“The Poet and the Smell”: A Book That Opens the Door to the Wonderful World of Scents (trailer)

The book is written and illustrated by Lotte Vilma, a Latvian artist, poet, and comic book creator based in Riga. A graduate of the Latvian Academy of Arts and the Rosenthal Art School, Vilma is known for her signature style that blends sensitivity, simplicity, and gentle humor.

In this poetic story, the young poet finds a poem, or perhaps a cloud, or maybe the rain, right in her nose. From that moment, she begins to notice the rich, surprising world of smells all around her and begins to turn those experiences into verse.

Praised in professional circles, “The Poet and the Smell” won the Zelta Ābele Award in 2019 and the Jānis Baltvilks Prize for best illustrations in 2020.

Designed for children up to 6 years old, the book helps develop vocabulary, descriptive language, and emotional expression by encouraging kids to identify and talk about the scents they encounter. Smells are not just a sensory experience, they are tools for learning, memory, and imagination.

Vilma’s illustrations combine modern artistic techniques with a child’s way of seeing the world: the visuals are minimal yet expressive, simple yet meaningful.

One of the book’s most special features? It contains real aromas! Kids won’t just read about smells, they can actually experience them.

Parents and educators are encouraged to use the book as a conversation tool: after each page, ask the child what scents they noticed that day.

“The Poet and the Smell” was translated from Latvian into Armenian by Naira Khachatryan. The book will be officially presented on June 22, the second day of Newmag Summerfest, at 6:00 PM in Yeraz Park. Admission is free, and the book will be available for purchase at a special discount on the day of the event.