Hungarian / Hungary
Csücsök avagy. A nagy pudinghajsza, hajmeresztő és igaz története, tíz fejezetben elmesélve
(Croissant, or the true and hair-raising story of the big pudding chase in ten chapters)
Keresztesi, József
(text)
Horváth, Ildi
(illus.)
[Budapest]: Móra, [2018]. – 94 p.
ISBN 978-963-486-042-6
Love | Adventure | Nonsense | Verse novel
Reading age: 8+
White Ravens issue: 2019
Among the publications in Hungarian children’s literature in 2018, this book is an absolute must-read. József Keresztesi (b. 1970) has created a nonsense story in the form of a poem or verse novel about a host of tasty delights – all manner of puddings, chocolate waffles, sugary baked goods. The desserts have distinct personalities and character traits that clash a decent amount. Brave croissant Csücsök attempts to chivalrously save his love Princess Mignon, who has been kidnapped by a terrible blood pudding. Playfully, wittily, and with numerous allusions to great literary romances, József Keresztesi sets his croissant hero on a strange, adventure-filled quest, which will delight children as well as adults who have a taste for incisive poetic stylings and artful wordplay.