Konrad, Krax and the Telepathic Doves
Konrad, Krax und die telepathischen Tauben

salah naoura konrad krax und die telepahtischen tauben
August 2008 / 230pp
Children’s & Young Adults’

This book is outside of the five-year window for guaranteed assistance with English language translation. We suggest getting in touch with the relevant funding body for an informal conversation about the possibility of support. Please refer to to our  recommendations page for books that are currently covered by our funding guarantee.

review

The spectators in the reptile house are waiting with bated breath to see Kurt, the latest addition to the crocodile community. Among his admirers are Konrad and Arabella. But all of a sudden a girl appears and declares that this fabulous creature is ‘boring’. And equally suddenly, all the formerly enthusiastic spectators are agreeing with her. What is going on? Konrad is certain that this is no ordinary girl.

Konrad himself is also far from ordinary. He lives with modern-day witch Arabella, who specialises in concocting strange potions, and her multi-talented raven, Krax. Her most recent invention is a potion that enables doves to deliver letters to anyone anywhere: you simply tell the doves the recipient’s name, and they will find him.

Arabella is not Konrad’s mother: Konrad and Arabella’s biological daughter Milli were swapped at birth. And this has its advantages, as Konrad realised when his own paranormal powers became evident. He is, so it transpired, a born expert in telekinesis. Milli, for her part, is very much at home with Konrad’s ‘normal’ parents.

But there’s trouble ahead. Firstly, the girl from the reptile house turns up at Konrad’s school, where she casts her spooky magic on his classmates. And, worse still, his telekinetic powers seem to be failing him. Confused and ashamed, he runs away to a children’s camp, which the owners, Dr. Wudu and a certain Mrs Stone, assure him will bring back his lost faculties.

It doesn’t. Nor are the owners the kindly couple they seem. Sinister things are afoot, and Gesine, the strange girl from the reptile house, is involved, too. Can Krax and the telepathic potion save the day? Will Konrad get his powers back – or is there more to life than telekinesis?

This book is a super read – light, refreshing, and a real breath of air. The story moves along at a good pace, there are well-placed clues, and the plot is clever and tight. Indeed there is everything – humour, emotional involvement, adventure, suspense, and a satisfyingly happy ending. What more could the young reader want?

This is the second tale of Konrad and Krax and proof the author has winning ingredients.

press quotes

‘A wonderful adventure story full of surprises.’– Erlesenes

‘A book that won’t give rise to nightmares and yet is tremendously exciting.’– Welt am Sonntag

about the author

Salah Naoura was born in 1964 in Berlin. After reading German and Scandinavian Studies at university in Berlin and Stockholm, he started work as a translator and writer. He has published picture books and first-reader books and he has won several prizes for his translations.

Previous works include:
Konrad, Krax und das Zeichen der Zebrafrösche (2007 – ‘Konrad, Krax and the Sign of the Zebra-Frogs’)

rights information

Tulipan Verlag GmbH
Perelsplatz 17
12159 Berlin, Germany
T: +49 30-36 44 44 38
Email: mohr@tulipan-verlag.de
Contact: Constanze Mohr
www.tulipan-verlag.de 

Tulipan Verlag is a new publisher of children’s books established in Berlin in 2007 by Sascha Simon and Mascha Schwarz. Its appearance has been warmly welcomed by booksellers and readers alike:

‘A treasure-trove of books that awaken a desire to read, discover, observe.’– Eselsohr

‘Wonderful picture-books…Tulipan Verlag is up there with the best.’– taz

translation assistance

Applications should be made to the Goethe-Institut.

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