The Odiseja Publishing Agency, one of the most prominent publishers of children’s and young adult literature in Serbia, has recently turned to adult titles as well. Our books are carefully selected and include outstanding works of fiction, educational books on ecology and civil education, fiction addressing important social issues, classic works of literature, given our dedication to the development of social awareness and promotion of the local cultural scene, and our belief that such books are in fact commercial. A relatively moderate number of books published annually allows us to pay meticulous attention to each title and to increase our presence on the market, in the media and the public sphere in general. Our associates, the best among the Serbian writers, illustrators and translators, contributed hugely to our success. Our editions are often awarded and sometimes translated to other languages. We take great pride in having benefited from the EACEA grants programme ever since its beginning Serbia. We regularly exhibit at the Belgrade and Frankfurt book fairs.
PUBLISHING:
Odiseja continues the tried-and-tested strategy of publishing only the carefully selected titles clustered in a few clearly conceptualized editions, since our focus is quality and comprehensive promotion rather than the sheer number of published books. Our books are carefully selected as we seek to promote development of social awareness and of the cultural scene (by selecting outstanding works of fiction, educational books on ecology and civil education, fiction addressing important social issues, classic works of literature), believing that such books are in fact commercial. A relatively moderate number of books published annually allows us to pay meticulous attention to each title, seeking to increase our presence on the market, in the media and the public sphere in general. We only engage those associates, be it illustrators, translators, expert consultants, that we believe will offer their best performance in a particular project.
Our publishing programme is divided into the children’s and the adult section.
Among the children’s editions, the following two are very successful:
* Fictional journeys (Prozna putovanja) is a collection of children’s novels written by outstanding, award-winning authors, both in the fields of classic and contemporary literature, who proved able to communicate with the interests, concerns and joys of a XXI century child. We discovered that great children’s novels can in fact achieve great popularity even if treating the so-called difficult subjects: children with disabilities (Sleepovers by Jacqueline Wilson), child abuse (Secrets by Jacqueline Wilson), Roma inclusion (Enchanted Class by Ivona Březinová), anorexia (35 Calories Without Sugar by Jasminka Petrović), etc. In 2009, this edition won the Belgrade Book Fair Prize for the Best Children’s edition. Some of the novels in this edition have been supported by the EACEA.
* My world (Moj svet) is an edition of educational books on different subjects (mostly the ecology and civil society building), mainly in the format of picture books and workshop manuals since the edition is intended for 6-9 year-olds.
As to our adults editions we are especially proud of *Kaleidoscope, where we present novels by assorted multicultural authors who write in languages different from their mother tongues, whether by choice, need or origin (Nabokov, Tabucchi, Swedish Moroccan Junas Hassen Khemiri, Finnish Swedish Tove Jansson, French writer of Spanish origin Carole Martinez, etc.). We believe that works by this group of authors, portraying a world perceived through a reach and complex cultural heritage, are the hallmark of a contemporary world, a place where different histories, cultures and literary traditions are organically intertwined.
This year we started a new edition for young adults, the Calypso, where we intend to publish novels tackling dilemmas and lives of the youth stuck in a contemporary world, particularly the young women.
* The Flea market is actually a bit more than an edition – it is where all non-fiction books find their place: memoirs, popular psychology, ecology, etc.
PRizes:
2009, Belgrade Book Fair Prize for The best children edition for the edition Prozna putovanja (Fictional Journeys).
2010, the Dositejevo pero award for 35 calories without sugar, a novelby Jasminka Petrović. (This award is a Serbian equivalent to the Smarties Prize, since the jury consists of children, in this case over 200 schoolchildren.)
2011, the Dositejevo pero award for the Six and a Half Worst Flirts Since the Beginning of Time, a novelby Robert Takarič.
International activities:
In October 2010, Odiseja exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair for the first time, along with several other members of the Serbian Publishers and Booksellers Association. The Odiseja Publishing Agency can now be found in the biggest publisher’s catalogue in the world, the Frankfurt Book Fair Catalogue.
As a member of this association Odiseja initiated opening of the Serbian National Section of the International Board on Books for Young people (IBBY), arguably the most significant international organisation focusing on children’s literature.
The Belgrade International Book Fair, where we have exhibited since 2004, remains the most important publishing event in the region. In the last 2 years we participated in the country in focus programme (Brazil, Portugal and Angola 2011, Sweden 2010), with the Odiseja editions presented at the guest’s pavilion and included in various promotions. Our excellent cooperation with the Swedish Institute brought about several successful joint projects and promotions, including our guest visit to Gothenburg in 2007. The Belgrade International Book Fair is the only book fair where we regularly exhibit. We are also present at various local book fairs throughout the year and visit different regional and international book fairs.
DISTRIBUTION: Our books are available in bookstores, toy shops, gift shops, online book shops and hypermarkets across Serbia, as well as in several specialized book shops abroad. Please find their address at kupovina.
Full name: Odiseja Publishing Agency, Belgrade (Samostalna agencija za izdavaštvo Odiseja)
Address: Dobračina 5, 11000 Belgrade
VAT number: 103132307
Internet address: www.odiseja.co.rs
Tel: +381 11 26 20 521, 26 21 375
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BACKLIST OF SELECTED TITLES
BACKLIST OF SELECTED TITLES:
Books for children
Edition Fictional journeys:

Contact person: Vesna Kapuran
email:
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;
tel.: +381 63 262 586
Books:
![]() I want to go home!
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Text © by Jasminka Petrović, Odiseja, 2016.
llustration © by Ana Petrović,
Translated into English by Petar Kapuran
World rights: Odiseja
Rights sold: Macedonia Foreign option: Sweden
Pages: 88, Age 6–8
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Young adult and children’s book author Jasminka Petrović (b. 1960), with her daughter illustrator Ana Petrović (b. 1989), has written a very funny children’s book about what it would be like if one could exchange one’s parents. Young Nikola is annoyed by his parents’ constant “Do this” and “Leave that alone”, so he wants to find new parents on another planet. The selection is rather thin, though: Stiff robot parents and infantile mamas and papas who themselves want to be taken care of are not what Nikola had in mind. He returns home and – lo and behold – finds his own parental exemplars pretty okay!
This book was included in the Selection of International Children's and Youth Literature The White Ravens 2017 presented by Internationale Jugendbibliothek / International Youth Library
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![]() Mothers
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Text © by Jasminka Petrović, Odiseja, 2004.
Illustration © by Lidija Taranović, Odiseja, 2004.
English translation by Timothy John Byford
Spanish translation by Jelena Ješić
Swedish translation by Maria Wersén
Rights sold to: Sweden
Rights option: Brasil
Pages: 40; Age 6–9
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This book talks about mothers warmly and simply, poetically and realistically, wittily and seriously, with lots of love – just as mothers deserve it. It is as if Jasminka Petrovic has personally met every single mother in the world. She has put them in groups in such a way that none of them are left out. There is not a single child who would not recognize their own mother among all Jasminka's mothers, and there is not a single mother who would find herself asking: "But where am I?" She is here, in this book, presented as one or perhaps as a combination of several mothers. Her child is here as well, together with advice on how to get closer to mummy in order to understand her better.
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Text © by Jasminka Petrović, Odiseja, 2013.
Illustration © by Ana Petrović, Odiseja, 2013.
Translated into English by Daniela Nikolić Translated into Spanish by Jelena Ješić
Rights sold to: Sweden
Pages: 96, Age 6–10
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Jasminka Petrović, our popular and award-winning author, was often engaged in theaters and television over the recent years, and she used this experience to write a collection of short plays for children’s theatre of younger school age. They are convenient for performing at home, in the classroom or on stage. Jasminka Petrović always bears in mind those working with children, the teachers, librarians, workshop leaders, and provides additional content for them: discussion topics, home assignments, ideas for linking individual plays with different school subjects. She also included in the book a short and age-specific glossary of theatrical terms. The book is graphically designed and illustrated by Ana Petrović, her talented daughter. This close cooperation within the Petrović family workshop contributed to the beauty of this book. The collection contains 20 plays for home and school children’s theatre: ten for children ages 6-8, and ten for children ages 8-10. The author recommends theatre and acting for all children, not just for future actors, given that it promotes self-confidence and imagination, and helps fight the stage fright. Also, since the theater encompasses a variety of arts (literature, music, painting, performing arts, etc) children have the opportunity to discover their hidden talents. "Learn through play, create out of joy. Be yourselves and a little bit better." |
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Text © by Jasminka Petrović, Odiseja, 2007.
llustration © by Ana Petrović,
Translated into English by Jelena Ješić
World rights: Odiseja Rights sold: Sweden Foreign option: Hungary Pages: 134, Age 10–14
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This book will make you laugh, make you sad, give you strength and make you think. Here are just some of the questions you can ask yourself: What kind of family do I have? How much time do we spend together? Who has the best sense of humor among my family members? What do we fight about the most in our family? Do we talk openly with our parents? Do we have Sunday lunch together? Do I skip meals? Are we eating healthy? How many pounds do I weigh? What is my image in the mirror like? Do I live under pressure? Am I anorexic?
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![]() Creative Recycling I |
Activity book – creative recycling handcraft
A book for all those who like to play, do somecraft-work, and care about environment as well. Instead of throwing used plastic bottles, old newspapers and cans into garbage, they could be used for making toys or useful little things instead. Our planet can breathe easier if we don't cover it up with enormous amounts of garbage every day, and recycling could be a game full of fun. This books offer more than 50 ideas for such exciting activities.
Text © by Marija Vukosavljević
Illustration © by Dejan Mandić, Odiseja
Pages: 48 , Age 5–10
World rights: Odiseja
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© Spomenka Krajčević, Odiseja, 2014
© Graphic art: Veljko Mihajlović
Odiseja
Belgrade, 2014
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The Walker's Guide to Ada rounds up Spomenka Krajčević's Belgrade Triptych, which she ushered by Close-Up on Kalemegdan (2008) and brougth to the lime lights by Riding the Tram Line Two (2010). Travelogues are usually written about distant, exotic lands, but Spomenka Krajčević effortlessly demonstrates that we can travel around our own hometown, vertically and horizontally: through its landscapes, its history, myths and legends, archives, reflections formed in the minds of observers.
Instead of revealing itself to a traveler, a passerby, here the city opens up to an attentive, ever present observer, a walker who absorbes familiar landscapes, exploring its layers and building fresh ones, drawing on personal experiences. The sights are mere triggers to stories which do not necessarily have much more to do with reality except for sparking the mind of the onlooker. The enchanting thing about all books in this trilogy are the prose sketches, the literary fabric patiently woven around the cartographic material. They were only implied in the Close-Up on Kalemegdan, scattered along for our enjoyment in Riding the Tram Line Two, and brought to full shine in The Walker's Guide to Ada.
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