As World War II ends, in the forests of Moravia’s Jeseníky Mountains a mysterious duplex creature called Fungus Woman awakens to help some children in trouble. She takes in the orphaned Jewish girl Heike, her Czech friend Honza, a German girl called Sofie, and the Russian deserter Vasya, telling them that to defend themselves against evil, they must stick together. When the children are in danger, Fungus Woman is quick to use her magical powers. And with her luminous mushroom she even draws them into the magic, as Martina Trchová’s illustrations show.

In Arnošt’s Journey, Markéta Pilátová presents the life of Arnošt Lustig, a leading Czech writer whose work draws on his time in concentration camps and experience as a Holocaust survivor. Fateful moments are presented in conversation with his daughter Eva and complemented by illustrator Eliška Soffer Podzimek’s impressive collages. The author explains her approach to writing for children in conversation with the illustrator.

Markéta Pilátová, Eliška Soffer Podzimek. Moderation: Libuše Černá. Reading: Laura Richter