The Kaminski kids
The Kaminski-Kids are a German-language children's and youth book series written by Carlo Meier together with his three children Sidi, Anuschka and Saskia . All volumes have so far been published by Fontis-Verlag in Basel (formerly Brunnen Basel).
Emergence
In 1999 the first volume was published. The series received various awards, including the SRG Idée Suisse Prize. Sixteen episodes had appeared by 2014. Each volume deals with a current social topic of children and young people (e.g. dangers on the Internet, youth violence, bullying, foster children, drugs) and is researched by experts and the criminal police.
The Kaminski Kids books are translated into several languages and recommended by youth organizations as being educationally useful. They are used in schools for projects on addiction and violence prevention.
The volumes are written as a loose sequel story. Additional characters can appear again and again in different volumes. The volumes can also be read individually; it is not necessary to start with volume 1.
Lisa Gangwisch was the illustrator up to and including volume 14. In 2013 she had to retire for health reasons and handed over the post to Matthias Leutwyler.
The figures have biblical names. The figure of the grandfather repeatedly poses life-world and ethical inquiries through explanations and stories in a supposedly biblical context. The volumes in the series have a moralizing and, in the interpretation of biblical tradition, a non-scientific character.
Characters
Simon Kaminski
Simon is 15 years old and the oldest of the three siblings. His hobbies are playing football, strolling in the woods, biking and rollerblading and in winter snowboarding. His favorite food is chicken and fries and his favorite school subject is exercise. His best friend becomes Loko in the second volume.
Debora Kaminski
Debora is 13 years old and loves horses, as well as Zwockel and her family. Her foster horse is called Fanny and is a black Friesian mare with curly curls. Her best friend is Suila, Loko's sister. Her hobbies are baking, preferably cake, and reading. Her favorite food is french fries and her favorite subjects are music and geometry.
Raffaela "Raffi" Kaminski
The youngest of the three siblings is Raffaela and 9 years old. Mostly she is only called with her nickname Raffi. Her friend's name is Nina and lives in the house next door to Villa Kunterbunt. Her hobbies are hide and seek, play the guitar, learn songs and chords and play Zwockel with the dog. At school she loves painting and drawing, and her favorite food is pizza Hawaii with lots of pineapple pieces.
Zwockel
Zwockel, the dog of the Kaminski family, is a Collie and was born with two brothers (Romeo and Zico) at the host of the Adler Gasthaus, Mr. Pollmeier. His mother's name is Elsie. The name Zwockel is a suitcase word because the kids couldn't agree. Debora wanted to name the dog "Jockel" and Raffi "dwarf" because it was still so small. So Grandpa Kaminski suggested using a mixture of “dwarf” and “Jockel”: just “Zwockel”! Zwockel has a white spot on his forehead, a super good nose and a fluffy soft fur. He's a great buddy and always there when the kids are on the move. You can always rely on him - even when things get really tricky!
Volumes
The following volumes have been published so far:
Volume 1: Handover at three in the morning , published in 1999.
The three Kaminski kids are secretly rummaging around in the new housemaid's room. In doing so, they make an exciting discovery: on a piece of paper with a sketch of their house it says “three o'clock in the morning”. What is this notice supposed to mean and for whom is it intended? Since they cannot confide in their parents, they follow the clue that also leads them to the nearby town. At the same time, a puppy is to be killed on the “Adler-Hof” because no buyer has been found for him.
Volume 2: Mega Zoff , published in 2000.
Loko is the strongest in the whole school. He blackmailed Raffi and asked her to steal something for him in the store. What is she supposed to do? She knows neither on nor off. When her siblings Simon and Debora find out, they try to get Raffi out of a tight spot. But the situation is getting worse. Mysterious crimes are piling up in the area. Who is it? The Kaminski kids discover a hot lead with the help of their dog.
Volume 3: Hart auf Hart , published in 2001.
Volume 4: Under Suspicion , published in 2002.
Volume 5: Auf der Flucht , published in 2003
At the snow-covered holiday resort of their snowboard camp, the Kaminski kids get to know two young people, the siblings Antje and Mark. They look cool on the outside, but it soon becomes clear that the two are in serious trouble. The Kaminski kids try to help them, but get caught between the fronts themselves and have to pile up with their collie dog. On the run through snow and ice, they find shelter in a lonely mountain hut. But they are also discovered there.
Volume 6: In der Fall , published in 2004
Very exciting: The Kaminski kids make friends with the two children of a traveling circus, Nando and Carmen Bellini, who stop in their area. But when the clock collection of farmer Heinemann is stolen in the village, suspicions fall on the people from the circus. The situation came to a head when the police discovered some of the stolen goods in the circus. But also Mirko, Jens and Ergün, who call themselves Banfits, and Julia, the mayor's daughter, were seen at the crime scene. In order to prove the innocence of their new friends, the Kaminski kids see only one way out: They try to find the real culprit on their own. But in doing so, they fall into a dangerous trap.
Volume 7: On the Hot Track , published in 2005
Volume 8: Decision in the Park , published in 2006
Volume 9: Danger in Amsterdam , publication 2007 Hardly arrived in Amsterdam on vacation with their friends Mark and Antje, when an earlier case catches up with the Kaminski kids. In a race against time, a gripping search begins in the picturesque streets of the city. What Simon, Debora and Raffi don't know: The Amsterdam drug squad is also involved in the case. The kids unintentionally get in the way of the police work - and it gets dangerous.
Volume 10: Invisible Witness , published in 2008
Volume 11: Robbery at Night , published in 2009
Volume 12: The Secret of Marrakech , Publication 2010
The Kaminski kids visit their aunt Liliane in Morocco with their parents, but without their dog Zwockel. She works there for Terre des Hommes, an aid organization that campaigns for children's rights. As soon as they arrive in Marrakech, the kids get to know the girl Saida and the boy Abdel in the narrow streets. When an abandoned baby is found on the street outside their door, they try to track down its mother. But in the process they come across a dark secret and someone wants to prevent it from being revealed at all costs. A dangerous case for the Kaminski kids.
Volume 13: Disappeared without a trace , published in 2011
Volume 14: Dangerous Game , published 2012
Debora's friend Suila is the victim of an attack on the Internet: someone spreads embarrassing things under her name on a fake Facebook page. Among other things, the farmer Heinemann is accused of cruelty to animals, which Suila then forbids riding. Julia, the mayor's daughter, gets involved more and more with a stranger in the chat until they meet in the park. At the same time there is a series of crimes going on in the area, all of which have to do with animal welfare. The Kaminski kids come across a computer game at Jens that is about the same deeds. But Phillip, who works at Bauer Heinemann, also show a great interest in animal welfare. And what does Tim have to do with the matter? Inexorably, the whole thing becomes an extremely dangerous game.
Volume 15: In the Cologne dungeon , published in 2013
During a guided tour through film studios in Cologne, it happens: After the shoot, an actor remains motionless on the floor. Suddenly the power goes out and all doors are locked. The Kaminski kids are locked in the film studio with their grandfather and their dog Zwockel, along with visitors, the TV makers and - the perpetrator. Inspector Lindfeld gives instructions from outside, and the kids try to help him clear up the case. But the situation is getting worse. A boy with long black hair keeps an eye on Debora and chases after her. Despite everything, the kids are getting closer and closer to the perpetrator. But the closer you get to it, the more dangerous it becomes for you.
Special volume: The big Christmas fall , published in 2013 The auditorium in the school building is damaged in the event of a break-in. Where should the Christmas musical now be performed? And who is behind the attack? The suspicion falls on two boys: Mirko, who is on leave, and Manuel, the foster boy of the Kaminski family. The kids try to prove Manuel's innocence in the Christmas lights of their snow-covered town. But that's more difficult than expected.
Volume 16: Hit and Run , Publication 2014
Maik is hit on the street. The driver accelerates and disappears undetected - hit and run. The Kaminski kids get to know Maik during a visit to Franziska's in town. The boy is already in a wheelchair because of the accident. The question of who drove the car does not leave him in peace. At his request, the kids open the case again. And they soon come across an important lead. Will they manage to find the culprit?
Special volume: The Second Christmas Fall , published in 2015
Volume 17: The Selfie Cheater , 2016 release
Volume 18: The riddle in the castle , published in 2017
Radio plays
The following radio plays have been released so far:
- Vol 1. The Kaminski Kids: Mega Zoff. Brunnen Verlag, Basel / Gießen, 2006
- Vol 2. The Kaminski Kids: Hard on hard. Brunnen Verlag, Basel / Gießen, 2006
- Vol 3. The Kaminski Kids: Under Suspicion. Brunnen Verlag, Basel / Gießen, 2008
- Vol 4. The Kaminski-Kids: On the run. Brunnen Verlag, Basel / Gießen, 2010
- Vol 5. The Kaminski Kids: Trapped. Brunnen Verlag, Basel / Gießen, 2013
- Vol 6. The Kaminski-Kids: On the hot track. Brunnen Verlag, Basel / Gießen, 2014
Other radio plays have appeared in Swiss dialect .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.carlomeier.ch/buecherliste.html , accessed on October 5, 2014
- ↑ http://www.carlomeier.ch/hoerspiele-hochdeutsch-list.html , accessed on October 5, 2014