One day Jupiter got very angry and in his anger he just kept quiet. Vera asked him why he was angry, but what followed, was not ready to hear. Jupiter wanted to say a lot, but UGLY WORDS flew out of him like a volcanic explosion! Vera was very saddened by each of those words and since then she has not been friends with Jupiter.

This is a story about relationships which sometimes can be hurtful, bring unpleasant feelings and confusion. In such situations it’s difficult for us to find the right solutions. Vera and Jupiter gently take us on a journey into our inner universe, into our own depths and breadths to discover what is right and what is wrong in our behavior towards others, but also towards ourselves. They show us that it’s equally important to know how to set boundaries, but also to be able to accept an apology and forgive.

This verse story by young writer Lucija Veljavečki, enriched with her wonderful illustrations by Ana Kadoić, will show children how much strength and power magical words like “I’m sorry” have and encourage them to reflect on relationships that sometimes become difficult and sad. But it’s precisely in these moments that we must find a way from hurt to apology and forgiveness in order to reconnect with those who are important to us, whom we love and whom we don’t want to lose.

Author: Lucija Matučec Veljavečki
Lucija Matučec Veljavečki has a master’s degree in educational rehabilitation. Through volunteering and student practice, she discovered early intervention in childhood as an area of her interest. She worked with many early intervention centres and has a lot of experience working with children. She also has her own practice which provides professional support to families and children who have developmental difficulties or who have a risk factor for developmental deviations. Beside her valuable work, she loves to write children’s stories in rhyme and has published three picture books.

Illustrator: Ana Kadoić
Ana Kadoić was born in 1974. in Zagreb and graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts. She works in media of drawing, installation and multimedia, as well as illustration and animated movie for children, collaborating with publishers in Croatia and Netherlands. She has also published many picture book titles in her own edition.
Her illustration works were nominated and won many children’s book awards and recognitions.
She is a member of Croatian Association of Freelance Artists since 2003
So far, she has illustrated more than 30 picture books for children and has a recognizable soft and pastel style in which she combines different traditional and digital techniques.