The Little Yellow Umbrella, to me, feels like that “dot.”
That is, those dots that come toward us, influence us, and shape who we are—
the dots we must rely on throughout our journey.
It comes, and then it leaves,
so that we may continue to search for the next little yellow umbrella.
Because of it, I too can keep moving forward.
Author | Tomáš Řízek
Born in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, Tomáš Řízek is a renowned contemporary Czech painter, illustrator, graphic designer, and publisher. In 2023, he received the Gratias Agit Award from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His picture books are colorful and vivid, with brushstrokes that are at times delicate, at times bold. He has illustrated more than 70 children’s books, including classics familiar to all such as Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and Goldilocks.
He has collaborated with publishers worldwide, including Taiwan’s Grimm Press and Hsinyi Publishing, Switzerland’s Bohem Press, France’s Gründ, as well as the Czech publishers Albatros Media, Baset, and Mi:Lu Publishing. His works have been highly praised internationally, earning him numerous awards such as the Italian Andersen Prize, the Japan Ōshima Museum Picture Book Award, the Golden Ribbon Award, and recognition in the Excellent Extracurricular Reading Selections for Primary and Secondary School Students (Picture Book Category).
Řízek’s artistic style was shaped under the guidance of Czech painter and graphic designer Jaroslav Klápště, and further influenced by his study of classical masterpieces. Later, he was drawn to illustration for children and young adults, and devoted himself fully to the field.
He is currently teaching courses in painting—such as tempera and drawing—at the Division of Continuing Education of Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, nurturing a new generation of picture book creators.
In 2014, he founded Mi:Lu Publishing in the Czech Republic, which began producing Czech translations of Taiwanese literature. That same year, he published the Czech edition of Liu Kexiang’s The View of the Flying Squirrel. Since then, he has translated and published nearly 20 works of Taiwanese literature into Czech, including those by Wu Ming-yi, Yang Mu, Yi-ge Yan, Liao Hung-chi, and Syaman Rapongan.
In 2017, he established a Taiwan branch, Mi:Lu Multimedia Co., Ltd., publishing children’s picture books, organizing exhibitions, storytelling events, and art workshops. His goal is to build a cultural bridge between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, allowing readers in both countries to rediscover familiar stories through each other’s cultural lens.
Instagram: tomas.rizek
Website: www.rizek-tomas.cz
The Little Yellow Umbrella
Malý žlutý deštník
作者：湯瑪士．瑞杰可(Tomáš Řízek)
譯者：張先瑄, 林蒔慧
出版社：麋鹿出版
出版日期：2021/01/22
ISBN：9789869730730
規格：精裝 / 32頁 / 23 x 23 x 0.8 cm / 全彩印刷
Rights Inquiry + Manuscript Request:
Violet Lai: violet@leeslit.com
