Eva Volfová, Olga Černá / From the house and the garden

A great old house with a garden, two children, Matěj and Hanka, Dad and Mum. Small stories, observations, the delicate fantasy of children, bits and pieces of ordinary days, the seasons slipping by, mice, the garden, pumpkins a-growing, the attic, hiding places, playing marbles, a brother and a sister teasing each each other, their fears and, above all, their home. All the ordinary things that become extraordinary through the eyes of 7-year-old Matěj and 5-year-old Hanka.

Olga Černá’s text is inspired not only by her own childhood but by the family and home of the artist Eva Volfová, who illustrated the book with embroidery. The book records the small joys, sadnesses, adventures and fantasies of two children who live with their parents in a large house with a garden.

Olga Černá catches everyday childish things and with delicacy and lightness, never losing sight of their huge importance, just as Eva Volfová embroiders parts of her days into small clothes in her signature, offbeat way. An extraordinary book resulted from the collaboration of these authors. It captures an unusual island of everyday family happiness -- a delight for every child.