The writer and artist Lina Žutautė (b. 1973) is one of the most commercially successful writers in Lithuania. She is inevitably associated with Šiauliai. This is where she was born and studied art, and where she now lives and works. Originally, she was primarily an artist. She created illustrations for books by Lithuanian and foreign authors – Gendrutis Morkūnas, Anzelmas Matutis and Gianni Rodari. She made her debut as a writer in 2010. Her first attempts at creating picture books were successful. The list of her books in the series about a troublemaker girl Kake Make is getting longer every year, just like the list of languages into which her works have been translated. The character in checked overalls has become so popular that it has moved onto exercise books, mugs, T-shirts, and food products. Kake Make’s “colleagues” – a dog and a cat – inspired the artist to write her first novella/fairy tale Ferdinandas ir Pū, which has ultimately shaped the constantly changing state of the author: while writing original children’s books, she starts as a writer, then transforms into an artist/illustrator, and finally become a designer/paste-up artist. 

Ferdinandas ir Pū (Ferdinand and Paw). Vilnius: Alma littera, 2012, 92 pp. 

Ferdinandas ir Pū: žygis į Australiją (Ferdinand and Paw: journey to Australia). Vilnius: Alma littera, 2013, 116 pp. 

This story is about the kind of friendship where if your friend is ready to experience the biggest adventure of their life, you agree even to sacrifice 23 whiskers for them! This is what it was like for two friends, Ferdinand the Cat and Paw the Dog. Ferdinand decides to leave the Junkyard and travel, while Paw, who feels that he is Ferdinand’s best friend, prepares to travel with him to the ends of the earth. The book is about travels, trials, true friendship, and sacrifice. The illustrations are playful, and the various compositions have surprising angles, points of view and unexpected twists, all in a humorous way. The book ‘Ferdinand and Paw. Journey to Australia’ tells a witty story full of unexpected twists and expressive characters. When Petunia the Hen sees an emu on television and falls in love, and thoughtful Ferdinand is no longer able to see the purpose of life, the friends hatch an ingenious idea. They set off for Australia in search of love, to learn about the world, to experience adventure, and to give a meaning to life. On their way, they meet a plethora of odd characters, learn about true friendship, and overcome difficulties together. 

Selected translations

Russian: Фердинанд и Пуш. Австралийский поход. Translated by Alexandra Vasilkova. Москва: Clever, 2016

Фердинанд и Пуш. Translated by Alexandra Vasilkova. Москва: Clever, 2013