Romanian / Moldova
Melcuşorul
(Little snail)
Braniște, Lavinia
(text)
Neacşu, Veronica
(illus.)
Chişinău: Cartier codobelc, 2018. – [32] p.
ISBN 978-9975-86-253-0
Parental absence | Mother | Work migration | Picture book
Reading age: 7+
White Ravens issue: 2019
Lavinia Branişte (b. 1983) is one of the most important voices in contemporary Romanian children’s – and adult – literature. “Melcuşorul” (Little snail) was made in collaboration with illustrator Veronica Neacșu (b. 1983) as a commissioned work for the Moldovan publisher Cartier codobelc. In this book, Branişte broaches a topic that is sadly relevant in many Eastern European countries, including Romania and Moldova: “Euro-orphans”. These are children who are left behind by their parents as these migrate to other EU countries for work and who as a result grow up in their grandparents’ care. In a gentle yet trenchant way, Branişte and Neacșu tell the story of a little snail who lives in an apricot garden with his grandfather. For his birthday he wishes nothing more than to visit his mother who works on the other side of the street with the silkworms in the mulberry trees. Together with Grandpas’ friend, an old centipede, they craft crazy plans to get the little snail safely across the street.