The boy who flooded the world
Story about sensitive children and coping with sadness
| Author | Snježana Babić Višnjić |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Marko Pinjuh |
| Original Title | Dječak koji je poplavio svijet |
| ISBN | 978-953-8008-55-9 |
| Format | hardcover |
| Pages | 32 |
| Size | 26X25 cm |
| Age range | Beginning readers (5 – 7), Young readers (6 – 10) |
| Categories | Heartworming stories, Sadness |
|---|---|
| Tag | Renowned Croatian authors |
Ever since he was born, everyone in his family knew he was special. His parents named him Clement – once they held him in their arms and met him, they realised such a name suited him perfectly because Clement was a gentle and sweet boy.
When he smiled at you, you would feel a surge of happiness as if you were being touched by a warm southern wind, and when he was sad, you would want to cry your eyes out because you’d feel his sadness like a restless storm.
Dams of his feelings were very low, and he could not contain them inside his heart, so they kept overflowing and splashing onto others.
His parents kept him safe and satisfied, happy and calm, but everything changed when he grew up and started school.
This is the beginning of a story about a gentle boy Clement. His family hoped that school is going to be a happy place for their sensitive child, but it turned out to be the opposite. Faced with new challenges and cruelty from his school friends, Clement’s unpleasant feelings arouse, and he simply could not hold back the tears.
One day he climbed onto the school roof and cried so much that he flooded the whole world with his tears. And who knows how the world flooded with sadness would have healed if Clement had not met Jane, a little girl who joined him on the roof.
She also carried sadness in her heart, but unlike him, Jana hid her pain. The two children will find comfort in each other and together find a solution to the unpleasant and difficult feelings that were pressing on their young hearts.
This is a story about dealing with the feeling of sadness. Sadness is an emotion that lasts, an emotion in which we can drown, and which doesn’t leave our body easily. It is okay to be sad, it is okay to cry out loud or to withdraw and remain silent, because everyone has their own way of processing pain.
But what this story tries to teach children is that we can find relief by sharing our feelings with someone, receiving support or comfort, and then trying to fix what hurt us or letting go of what happened and moving on.
Author: Snježana Babić Višnjić
Snježana Babić Višnjić, born in 1969 in Zagreb, Croatia, is a distinguished writer, playwright, and journalist. She completed her studies in Croatian language and South Slavic philology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, where she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree. Over nearly three decades, Snježana has worked in major Croatian media houses as a proofreader, journalist, and editor. Her plays and stories have been published in Croatian magazines and anthologies, and some have inspired theatrical performances. In addition to her work in drama, Snježana has written and published six children’s novels and received “Mato Lovrak” Award, won the “Grigor Vitez” Award in 2016 and was selected for the national quiz to encourage reading.
Snježana is a president of the Croatian Society of Writers for Children and Youth. She continues to contribute significantly to Croatian literature, particularly in the realm of children’s fiction.
Illustrator: Marko Pinjuh
Marko Pinjuh, born in 1984 and is a self-taught illustrator and musician currently based in Zagreb. Initially pursuing law studies, he discovered his true passion for illustration and decided to follow that path. In 2008, Marko began his professional illustration career by contributing to the children’s magazine “Radost,” where he illustrated short stories and poems monthly. He soon expanded his collaborations to include other children’s magazines. In 2014, he became a member of Croatian Association of Artists of Applied Arts. Marko’s portfolio showcases imaginative and colorful illustrations, including many picture books, personal projects, 2D animations, and humorous works. Beyond illustration, Marko is an active musician. He continues to create music daily, balancing his artistic pursuits with his passion for music.
