Once was a fly…

Rudolfina is a wise fly who has seen much of life. Helenka is a cheerful and adventurous little girl, curious about the whole world. She asks many questions that might seem trivial or inconsequential to adults – but fortunately, not to a fly. And such a small fly knows a great deal about the world. It has seen places human eyes can never reach. It knows where the little white sparkling stone disappeared to, and where the ball rolled off to. It knows where the paper kite is caught, and which path leads out of the forest. It knows what treasures hide underground and along the path, and it is familiar with many little stories of children and adults. Being wise, it also understands that sometimes it's better to wish for something than to have it, that everyone has their little secrets, that fear is useless, that there is a cure for every sadness, that some wishes are foolish, and sometimes things turn out better than we could wish for.

This new edition is another of the few stories by painter, writer, and illustrator Daisy Mrázková, who is rightfully considered one of the most interesting Czech children's book authors of the 20th century.

An ancient Japanese poet once wrote poems about flies. He invited them to dine with him, appreciating how nice it was to share a household with them. He urged his readers not to kill them – look how sweetly they clasp their hands and plead. This ancient Japanese poet would have gotten along quite

well with Daisy Mrázková. Both Daisy and the Japanese poet understood that flies are incredibly clever, that they see through everything, that they know much about loneliness, boredom, beauty, suffering, and what is precious in life. They advise, assist, sometimes even console! All it takes is to notice them, to include them, to ask them, and to listen carefully to their answers. Flies are never what one might think they are. Right, Rudolfina!

Petr Borkovec