★ Rights sold to India and Arabic publishers!
★ Included in the "White Ravens" list by the Munich International Youth Library!
★ Maria Bochkareva won the Best "Fairy Tale Novel" Award at the 2018 All-Russian Children's Book Festival for this work!
★ This story is like a ray of light piercing through dense clouds, dispelling loneliness and fragility in children's hearts, illuminating the unique warm memories deep within us.
★ English translation available.

This is a story about courage, loneliness, and growth. The protagonists are a little girl named Elsa and her father Edwin, who live in a lighthouse almost at the end of the world. Edwin is a red-haired captain, and Elsa is a curious and adventurous girl. When Edwin sets sail, Elsa is left alone on the remote northern coast, accompanied only by a wolf named Kulik and an old friend, Kaporyak, who lives in a bottle. Kaporyak is no toy; he is Edwin's old friend who communicates with Elsa through messages in a bottle. In Maria Bochkareva's story, everything is surprising: the lives of the characters, the narrative style, and the plot twists. Readers will embark on a sea adventure filled with fog and storms—what's a voyage without storms? But through the mist and spray, the lighthouse's light flickers—dim and flickering, as it hasn't been maintained for a long time. Yet, despite all the storms and harsh weather, it stands firm for those who need it.

Maria Bochkareva (1980)
Maria Bochkareva is a highly acclaimed contemporary Russian author of children's literature, essayist, playwright, and journalist! She is the recipient of the International White Ravens Award, the Krapivin International Book Award, the Russian Children's Library Best Book Award, and the Best "Fairy Tale Novel" at the All-Russian Children's Book Festival! She has also been a finalist for the Andrei Bely Prize, the "Debut" Prize, and the National Children's Literature Award "Dreams Come True"!

Maria Bochkareva's works are highly praised in the field of contemporary children's and young adult literature! Russian poet, translator, and literary critic Lev Oborin, winner of the Andrei Bely Prize for Literary Criticism and member of the expert committee for the National Literary Award "Big Book," commented on her work: "Bochkareva understands that children's and folk tales are not always idyllic; sometimes they are scary, terrifying, and perhaps universal..." Olga Miaeots, a judge for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, said: "Teenagers have a unique way of looking at the world, and their behavior can sometimes be strange, but adults trust children to find their own meaning in life. The adults in Maria Bochkareva's books have their own problems, but their love and responsibility for the children help them persevere and not give up."

Her works often focus on ordinary people in real life, especially children and teenagers. She delicately portrays their inner worlds and growth experiences. She excels at telling stories in simple, straightforward language without excessive embellishment or exaggeration, trusting readers to understand the deeper meaning without over-explanation. Through her characters and plots, she encourages readers to reflect on important social issues such as family relationships and educational methods. Critics unanimously agree that her works are highly beneficial for the younger generation. Maria Bochkareva won the Russian Triumph Youth Award in 2005 and was shortlisted for the Russian National Dream Children's Literature Award and the Russian Best Debut Literature Award. Her works "School on a Matchbox" (or "Waffle Cone Ice Cream") and the novel "Look! The Lighthouse" were included in the "White Ravens" list by the Munich International Youth Library. Additionally, her works have been shortlisted for the "Debut" Prize. Her books are not only popular in Russia but have also been translated into English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Slovenian, and more!

【Honors】
In 2005, received the "Triumph" Young Writers Award.
In 2005, shortlisted for the Russian Best "Debut" Literary Award.
In 2006, shortlisted for the National Children's Literature Award "Beautiful Dream".
In 2013, shortlisted for the Andrey Bely Literary Award.
In 2013, selected for the annual best books list of the online resource "Book Guide," with the winning work "School on a Matchbox" (or "Ice Cream Cone").
In 2013, longlisted for the "Golden Ladybug" Literary Award, with the winning work "School on a Matchbox" (or "Ice Cream Cone").
In 2014, received the International White Raven Award, with the winning work "School on a Matchbox" (or "Ice Cream Cone").
In 2014, received the Krapivin International Book Memorial Award (Special Prize), with the winning work "School on a Matchbox" (or "Ice Cream Cone").
In 2014, received the Russian Children's Library Best Book Award, with the winning work "School on a Matchbox" (or "Ice Cream Cone").
In 2018, received the International White Raven Award, with the winning work "Look! The Lighthouse."
In 2018, received the Best "Fairy Tale Novel" Award at the All-Russian Children's Book Festival, with the winning work "Look! The Lighthouse."
In 2024, the author was included in the IBBY Honor List for the work "The Black New Coat."