ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Moscow-based independent children's publisher Samokat and the lifecycle of a key translated book in its catalogue, Guus Kuijer's Het boek van alle dingen (The book of everything, 2004), published in Russian as Книга всех вещей (trans. Ekaterina Toritsyna) in 2013. The book's treatment of domestic violence and religious zealotry resonated with many Russian readers, solidifying Samokat as a bold and innovative publisher. Dutch translations played a significant role in shaping the publisher's identity, with Kuijer's book even providing the publisher's tagline: “If you want to be happy, stop being scared.” The translation has seen multiple reprints as well as stage adaptations. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders, publisher Irina Balakhonova, PR specialist Olga Patrusheva, translator Ekaterina Toritsyna, and illustrator Olga Serdyukova, the chapter traces the book's trajectory from selection at the Bologna Book Fair to promotion at Moscow's Non/Fiction Book Fair. Factors contributing to its success include Kuijer's receipt of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2012), support from the Dutch Foundation for Literature, and the Netherlands-Russia Year (2013), a public diplomacy initiative. The chapter also explores Russian readers’ responses and the institutional and cultural contexts underpinning the book's reception.
