• Publisher: Malinc
• 36 pages
• Author: Klarisa Jovanović
• Ilustrator:
• Original title: Telovadec Nikolja prežene tolovaja

Nikolaj the Gymnast is Klarisa Jovanovič's first picture book. It tells the story of a gymnast who detects a thief while doing his exercises in the park. The scene makes him so angry that he decides to catch him. The thief steals a baby's rattle and, on another occasion, a magnifying glass from an old lady who visits the park. The thief’s third criminal attempt in a row consists in trying to steal the tablecloth which a poor man puts on his table to embellish it on Sundays. This time, Nikolaj will catch him and recuperate all the stolen items. Nikolaj the Gymnast is written in verse, in a humorous and very skilful way. Even if posing the ethical question of whether stealing is acceptable or not, it does it without moralizing.

About the author

Klarisa Jovanović

Klarisa Jovanović is professor of French and a comparative literature graduate. She translates mainly from Greek, but also from Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Italian and French. She has published three books of poetry. In 2007, she published the poem Zgiban prek Mure, which was nominated for the best debut next year. Her poem Izgnana was nominated for Veronikina nagrada, the literary award given to the year’s best collection of poems. She is also an interpreter of poems set to music and folk songs.