Emma Press Children's Fiction Books

In the north of Europe, on the top left-hand tip of a country shaped like a butterfly, lies the Livonian coast: a quiet place with wide sandy beaches, wild forests and not very many people at all. If you decide to go there yourself and sit on the edge of a forest, you might see some little creatures moving around, smaller than the elks but bigger than the wild boar and badgers… Can you spot prickly Spendthrift, desperately trying to impress her friends? Over by that little house is Hare, preparing buttercup tea and crisp golden waffles for his sailor friend (and prisoner) Wolf, who just wants to be back at sea. And that worried-looking fellow hurrying up the hill is Squishbod – he really does have a skeleton in his cupboard… Across nine deeply atmospheric and compelling fairytales, Lilija Berzinska follows the desires and anxieties of a community of mysterious creatures in the north of Latvia, gently exploring their preoccupations and suggesting solutions with resonant empathy and wisdom. A Skeleton in the Cupboard won the prestigious Latvian Literary Award of the Year (Children's Category) in 2019, with judges noting: 'Lilija Berzinska's tales ooze warmth and sweetness.'

One summer, when both his parents are away for work, Oskar is sent to the countryside to live with his grandma. A dreary prospect turns into disaster when Oskar realises he left his mobile phone back at home. What will he do all summer now? Lonely and bored, Oskar crafts a phone out of a block of wood he finds in the shed and uses it to pretend to call things. To his surprise, the things reply! He speaks to a tough-talking iron, a poetising bin, a bloodthirsty wardrobe, a red balloon that gets tangled in the crown of a birch tree, and many more. Oskar finds himself in high demand, helping the things solve their problems and achieve their dreams. Oskar and the Things is a charming book about the power of the imagination and friendship, by Estonia's leading children's writer, Andrus Kivirähk. With a lively translation by Adam Cullen, and the original illustrations by Anne Pikkov, it is the perfect gift for an introverted child with a rich inner life.