Kolobok – A Bun on the Run – Sian Valvis and Dovile Ciapaite
Kolobok: A Bun on the Run by Siân Valvis and Dovile Ciapaite / ISBN 9781906257415 / 48-page hardcover, 8.2 x 11 inches, published by Fontanka (UK), with a lovely design by Bureau Bureau
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Kolobok is a new adaptation and translation of a famous Russian folktale about a resourceful bun (a kolobok) who, as in the tale of the gingerbread man beloved of children in the West, skillfully evades the attentions of various animals. Beautifully adapted in rhyme by Sian Valvis, and with evocative new illustrations by Dovile Ciapaite, Kolobok offers English-speaking young readers a glimpse into the magic and mysticism of Russian folklore. The visceral and environmental elements that are present in Russian folktales bring to life a vivid sense of the nation’s culture and identity.
• A fresh and original take on a classic tale, with a new rhyming version of the text that is sure to appeal to young (and older) readers.
• Striking, newly commissioned, illustrations by Dovile Ciapaite that perfectly complement the text
Author Sian Valvis took part in the National Centre for Writing ‘Mentorship for Emerging Literary Translators,’ supported by the Russian Institute for Literary Translation. She has been mentored by the translator Robert Chandler, who has encouraged her affinity for translating children’s literature and in particular folktales.
Dovile Ciapaite is a Lithuanian illustrator and architectural designer based in London. She loves drawing characters, creating narratives that tell stories through boldly illustrated forms that combine both traditional mark making and industrial printing techniques.
