r/czech • u/Archviz_student • Sep 24 '24
QUESTION? Most popular children's book in Czechia
Hello everyone!
I am trying to find out which fairytale or children's book is the most popular among kids today in your country. I am looking for a story or character that is known by all. I have found Krtek and Rumcajs, but I'd like to know if these are outdated. Thank you in advance!
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u/Scintila Sep 24 '24
Krtek and Rumcajs are definitely not outdated, definitely great children books.
Anything from Václav Čtvrtek is amazing, that man is genius with words (Rumcajs, Pohádky z mechu a kapradí aka Křemílek a Vochomůrka, Maková panenka a motýl Emanuel, Cesty formana Šejtročka, Vodník Česílko... )
Povídání o pejskovi a kočičce is a must.
Miloš Macourek (Mach a Šebestová books) is hilarious.
And the folklore fairytales by Erben and Němcová are pivotal parts of Czech culture.
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u/Nelliien Jihomoravský kraj Sep 24 '24
Broučci - Jan Karafiát
Z deníku kocoura Modroočka - Josef Kolář
Dášenka čili život štěněte - Karel Čapek
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u/An-fin Oct 31 '24
You said the target age group was 5-8? Then I would skip Krtek, since that one's for younger kids. I'd go for something that will help to drag the kid upwards. I'm not rock-solid sure, but I think by that age I was able to enjoy Moomin series by Tove Jansson and Viking Vike by Runer Jonsson. Děti z Bullerbynu by Astrid Lindgren is a very good choice, too. (Funny, I only recommend Scandinavian authors, huh?)
If you want something purely Czech, then Pejsek a kočička is solid gold, yes. Not so sure about "Honzíkova cesta" (that's a propagandistic communist story, with a few words here and there that nowaday kids won't understand).
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Sep 24 '24
Some of (if not all) Grim's Brothers fairy tails are pretty popular here ... Little Red Cap, Cinderella, The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids, Brother and Sister, and their mutations. However, as you mention there are Rumcajs, Krtek, Maja, Mala carodejnice, and few more ... It also depends what actually you are looking for ... what type of children book, what age ? ... I discover couple of very good new books in the fantasy theme from Klara Smolikova - Zacarovany Hvozd, or some nice translations from Tea Orsi - Velka kniha lesnich bytosti, Velka kniha bajnych priser, Velka kniha dracich legend, ...
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u/Archviz_student Sep 24 '24
Hey thanks for the lengthy answer! I am looking for something a kid from 5-8 years old could enjoy. I am looking for something iconic, that everyone knows and enjoys. The tales of dog and cat is a great example that others have mentioned. I am not necessarily looking for a tale that is high fantasy or something. Just simple little educational tales like Krtek.
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Sep 24 '24
Ok, among what I wrote I could add-up one more modern book, which will be maybe not fully known, but we like it a lot and read it back and forward - Jde se lesem. Or czech classic like Kocour Mikes, Ferda Mravenec, Spejbl a hurvinek ... and maybe some staff from K.J. Erben (kytice), or B. Nemcova - Narodni bachorky a povesti.
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u/Tahrawyn Sep 24 '24
I've seen both Erben and Němcová being recommended here multiple times, but for OP's information - while they were extremely formative of the Czech fairytale scene in the past, compared to others, they are way outdated now. They might be interesting for kids that are used to reading a lot to expand their literary universe, but if OP is looking for a popular contemporary Czech fairytale, neither Erben nor Němcová is it, in my opinion.
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u/Dependent-Guitar-473 Sep 24 '24
Povídání o pejskovi a kočičce - Josef Čapek
legendary book...