lithuanian books

The White Elephant Kęstutis Kasparavičius

Published: 2009

ISBN: 9789955683810

Number of pages: 64

Dimensions: 190 mm x 220 mm

Cover: Hardback

Publisher: UAB Nieko rimto

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This book is about a faraway country. You cannot see it even if you climbed to the tallest tree. Nor you can see it through the window of an apartment in the tallest skyscraper. Not even through a telescope. However, if you look around you might notice that you live in a reverse world of parrots where books are written in the Parrot language. You might even notice a Squareman in your neighborhood who cannot stand anything round. Not even the round holes in cheese. Maybe a Fast Rabbit just flew nearby faster than a speeding bullet looking at his four watches. Who knows, maybe even a White Elephant slept outside your house near your window. This book will inspire the readers to notice the tiny facets surrounding them and analyze the meanings behind them.

Age range: 5 - 9.

Editions: Lithuanian (Nieko Rimto, Lithuania, 2009), Estonian and Bulgarian (Nieko Rimto, Lithuania, 2009), Polish (Eurograf Librone, Poland, 2011), Ukrainian (Navchalna Kniga Bohdan, Ukraine, 2011), German, IDMI Verlag GmbH, Austria, 2011), Latvian (Jumava, Latvia, 2011), and Croatian (Ibis Grafika d.o.o., Croatia, 2011).

Award: Baltic Sea Region Jānis Baltvilks International Prize in Children's Literature and Book Art, Latvia, 2010.

Kęstutis Kasparavičius

Kestutis Kasparavicius is an author and illustrator of over 60 children’s books published all over the world. Kestutis’ books were translated in 27 different languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, Danish, Dutch, Finish, Estonian, Latvian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Hebrew, Thai, Hungarian, Slovenian and Vietnamese. His illustrations and books have earned numerous awards, including the Children Literature 'Atrapallibres' Award by the Catalan Council for Children's and Young Adults' Books, the Golden Pen de Belgrade, Illustrator of the Year at the Children’s book fair in Bologna and the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition Award for Excellence, Diploma Premi International Catalonia d`Illustracio, Barcelona, The Best Lithuanian Children`s Book, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, Lithuanian Children`s Literary Award, The Gold Sign of Lithuanian Artists Association, Baltic Sea Region Jānis Baltvilks International Prize in Children's Literature and Book Art, Riga, Premio Vittoria Samarelli, Associazione Giuseppe Acerbi, Castel Goffredo. Kęstutis was nomined for The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 also for The Hans Christian Andersen Award, 2008 and 2010.
Kestutis Kasparavicius was born in 2 June, 1954 Aukstadvaris, Lithuania.
In 1962-1972 studied at M.K.Ciurlionis Art School, a choir conducting class.
In 1972-1981 studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vilnius, a graphic design class.
Since 1984 he has been working as a children`s books illustrator and author.
Kestutis is known for his short feel-good stories about various comic characters. Bears, pigs, rabbits, and turtles find themselves trapped in puzzling and challenging situations. Kestutis’ watercolor illustrations are extremely detailed that draws-in children’s attention. Flying rabbits and talking strawberries unleash children’s creativity and confidence development. The artwork is colorful and bright. Even the smallest children who don’t know yet how to read usually find the books engaging and entertaining. The adults, on the other hand, are pleased with Kestutis’ refreshing humor and trademark wit.
Kestutis has four children and a grandson. He lives in Vilnius, Lithuania.