Māris Rungulis (1950) is a Latvian poet and author of numerous children's books and poems, as well as stories for teenagers. His books have been awarded the Latvian Children's Jury awards for a record ten times, making him one of the most recognised authors among the young readers. He incorporates history, traditional and current folklore, nursery rhymes, traditional jokes, puns and ghost stories into his works revealing new perspectives, discussing important themes in a compelling way. He emphasizes the importance of being brave and inventive in addressing children and youth audiences in literature. Rungulis' poems were first published in 1968. He is a member of the Latvian Writers' Union since 1988, the same year he made his début with a collection of poems Rasas pilieni [Drops of Dew]. In 1989, Māris Rungulis started working for the legendary children's magazine “Zīlīte” whose editor at the time was the celebrated Latvian author Jānis Baltvilks, and in 1991 he created its supplement magazine for small children “Ezis”. In 2013, he took over the role of editor in chief of “Zīlīte” and until 2013 was involved in designing its new nature-oriented issues.
Prose
Asins lietus [Blood Rain]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2020.
Trīs nāves Mārtiņdienā [Three Deaths On Halloween]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2018.
Sikspārnis [The Bat]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2017.
Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā [A Walk in the City of the Dead]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2016.
Sāļās pankūkas [Salty Pancakes] Riga: Pētergailis, 2015.
Poetry
Zvirbulim nenāk miegs [The Sparrow Is Not Sleepy]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2021.
Olu skola [Egg School]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2010.
Tuk, tuk, mizgrauzi! [Knock, Knock, Bark Beetle!]. Riga: Valters un Rapa, 2008.
Tipu, tapu, plunkš! [Tip, top, splash!]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2008.
Pasaka par Tebras bebru [Tale of the Beaver of River Tebra]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2007.
Pūce pūcējas visu nakti [Owl Bawling All Night Long]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2004.
Lietus attin bārdu [Rain unfurls your ]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 2001.
Čiepa liepā [Chicklet in a Lime Tree]. Riga: Preses nams, 1999.
Pele un karamele [Mouse and Caramel]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 1999.
Balti putu viļņi lēkā [White waves ]. Riga: Zīlīte, 1993.
Vakara pasakas [Evening Tales]. Riga: Sprīdītie, 1991.
Vēja spēles [Wind Games]. Riga: Liesma, 1984.
Rasas pilieni [Drops of Dew]. Riga: Liesma, 1979.
Stories
Lapsu kalniņa mīklas [The Puzzles of the Fox Hill]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2014.
Mana mīļā učene [My Favourite Teach]. 2013.
Nekrietnais Alfrēds [Mean Alfred]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2012.
Aste, ko luncināt [A Tail to Wag]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2011.
Sniega cilvēki [Yetis]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2008.
Kaķu ģenerālis [Cat General]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2009.
Avenes [Raspberries]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2008.
Taksis Maksis [Dachshund Max]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007.
Zaļā menca [The Green Cod]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2006.
Gliemežvāks [Seashell]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2005.
Sirsniņsalas [Little Hearts Islands]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2004.
Vardes kurkst kabatās [Frogs Croaking in te Pockets]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2004.
Divdabis un Stulbcepure [Participle and the Stupid Hat]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2003.
Frīda – frikadele [Frieda the Meatball]. Riga: Preses nams, 2000.
Platmales acis [Hat's Eyes]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 2000.
Tas, kas lēkā visu nakti [The One that Hops all Night]. Riga: Zaļais circenis, 1999.
Stāsti par Ādolfu un Emīliju [Stories about Adolph and Emily]. Riga: Preses nams, 1994.
Ilmārs un Laima [Ilmārs and Laima]. Riga: Sprīdītis, 1990.
Books to fall for
Salty Pancakes
Salty Pancakes (Sāļās pankūkas)
Illustrations by Elīna Brasliņa
A spooky adventure story for school-aged children, set in the 1960s. If someone is as adventurous as Mārtiņš, trouble is never far away even in today’s world. However, at the time when the events described in the book took place, books held a more esteemed place in people’s lives – even when it came to choosing a life’s profession.
Contacts: mara.uljanova@petergailis.lv, www.petergailis.lv
Salty_Pancakes_by_M.Rungulis.pdf
Title
:Salty Pancakes
Title*
:Sāļās pankūkas
Authors
:Genre
:Childrens-book
Publisher
:Rīga, Pētergailis
Pages
:108
Year
:2014
Foreign rights
:All languages available
A Walk in the City of Dead
A Walk in the City of Dead (Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā. Pārupes spoku stāsti )
Since the mid-1980s, Māris Rungulis has been collecting the scary stories children love to tell each other. Now, he has brought these together into a book about sixth-grade pupils working on a school project in which they have to collect and tell each other the local scary stories they know.
Illustrations by Kristiāns Brekte
Contacts: pasts@lielsmazs.lv
Title
:A Walk in the City of Dead
Title*
:Pastaiga mirušo pilsētā. Pārupes spoku stāsti
Authors
:Genre
:Childrens-book
Publisher
:Rīga, Liels un mazs
Pages
:160
Year
:2016
Foreign rights
:All languages available
About The Sparrow Is Not Sleepy // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]
About Blood Rain // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2020 [LV]
Video conversation with Māris Rungulis // Online magazine Satori Youtube channel, 2015 [LV]
Conversation with Māris Rungulis and other Annual Latvian Literature Award nominees // Online magazine Punctum, 2019 [LV]
2019, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Three Deaths On Halloween
2017, the Jānis Baltvilks Award for A Walk in the City of the Dead
2015, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for The Puzzles of the Fox Hill
2014, the Jānis Baltvilks Award for The Puzzles of the Fox Hill
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013, recognized by the Children’s Jury for various works
2009, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Cat General
2007, The Pastariņš Prize for The Green Cod
2004, the Jānis Baltvilks Award for his contribution
to literature for young people
2000, "Preses nams" Award for Frieda the Meatball
Tirpsta diena kaip ledai
Tirpsta diena kaip ledai (Dzejoļi bērniem, antoloģija)
Title
: Tirpsta diena kaip ledaiTitle*
: Dzejoļi bērniem, antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
: , , , , , ,Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Lithuanian
Publisher
:Slinktys
Pages
:160
Year
:2023
