The poetic title of the book Fánek the Starsailor refers to a boy’s vivid recollections of his father during a long separation. Margarita Khavanski’s dream-like illustrations help to give the story its unique atmosphere.

Children’s and Young Adult

Fánek recounts the times he spent with his dad reading a golden book about the biblical flood, around which they wove a shared fantasy of an ark floating through the starry sky. Shortly afterwards, his dad has to go far away for work, leaving him to deal with sad but ultimately routine worries about his mum and his ailing grandparents as well as new friendships. Time passes, Fánek grows up, and after his father’s unexpected return they bond with each other through a boat trip on a lake and the resurfacing of a treasured memory. Although the story is set in an unspecified time and place, it has a relevant message for contemporary readers. The Czech-Belarusian artist Margarita Khavanski has made use of various drawing techniques, and her illustrations with their soft-focus appearance and attention to detail resonate with Jana Šrámková’s unique, linguistically rich text.

Age 6+