An award-winning adventure story for clever children which plumbs the depths in a pocket submarine.

Children’s and Young Adult  |  English sample translation available

This children’s story from the workshop of Petr Stančík, who has also been awarded prizes for his novels for adults, focuses on life-giving water. The adventure for clever children was illustrated by the popular Galina Miklínová, known for her famous Lichožrouti (Oddsockeaters). Readers can depend on the author’s acumen to bring a light touch to all of his lessons – this book has an educational subtext – which will also be appreciated by parents who have forgotten a thing or two. The educational framework of the book is subtle and is nicely undermined by the illustrations. Water has the formula H2O, which is also the initials of the main characters – Hugo, Hubert and Ophelia, who thanks to their miniaturisation go on various expeditions headed by the mad professor Hermengild Vulpes. The story contains lessons and explanations about water on the margins of the pages, together with explanatory illustrations. Among them, however, children can also find recipes for the characters’ favourite dishes!

Petr Stančík (1968) entered the world of literature under the pseudonym Odillo Stradický ze Strdic; since 2007 he has been publishing under his real name. His work for adult readers includes the tale of the first Czech superhero Pérák (The Spring Man, 2008) and the gastronomic/pornographic/philosophical thriller Mlýn na mumie (Mummy Mill, 2014), for which he was awarded the 2015 Magnesia Litera Award. His books for children include the juvenile horror story Mrkev ho vcucla pod zem (A Carrot Sucked Him Underground, 2013) and a series of tales about Chrujda the badger. He also wrote the historical monograph Kaple Božího Těla a Krve a Bratrstvo obruče s kladivem (The Chapel of the Body and Blood of Christ and the Brotherhood of the Hoop and Hammer, 2015) about the defunct Temple of Solomon in the centre of Prague’s Old Town.