing house has been cooperating with numerous well-known authors of children’s books, poets, and prose writers, such as Erzsi Kertész, Szilvia May, Ágnes Mészöly, Tibor Zalán and others. Also, we are working with award winning illustrators, like Réka Hanga, Kinga Rofusz, Katalin Szegedi, Ildikó Petrók, Eszter Metzing, Tibor Kárpáti and others.

Cerkabella’s titles were published recently in China, Germany, Iran, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.

3+

FAIRY SCONE books Size: 190 x 190 mm

János Lackfi

János Lackfi

János Lackfi

THE TRUE STORY OF CHRISTMAS

A TRUE STORY OF EASTER

A TRUE STORY OF SANTA CLAUS

Illustrator: Ildi Horváth

Illustrator: Ildi Horváth

Illustrator: Ildi Horváth

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 32

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 32

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 32

János Lackfi, one of the favourite writers of Hungarian children, is a popular poet with several awards. His heartwarming new picture book tells the story of the birth of Jesus, the true story of Christmas, which we read again and again for generations.

Who was Jesus? How did he live and what did the Son of God do among the people – and what happened to him at Easter ? This heartwarming tale by János Lackfi is about the strength of love and hope.

It is a true story of Santa Claus, but which one? As we all know there are several of them. Small ones, big ones, lilac, red, silver and golden ones. He is called in different names like Saint Nicholas, Snow Father or Winter Father. This heartwarming tale

by János Lackfi tells us the story of Saint Nicholas, the model and hero of every generous, gift- bringer person.

Both young and adult readers will take delight in this wellknown story, which is brought closer to modern times by the intimate and charming illustrations by Ildi Horváth.

ROMANIA

Imola Julianna Szabó

Gyula Veszpi

Angi Máté

ROKAMOK AND CIRMACS

CAPTAIN PIRATE, ADVENTURE STORIES

IT IS A WHISPERING LETTER

Illustrator: Adrienn Gyöngyösi Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 36 Rókamók and Círmacs are almost brothers and sisters. They take after each other but sometimes they don’t. They argue but sometimes they don’t. Anyway, they are seldom bored because something always happens in the forest. A telephone is left, a birthday box is missing, or the weeks of the month get mixed up or braces cause problems.

The short and sometimes lyrical tales by Imola Julianna Szabó are full of surprising turns.

Illustrator: Dóra Mándi-Kövesdi Publication date: 2021 Number of pages: 76 Captain Pirate is only a little fearsome – he is rather funny instead. The adventures he goes through on his boat are full of surprises : the nine tales of this book includes dragons, jedi knights, fairies, a speaking ball and an octopus crazy for socks.

For ever yone who loves laughing.

Illustrator: Ágnes Keszeg Publication date: 2022 Number of pages: 40 These short tales are about thing which are not easy to write about, especially for children: being cold, loneliness, fear and love. Angi Máté’s language recreates the world, it is from Transylvania, childlike, artistic, flexible and naive in a funny way. Unusual point of views, impersonated notions and the use of magic make these stories unique.

A surreal but cosy world has been created due to the illustrations by Ágnes Kertész.

3+

Anna Somfai

PRINCESS RASPBERRY Illustrator: Adrienn Gyöngyösi

Publication date: 2021 Number of pages: 40 | Size: 210 x 160 mm Princesses, princes and knights live in the empire of Princess Raspberry, and of course Vanília (Vanilla) her cat is always beside her. There are plays, friends and adventures – everything a small child needs.

3+

Adrienn Gyöngyösi’s drawings create a lovable universe typical of princesses.

Emőke Várfalvy

BENCUS, THE TOY CAR Illustrator: Kornél Rátkai

Publication date: 2021 Number of pages: 40 | Size: 210 x 160 mm What is the life of a toy car like?

Is it similar to the life of a small child ?

The answer can be found in the series of tales written by Emőke Várfalvy, which tell us about the everyday life of Bencus, the toy car and its family.

The first volume contains two tales – Bencus and the Zebras, and Bencus in the Car Kindergarten.

Erzsi Kertész

THE LITTLE SEAL AND HIS FRIENDS

3+

Illustrator: Gabi Baracsi

Publication date: 2021 Number of pages: 56 | Size : 200 x 220 mm The new book by Erzsi Kertész is for the youngest ones, it is about young animals which are just like young kids. At the end of all 25 tales the author writes a game, which can be played by the readers so they can join the Little Seal and his friends.

Erzsi Kertész, the author received the HUBBY award in 2016, she became the writer of the year.

WITH S GAME

5-8

SPELLING BOOKs 1_5 Number of pages: 48 | Size: 142 x 195 mm

Ágnes Mészöly

Nóra Majoros

Erzsi Kertész

FOX SETS OUT

BADGER MOVES IN

RAT’S ADVENTURES

Illustrator: Réka Hanga

Illustrator: Krisztina Maros

Publication date: 2019

Publication date: 2019

Illustrator: Réka Hanga Publication date: 2019

We can learn how cosy a foxhole can be from the tales of FOX SETS OUT.

BADGER MOVES IN is about a perfect birthday present and tells us how the animals of the forest welcome Fox’s friend.

From RAT’S ADVENTURES we can get to know whose life is more interesting: a magician’s or a pilot’s.

The volumes of the series SPELLING BOOKS are special in the way that the tales are printed in capital letters so they provide excellent opportunity to exercise reading and they offer the excitement of discovery for those who have just learned to read.

Every volume includes two tales. They are unique because readers can understand the tales if they read the sentences printed in fat letters only.

Emőke Várfalvy

Kinga Maksai

CAT AND THE ADVENTURE

ALPACA GETS LOST

Illustrator: Krisztina Maros

Illustrator: Réka Hanga

Publication date: 2020

Publication date: 2021

In the two tales of the fourth volume of the series, CAT AND THE ADVENTURE Cat sets off for new adventures. How can a lazy domestic cat turn into a real adventurer? How much valour it requires to stand up to the mightiest dog in the park?

In the fifth volume of the series SPELLING BOOKS Alpaca thinks that he is old enough to discover the world alone.

A friendly armadillo family and a ballet dancer flamingo help him find his way in the busy city - and the way back home.

In 2015, Réka Hanga became the Illustrator of the Year. In 2016, she was also on the IBBY Honour List.

Soon to be published: Judit Berg: TATU IS SULKING

3+

Szilvia May

THE BANDAGE STREET ANIMAL HOSPITAL 1 _ 3 Illustrator: Ildikó Petrók

Number of pages: 40 | Size: 225 x 290 mm

THE BANDAGE STREET ANIMAL HOSPITAL Publication date: 2012

THE BANDAGE STREET ANIMAL HOSPITAL. NEW CASES Publication date: 2014

RENOVATION IS UNDER WAY AT BANDAGE STREET ANIMAL HOSPITAL Publication date: 2017

“The Bandage Street Animal Hospital without a doubt is the most popular animal hospital series for anybody with two, four or even a hundred legs.” – The New York Animal Times “We wrote that the Bandage Street Animal Hospital is the most exciting, most heartbreaking behind the scenes story about the veterinary sector. We were wrong! The sequel surpasses every expectation!” – The Doctor’s Guardian

The stories involve a stray cuckoo’s egg, dangerous raspberry jam, acute flea control and freeing a pair of rubber boots. But these are just a few of the animal adventures which take place in the Bandage Street Animal Hospital.

Luckily, Professor Termite, the director of the hospital, and his team are in control of the situations. They leave no one without medical attendance.

This book is a real recipe for healing laughter!

SLOVAKIA CHINA

Ottó Kiss

ATI 1 _ 3.

6+

Illustrator: Réka Hanga Size: 230 mm x 275 mm

ATI AND THE MOONLIGHT

ATI LEARNS TO FLY

ATI BEHIND THE MIRROR

Publication date: 2013 Number of pages: 40

Publication date: 2014 Number of pages: 52

Publication date: 2015 Number of pages: 52

Uncle Ármin tells Ati that when he was a child, he visited Ms. Hanna on the Moon, and now he is planning a second journey.

In the garage, he is working on a special car, similar to the one which flew him to the Moon when he was a little boy. He has almost finished working on the car, and now he shows it to Ati...

The story begins with a dream of Ati. In his dreams, Ati has already flown a lot of times, but somehow he has never felt it real. And what does it have in common with the photo of a man wearing a pilot’s cap? Ati’s late grandfather connects the events of past and present, dream and reality in a mysterious way, and finally Ati will have a chance to fly!

“Not everything we see does exist and vice versa: we don’t see everything that exists.” says Ati’s godfather. When Ati recalls the summer that was full of family legends and games, he realizes that his godfather referred to something else besides this hiding place.

The trilogy revives the traditions of classical storybooks: the protagonist is a little boy, whose adventures always take place in a special terrain, somewhere between his past and dreams. Ati’s journeys are in close connection with his family and friends: his parents, Uncle Ármin, the late grandfather, the godparents and his

cousin create a safe and loving atmosphere around Ati. So the little boy never feels alone when he has to face mystical longings, illness, history or fate.

Although his questions arise from insecurity and fear, he always gets a reassuring answer.

In 2015, Réka Hanga became the illustrator of the year. In 2016, she was also on the IBBY Honour List.

Other books by the author: MIDGET PRETENDERS

CHINA

4+

Emőke Várfalvy

FOUR WHEELS CAR CLINIC Illustrator: Annabella Orosz Size: 142 mm x 195 mm

FOUR WHEELS CAR CLINIC Publication date: 2019 Number of pages: 56

The Four Wheels Car Clinic can be found in a little town and thanks to its mechanics it is the best in the region. In the five tales of the volume they repair five old cars. Katica, the old Beetle, the coughing Tobias, the little pink Mini, Zaffi the family sedan and the fire engine are at least as likeable and special as their owners.

The second volume contains six new tales.

The mechanics are incredibly smart. Call them in case of emergency.

The four Zolis are fantastic mechanics! The book is for all tale-loving children but for car fans it is obligatory reading.

FOUR WHEELS CAR CLINIC. ANOTHER TWENTY WHEELS Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 80

Emőke Várfalvy

PUDDING POODLE ANIMAL HOME AND PANSION Illustrator: Viki Bogdán

Publication date: 2021 Number of pages: 62 | Size : 142 x 195 mm

Would you also like to take every animal to your home? If so, then join Niki, the retired teacher, who works as an animal rescuer, and her team.

Meet the barking, meowing, chirping, grunting, roaring and lovely inhabitants of Pudding Poodle Animal Home

and Pansion, who are looking forward to finding a home in your hearts.

A tale for animal loving children, elementary school pupils learning to read and adults who are child at heart.

3+

6+

Zsolt Adamik

DINGLY HILL MONSTERPEDIA Illustrator: Réka Hanga

Publication date: 2014 | Number of pages: 124 | Size: 210 x 265 mm

Dingly Hill towers high above the tiny town. How high? Really high! Two singular souls live atop this grassy mass of mountain: Old Sissy Salt and Ancient Arnold Barrow and, of course, a load of monsters with sharp teeth and bad attitudes. Ancient Arnold is the creature keeper but falls asleep leaving his herd of unruly monsters to sneak their way free and tiptoe down into the town.

And that’s when things go monstrously wrong.

That is unless you know your monsters, and then there’s no need to feel afraid. It’s enough to say “Oh, it’s you again!” and then go home to a meal your mum’s made. Know your monsters from tousled top to tangled tail, and nothing will scare you again. That’s why it’s great that professors Zsolt Adamik and Réka Hanga (the

first one’s a gent, the second a lady) have compiled a complete compendium of creatures great and gruesome, telling you all you probably never wanted to know about monsters you might meet in the street or catch sight of in the night at the bottom of your bedspread.

IBBY HONOUR LIST

Adrienn Dér

A YETI LIVES IN OUR CELLAR

6+

Illustrator: Krisztina Maros

Publication date: 2021 | Number of pages: 112 Size : 148 x 200 mm Someone steals milk at night in Kati’s home.

And it is just one of the problems. The Department of Wandered-Off Nonexistent Creatures organizes a rescue mission: underground, land, sea and air …

This book is for everyone who loves surprising adventures and yetis.

It is the first volume of the series EASY READERS. It is intended for children, who can read well – their first novel must be exciting and amusing.

Ágnes Mészöly

A SNOW-WHITE CHRISTMAS

6+

Illustrator: Kinga Rofusz

Publication date: 2013 | Number of pages: 40 | Size: 230 mm x 275 mm The book looks to traditional Christmas storybooks for its inspiration with a tale that follows a number of threads: the grandmother is sitting in her snowbound country cottage waiting for her son and his family to come home for Christmas; the son and his family’s adventurous journey from the city to the country as their car gets stuck in deep snow; two angels struggle with a heavenly sled as they make their way to deliver

presents to the grandmother’s house.

In 2017 Ágnes Mészöly was awarded the HUBBY prize for her achievements in children’s literature.

In 2009 Kinga Rofusz was awarded the prize of The Illustrator of the Year by HUBBY and in 2018 she got the Most Innovative Book of the Year prize.

7+

Erzsi Kertész

BUMPY STREET SCHOOL 1 _ 5 Illustrator: Eszter Metzing Size: 148 x 200 mm

HELLO, YOUR MAJESTY!

SEE WONDER!

TAKE IT EASY!

Publication date: 2016, 2019 Number of pages: 92

Publication date: 2017, 2019 Number of pages: 140

Publication date: 2018 Number of pages: 128

After school, three students of class 2B were waiting in the courtyard excitedly for Gábor Oddo to come down in his long red robe. They wondered where he lives.

“I think he might be a real king.” said Flora. “I’ve heard something like that before.”

The story deals with self-acceptance and the problem of compulsion for conformity with a great sense of humour and an excellent knowledge of human nature.

Cutie, as her name suggests, is a really cute girl but she wants nothing more than to be adored by others, hence she makes up wonderous stories all the time.

At first her tales are simpler and easy to handle (for example Cutie can paint all the radiators at home pink anytime to make her fiction true). Finally, her forgery becomes so grand (about filthy rich relatives in Switzerland and their fabulous estate), all of her schoolmates become mad at her. Will she change, or will the others accept her the way she is?

A girl called Saci is tidy, hardworking and always polite. Recently she has had some problems with maths at school and when she gets a bad grade she keeps quiet about it at home.

She also keeps quiet when she notices that one of her classmates is up to some mischief.

What’s more, she has to prepare for her appearance at the Christmas ceremony at school. Her family can hardly wait to hear her singi on the stage. Luckily her odd, old friend – Uncle Tata – always has some useful ideas what to do. What ideas exactly? Read the book and you will learn it.

The Bumpy Street School is like any other school.

There is always something going on here!

The drawn characters of Eszter Metzing reinforce the possibility of recognition and imitation.

The series of novels by Erzsi Kertész belong to a newly discovered genre of children literature, that is problem oriented children’s books. Each of her novels focuses on a clearly defined problem which is mostly acute in the everyday life of children.

Erzsi Kertész, the author received the HUBBY award in 2016, she became the writer of the year.

GERMANY SERBIA

YOU ARE IN A JAM

LEAVE ME ALONE!

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 112

Publication date: 2022 Number of pages:

A boy called Robi feels that everything goes pear shaped. The older boys do not let him on their team, ridicule him and he fails to be the boss in the class at that. His elder brother always annoys him, the new partner of his mother would like to make friends – but he is anything but likeable. Robi’s only solace is the coming summer camp, which he is preparing for with all his wits. He is planning a big time mischief to stand out among his friends. But Elemér, the leader of the camp is on the alert….

How can Lotti deal with being harassed at school and for something she can’t help at that.

Who can help her? This book gives answers to these questions, too.

8+

Erzsi Kertész

ANIMAL BOOKS 1_ 2 Illustrator: Réka Hanga Size: 148 x 200 mm

ANIMAL CAFE

ANIMAL FIRM _ FLOWER SHOP

Publication date: 2016 Number of pages: 104

Publication date: 2019 Number of pages: 112

“I would love to have a strong black” Lopez said wearily. “How about a black panther? There comes one! He seems pretty strong.”

What does Paradise mean to us? Romantic sunset? Endless relaxation? Soothing wellness – combined with a little mystery and drama? The adventures of the animals familiar from Animal Café continue: Antika and Lopez decide to create the Island of Big Common Happiness on a cosy place in the jungle. It is a paradise, open to everybody looking for happiness.

There is a café in the jungle, operated by antelopes, which has a wide range of guests including tigers, lions, ostriches, parrots and even penguins.

And they are like us: the ostriches adopted the ostrich policy, the lions show mercy, while the tiger is just a ferocious carnivore – until he tries Antika’s rice pudding.

New books from the multiply awarded authors!

There is a storybook, an animal encyclopaedia and a guide to animal behaviour.

As readers of Erzsi Kertész expect, she presents us in her new novel a distorting mirror with the help of her brilliantly

funny language, cabaret jokes, parodies and sharp, ironic humour.

Erzsi Kertész, the author received the HUBBY award in 2016, she became the writer of the year.

In 2015, Réka Hanga, the illustrator of the book, became the illustrator of the year. In 2016, she was also on the IBBY Honour List.

Erzsi Kertész

SPEEDY LIGHT 1_ 2

7+

Illustrator: Annabella Orosz Size: 148 x 200 mm

SPEEDY LIGHT

WANDERINGS OF SPEEDY LIGHT

Publication date: 2017 Number of pages: 88

Publication date: 2018 Number of pages: 128

Speedy Light arrives to planet Earth and discovers numerous, (for him) strange customs. He tries to learn the basics of Earth etiquette and this results in countless funny situations and dialogs.

This is a whimsical storybook serving as a mocking glass for us Earthlings and as a lesson about tolerance: As Speedy switches to „Adaptation to the curious habits of this alien civilization” mode the reader can also identify with this serene mindset.

Speedy Light always returns to his favourite place, the Earth. It is the only planet where the so-called anti-material can be found in abundance, where Plutopie is a favoured dish and where we can learn what to do in the case of a disturbing overload at the sight of a bright red space shuttle and its pretty pilot. If it weren’t enough, even an ordinary UFO boy can get a soft toy bear on the Earth.

Since the main character of this book by Erzsi Kertész is an extraterrestrial machinechild, the novel is especially interesting for kindergarten and elementary school kids and other readers interested in scientific topics as well.

Speedy Light is a nice and curious little boy, who would like to discover every nook and cranny of the world.

Erzsi Kertész, the author received the HUBBY award in 2016, she became the writer of the year.

9+

Erzsi Kertész

VALIANT AND DALIAH, THE GREAT HEART ROBBERY Illustrator: Réka Zsoldos

Publication date: 2012 Number of pages: 136 | Size: 130 x 195 mm An edificatory and heartbreakingly funny knight tale about finding the Right One for very young, young and not so young ladies (and gentlemen).

MAZE-IN-LAKE Illustrator: Annabella Orosz

Publication date: 2012 Number of pages: 136 | Size: 130 x 195 mm There is a water labyrinth somewhere called the Maze-inLake. Many have tried to uncover its secret but those who set their sails in its intricate channels have never returned to the port. Our hero, a somewhat soft prince tries his luck and becomes a gondola operator carrying passengers around in the island-world while mapping up and conquering the un- known waters. However, this profession isn’t all that easy.

His passengers push his patience and creativity to the limits. A cat, a mermaid, an easter bunny and a misfortunate shooting star are the fi rst ones on his boat. Their common journey, journey of self-discovery even, is not without thunderstorms. By the end of their story we’ll see whether the passengers reach their goals and we’ll also learn whether our hero is able to uncover the Lake’s mystery.

Erzsi Kertész

NIGHT GARDEN. A MYSTICAL TALE Illustrator: Réka Zsoldos

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 112 | Size: 148 x 210 mm

HUBBY Award winner Erzsi Kertész is the author of several successful children’s books and series. Her co-author is a stunningly young illustrator, Réka Zsoldos. Their first common book is sparkingly special. Mysterious places, shady nooks, eccentric detectives and all kinds of strange creatures make the Night Garden unique. It is a deserted place, where noone goes for a walk and even its neighbourhood is feared by the citizens. But Tódor and Teodóra, two able detectives, walk through its iron gate. A strange fellow called Noxoktis offers to

be their leader and starts telling stories thus revealing the secrets of the garden and its inhabitants. Sooner or later everybody becomes suspicious… The detectives must do their best to find out who is behind the mysterious case.

But be careful! The garden is dark and full of strange noises.

Entrance is only on your own responsibility.

SURPRISE: LUMINESCENT COVER

8+

8+

Anna Somfai

FRIENDSHIP NETWORK 1_3 Illustrator: Ildikó Horváth Size: 145 x 200 mm

FRIENDSHIP NETwork

FRIENDSHIP NETwork, THE HALL OF SECRETS

FRIENDSHIP NETWORK, THE HOURS OF IMAGINATION

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 240

Publication date: 2018 Number of pages: 128

In the new book, THE HALL OF SECRETS Lencsi and her friends has a long and exciting journey waiting for them, as fas as the hall of secrets. Does the crystal of friendship work?

What are our hearts’ desires ?

How great is the power of imagination ?

Publication date: 2019 Number of pages: 168

Time-travel adventures in the past and in another dimension!

Lencsi and Fülöp join forces with a cat of supernatural skills in order to defeat the evil and reweave the friendship net around Aunt Márti. A fantasy fairy tale about the friendship net that keeps the world together.

IRAN

Anna Somfai, a physicist, won the special prize at Aranyvackor competition in 2017 with her novel.

Lencsi and her friend possess a crystal with special power. Dubious persons dressed in grey cloaks appear during the festive period and a detective is also interested in the friendship crystal.

Or is it just a figment of their imagination?

Friendship Net was elected the Best Book for Young Teenagers in 2019 by voters of Foxbooks. It was selected into ’Szívünk rajta’ programme by Libri-Bookline and UNICEF.

Dóra Gimesi (BASED ON THE TALE BY MAURICE MAETERLINCK)

THE BLUE BIRD Illustrator: Kinga Rofusz

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 112 | Size: 165 x 230 mm

The enchanting tale by the Nobel Prize winner writer Maurice Maeterlinck is retold by Dóra Gimesi. It is a de luxe edition of the classic piece.

The author preserved the poetic value and imagery of the original text and wrote a fairy tale full of miracles. The illustrations by Kinga Rofusz recalls the appearance of pre-war children’s books. Where can the blue bird of happiness be found? The adventures of Tiltil and Mitil are full of secrets, they discover new worlds and their journey is accompanied by friends and betrayals – all is told with the wisdom of tales.

The common work of the authors was awarded the Children’s Book of the Year.

8+

György Méhes

10+

HAPPY FAMILY NOVELS 1 _ 5 Illustrator: István Bányai Size: 160 x 230 mm

WHAT AN ODD LOT!

LIFE ON THE OCEAN BRAVE!

MY FAMILY UNCOVERED

Date of publication: 2014 Number of pages: 248

Date of publication: 2014 Number of pages: 136

Date of publication: 2015 Number of pages: 212

The book as a haphazard cast made up of Dad, Mum, Kiddo and Christingel, who go on holiday with Uncle Bill, Auntie Dinkie, Billy and Buggie , along with Quintus – the man who knows it all. In this episode, we follow the two families as they take the train, hunt for mushrooms, trudge through the mud, and do all those things folks do when they are away from home.

The book tells the story of a trip to the seaside with Uncle Bill and four boys (including Kiddo and Billy). Despite agreeing on “just a tooth brush and a clean pair of undies”, the lads set up camp in an old fisherman’s hut with a stack of backpacks, a mass of mattresses, and a lone guitar. Madcap mishaps with Captain “Cornie” Beef are only interrupted when one of the boys falls in love for the first time with a girl from foreign shores.

After Öcsi and his friends destroyed dad’s library and furnished the new flat with the help of some technical experts and the mysterious rauhenpikk everybody hopes that everything will be sorted out as a consequence of some lectures in guest-deterrence, car driving and husband education. But no….!

Dad and Mum set out a long journey with a backpack and arrives at the Adriatic, where they enjoy the sea until Father Vilmos…

Méhes’ light-hearted no­vels are primarily designed for teenage readers. Written with a high degree of literary skill, they provide an entertaining read that, whilst still set in the real world, prefer to avoid conflict and controversy, and concentrate more heavily on the fun and healthy eccentricity of family life.

The writer known as ’the great story-teller’ caricatures the eve-

ryday oddities of family life with an irresistible sense of humour and proves that there is nothing we can laugh at more than at our own fallibilities.

György Méhes was awarded the Small Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic in 2000, the Kossuth Award in 2002, and the Europäische Akademie Wien Grand Prize in 2005.

István Bányai received his BFA from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest and gained prominence as a commercial illustrator and animator in the mid-1980s when he emigrated to the United States.

NINE HOBBYHORSES

OCSI’S DIARY

Date of publication: 2015 Number of pages: 232

Date of publication: 2016 Number of pages: 186

The kids are well into their teens and their parents are now as old as they remember their own parents being. Once again lots of laughs, a whacky wedding and yes... another holiday away together.

The surprising thing in Öcsi’s diary is that it does not contain any surprising, wicked and horrible things. Öcsi seems to become a good child. Is he really going to be an ideal child?

Not really… In the book you can read about an excurshion with Indians, tracking in the high hills with a shepherd dog, a treasure hunting camp and a holiday story with a flood.

In 1995 Banyai produced his first wordless children’s book, Zoom. Honoured as one of the best children’s books of the year by the New York Times and Publishers Weekly, Zoom was soon published in 18 languages. While he continues to produce commercial illustrations for publications such as The New Yorker, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Time, he also creates cover art for Sony and Verve Records as well as animated short fi lms for Nickelodeon and MTV Europe.

IRAN

10+

Kinga Maksai

NAMELESS WORLD 1-2.

Illustrator: János Gárdos Size: 130 x 200 mm

NAMELESS WORLD. ERIK AND THE FLOOR ABOVE THE UPPERMOST FLOOR Publication date: 2019 Number of pages: 324

„Let’s have a look at it’ – said Liza and sat down on the swivel chair and turned on Nameless World. ’District No. 26’ – and she enlarged the map.”

Similar to the following volumes of this series, a group of children try to solve different scientific and technology puzzles in this novel.

When one of the children, Erik, disappears and the police is helpless, his classmates start investigating to find him. They find out that he goes on playing the computer game called Nameless World after his disappearance…

One night Erik got a message that he had been chosen from among the players. He thought it was the usual fake thing or a virus had attacked her computer. But when Erik disappears the events take a turn: the loudmouthed Ray, the film fan Bazsi, Noel, a fan of supernatural things, the extravagant Liza, and the smart Dorka go into action…

NAMELESS WORLD. ALONG UNKNOWN WAYS Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 328

The members of the ’not really super team’ from Nameless World is getting used to the routine of the school year when they are approached by a start up consisting of young geniouses. The prize is attractive, fancy equipment – but it turns out that rule number one, that is noone can be left behind, is not easy to keep.

When they accomplish their mission the team faces problems it never met before. Where is the border between reality and imagination?

What happens if somebody does not want to return to the real world? Who can decide if something is true or nor, and how?

The new book by the writer of MIA & MAJA was awarded the first prize in the category of youth literature of Merítés Prize in 2018.

Zsolt Bernáth

A RECORD SHOP IN SAINT JOHN STREET

10+

Illustrator: Krisztina Váradi

Publication date: 2020 Number of pages: 280 | Size: 130 x 200 mm The teenage novel of the decade !

A holiday on Malta can be about several things: sea, friends, exotic places. But Orsi finds an even more interesting place on the island: an old record shop full of secrets that she thought only existed in the legends of the Knights of the Order of Malta – or even somewhere else. To enter the gates of Past and Future is not so easy…

’If you want to leave present time and space behind, start reading this novel. Join Orsi (or Orsolya) and Joel and sneak into the record shop through the hind door – and you will find yourself in a different world. The novel by Zsolt Bernáth is for you if you like the secret of past times and far away places. You will be sorry only for one thing : the novel comes to and end to soon. ’ (Ágnes Mészöly, HUBBYprize winner author )

DAY BEFORE TOMORROW, DAY AFTER YESTERDAY Illustrator: Szabolcs Sajó

Publication date: 2021 Number of pages: 312 | Size: 130 x 200 mm What would you do if you woke up one day and the day would be the previous day ?

And the day after would be the day before … And you would be abroad, in a strange country…

Orsi covers the 800-kilometrelong journey to Santiago de Compostella with momentum and uncertainties typical of teenagers in order to find out what happened to the torn-off pages of the carefully guarded Callixtus codex. Can she save the father of Lu, her friend ? How can she outwit the ghost of El Draco, the dreaded pirate ? And how did she get into this adventure at all ?

12+

10+

Mészöly Ágnes

THE SECRET OF DOMES Cover illustration: Koppány Csenge

Date of publication: 2020 Number of pages: 328 | Size: 130 x 200 mm

The newest novel by the HUBBY prize winner author.

What is hidden in the domes of the houses in Budapest? What is the cause of the increasing number of strange accidents in the city? Does a famous and rich businessman have anything to do with it? Dóra Hárs has never been interested in such things, she is happy with her position in her class as one of the ringleaders, and she is getting used to city life.

But on a dull Friday morning, her 5-year-old brother gets lost. It soon turns out that his brother’s disappearance is in connection with the strange inhabitants of the domes and the young girl has to fight with creatures and power she has never dreamt of before. What’s more, to find her brother she has to cooperate with her strangest classmate, Panni Seres, which would be a serious challenge even if they were not short of time.

The heroes of Ágnes Mészöly have to win over their prejudices and fear besides the dangers threatening the city in order to return their normal routine of life – if they really liked to after so many adventures.

Kinga Maksai

13+

MIA & MAJA Illustrator: János Gárdos

Date of publication: 2019 Number of pages: 408 | Size: 130 x 200 mm

“My God! It was 7.20. She deleted the message but she did not really know why. She threw the plate and the mug into the sink, picked up her favourite green, wooly sweater and blue leather jacket, put the earphones into her ears and rushed to catch the bus. While running to the bus stop she thought what would be waiting for her during the day and it made her stomach get cramps, so she turned up the music and started to count her steps. When she arrived at the bus stop she counted the people, the butts

on the ground then turned her bracelet seven times to the left – as she always did so when she was nervous. It helped a bit. She got on the bus, put her glasses back on her nose, sighed and thought that this year was going to be the last difficult one, later it would be easier.”

woman, and the future mature woman in a young girl, that is Mia in Maja, and Maja in Mia. Their friendship offers us a colourful and exciting story rich in emotions. I recommend this book to readers loaden with memories, busy on their ways and looking into the future.” Erzsi Kertés, writer, psychologist

“Can real friendship exist between a teenage girl and an elderly, lonely woman? I believe, yes. The novel by Kinga Maksai proves it very wisely. Moreover it makes us realize what a great opportunity it is to recognise the young girl in an elderly

The book was awarded ’Merítés’ prize in 2018.

ITALY

Cerkabella Könyvkiadó 2000 Szentendre, Arany János u. 1. info@cerkabella.hu +36 20 2134986