Eglė Jasė, Julija Račiūnaitė. Kamandosė (Kamandosė), Babtai: Charity and Support Fund Švieskime vaikus, 2024. – 136 p. 

Kamandosė is a mysterious creature, part witch, part lizard, yet she resembles a little girl. Her ancestors have lived in the forest for generations, but one day, cutting all ties with her relatives, Kamandosė moves to the city and settles on a construction site. She is a collector and hoarder, constantly searching for valuable tchotchkes (various little trinkets), which she brings back to her hideaway. One day in a children’s sandpit, she meets Lina – a girl who changes her life – and Pipinas, a plush puppy who becomes something much more than just another tchotchke. Not only does Kamandosė find a friend, but she also begins to explore the world beyond the construction site. New adventures, encounters, and experiences transform not only her life, but also her true self.
Eglė Jasė’s imaginative and inventive children’s book blends the power of fantasy with the simplicity of everyday situations. The engaging story and vivid character of Kamandosė push the boundaries of traditional Lithuanian children’s literature, revealing to the reader a strange and mythical world. Throughout the book, the author frequently reminds us of the little kettle boiling inside Kamandosė, a metaphor for her bubbling emotions. As readers immerse themselves in her unusual story, they will experience anger, sadness, joy, and compassion, ultimately fostering empathy and kindness toward others.

Eglė Jasė (b. 1972) was born and raised in Vilnius. In 1996, she graduated with a degree in English language and literature from Vilnius Pedagogical University, and in 2001, she completed a master’s degree in journalism at Vilnius University. She lived and worked in Madrid from 2016 to 2020 and in Seoul, South Korea from 2021 to 2024. After her studies, she worked at an AIDS center and wrote for women’s magazines. She currently works in public service. Her first book, Marcipanas: pliušinio šuns istorija (Marzipan: The Story of a Plush Dog), was published in 2017. In 2020, the writer participated in the project Knygiukai į pagalbą vaikams (Tiny Books to the Rescue). As a result of this project, she created the small book Sėklytė (The Little Grain) with illustrator Elena Selena. In the same year, she won first place in the National Children’s Literature Competition for her book Kamandosė.

Julija Račiūnaitė (b. 1989) is a young-generation interdisciplinary artist, illustrator, and curator. In 2016, she earned a master’s degree in graphics from the Vilnius Academy of Arts. She lives and creates in Vilnius.

Contact for rights: direktore@svieskimevaikus.lt