Where did the children go?
| Original title | Kuhu lapsed said? |
| Original language | Estonian |
| Place of first publication | Estonia |
One day, all the kids decide to run away to the woods because they feel they’ve been bossed around too much. The grown-ups miss all the shouts of glee and the children running around, playing hopscotch, and jumping in the leaves. The mayor dispatches the army, the teacher tries luring them back with cake and candy, ornery Uncle Rein makes angry threats, and the conductor tries using Mozart and Bach, but nothing works. How can they tempt the kids to come home so there’s life in the village again?
Indrek Koff
(Author)
Indrek Koff (b. 1975) is a writer, translator, and publisher, who graduated from the University of Tartu in French language and literature. He writes for both children and adults, translates French and Portuguese literature into Estonian, and runs a publishing house. Koff has written nine children’s books and several plays (in collaboration with Eva Koff).
Elina Sildre
(Illustrator)
Elina Sildre (1980) is an illustrator and comic artist who graduated in Graphic Design from the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has illustrated more than 50 children’s books and has collaborated with the children’s magazines Täheke and Mesimumm. She has also created illustrations and comics for anthologies, schoolbooks, and activity books. Her work has received awards in the 5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books and Knee-High Book competitions.
Daniele Monticelli
(Translator)
Daniele Monticelli (1970) is Professor of Semiotics and Translation Studies at Tallinn University. A translator from Estonian into Italian, he has introduced numerous contemporary authors to Italian readers, both in adult and children’s literature, collaborating with publishers such as Iperborea, Sinnos, and others. Alongside his academic work, he is actively involved in cultural mediation between Italy and Estonia, for which he was awarded the Order of the White Star of the Republic of Estonia.
Nicola Cinquetti
(Translator)
Nicola Cinquetti was born in 1965 and lives near Verone, where he teaches history and philosophy in a high school. Graduated in philosophy and in pedagogy, he is the author of poetry and fiction texts for children and teenagers. He has published more than sixty books with the major Italian children’s publishers. In 2017 he was a finalist at Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi and is now in the shortlist for Campiello Junior Prize. In 2020 he won the Andersen Award, the Italian most important recognition to the career of a children’s writer.