Hayat Apartmanı
Hayat Apartmanı is a warm and heart lifting story of friendship, sharing, and the unexpected magic of community life. Through the wide eyed gaze of a young boy named Mehmet, we are welcomed into an old apartment building in Istanbul where every floor holds a different world. There is Muhammet, who dreams of football glory; Sinan, a quiet chess master; Necla Nine and Hayri Dede, who have a century of memories between them; and Caroline Teyze, who has an uncanny talent for choosing the perfect gift. Their stories intertwine in small, quiet moments — a shared meal, a whispered secret, a helping hand — showing that a real neighbourhood is less a collection of flats and more an extended family. But when a mysterious new neighbour moves into the sixth floor, Mehmet’s chance encounter sets in motion a chain of surprises that will change not only his own life, but the story of the whole apartment.
Written by Özge Lokmanhekim and illustrated by Başak İşbilir, Hayat Apartmanı was published by Fom Kitap in January 2025. The story draws deeply on the author’s own childhood years in Istanbul and her time living in the historic Simotas Building in Kuzguncuk, where neighbourly bonds and small scale kindnesses shaped her own understanding of what it means to belong. In an age of digital isolation, where urban life often thins the ties between people, Lokmanhekim’s tale is a gentle reminder of how much we still need one another — for empathy, for support, for the simple joy of being part of something larger than ourselves. The book weaves together the old and the new, blending local Turkish flavours with universal values of tolerance and cooperation.
At its heart, Hayat Apartmanı celebrates diversity as a quiet treasure. Every character carries habits, viewpoints and life stories that are uniquely their own, yet it is precisely these differences that make the community richer. Young readers are gently encouraged to observe, to question, and to put themselves in another’s shoes — learning that disagreements are not obstacles but opportunities for growth. With lively illustrations and a tender narrative voice, this 32 page picture book is ideally suited for children aged 6–8. It is a perfect choice for parents and educators seeking to nurture emotional intelligence and social awareness through a story that is as entertaining as it is nourishing.
Bostan Korkuluğu
From the heart of contemporary Turkish literature comes Bostan Korkuluğu (The Scarecrow), a delightful and wise children’s book by the award-winning Turkish author and poet Salim Nizam. Known in his homeland as the “new Ömer Seyfettin” for his masterful storytelling, Nizam brings his characteristic warmth, intelligence, and deep understanding of rural life to this enchanting tale. The story follows the brave and clever scarecrow tasked with protecting the fields, who one day spots three suspicious men wandering around his village. What begins as a simple duty soon unfolds into an engaging adventure, teaching young readers timeless lessons about courage, vigilance, and the quiet heroism found in everyday life.
Nizam draws richly from his own childhood in the village of Paşaçiftlik in Gönen, Balıkesir, where he was born in 1970. The son of a storyteller mother and a father who sang folk songs, he grew up listening to the tales and traditions that would later fill his award-winning stories. A graduate of Turkish Language Teaching and Turkish Language and Literature, Nizam has won numerous national literary awards, including first prize in the prestigious Ömer Seyfettin Story Competition for his work Köy Saatçisi (The Village Watchmaker). His novel Ben Gönen’de Doğdum (I Was Born in Gönen) was selected as the Best Novel of the Year at the 2022 ESKADER Culture and Art Awards. With Bostan Korkuluğu, part of his “Gizemli Maceralar Serisi” (Mysterious Adventures Series), he brings his signature blend of mystery, morality, and Anatolian charm to young readers.
Published by Semerkand Çocuk Yayınları, this 72-page Turkish-language edition is ideally suited for children aged 6 to 8. Its accessible prose, brisk pacing, and gentle suspense make it a perfect introduction to literary reading. More than just a mystery, Bostan Korkuluğu is a celebration of responsibility, community, and the courage to act when something seems amiss. It is an ideal choice for parents and educators seeking to enrich a child’s library with a story that is both entertaining and morally nourishing, offering a window into the timeless storytelling traditions of Turkey.