A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha

A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha is a Ukrainian publishing house founded in 1992 by Ivan Malkovych. It was established during the early years of independent Ukraine and became the country's first private publisher focused on children's books. The company initially concentrated on books for young readers, but later expanded its catalogue to serve a broader readership. Its name comes from a syllabic reading phrase in Ivan Franko's short story "Hrytseva shkilna nauka" ("Hryts's Schooling"). In the story, the phrase is used as part of a child's learning to read; its literal wording refers to a grandmother who talks excessively. The unusual name has become one of the publisher's most recognizable brand assets. The publishing house's first title was The Ukrainian Alphabet, released in July 1992. Malkovych has described the project as beginning with the idea of an alphabet book whose first word would be "Angel," rather than a conventional object such as a bus or a shark. This emphasis on literary language, visual presentation, and Ukrainian cultural references became characteristic of the house's early identity. Its children's catalogue has included original Ukrainian works, reissues of important Ukrainian authors, and translations of international literature. A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha achieved an early international rights milestone in 1995, when New York publisher Alfred A. Knopf acquired rights to its children's book The Kitten and the Rooster. This was reported as the first time a major Western publishing house had shown such interest in a book from a Ukrainian publisher. The company also developed a presence in the Russian market after success at the Moscow International Book Fair in 2001; a Moscow branch was established in 2004, and Russian-language editions were produced for distribution outside Ukraine. From 2008 onward, the publisher broadened its programme beyond children's literature. One notable example was a new Ukrainian translation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet by Yuriy Andrukhovych, published in 2008. The edition received the Grand Prix in the Best Book competition associated with the Lviv Publishers' Forum. The house has worked with a range of Ukrainian writers, poets, translators, and illustrators, including Yuriy Andrukhovych, Mykola Vinhranovsky, Lina Kostenko, Sashko Dermansky, Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko, Andriy Kokotiukha, Vsevolod Nestayko, Dmytro Pavlychko, Volodymyr Rutkivskyi, Oleksandr Havrosh, and Yuriy Vynnychuk. The publisher has also issued translations and adapted works by foreign authors. Translators associated with its books include Yuriy Andrukhovych, Viktor Morozov, Roman Osadchuk, Yevhen Popovych, Yuriy Vynnychuk, and Valentyn Kornienko. Among the cited translation projects is the English version of Honey for Mom by Ivan Malkovych and Sofia Us, translated by Mrs. Yushchenko. According to the referenced encyclopedia material, A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha has published more than 100 titles with aggregate circulation exceeding four million copies and has licensed rights to publishers in 19 foreign countries. These figures are historical claims rather than current operating disclosures. The house remains identified primarily with carefully produced Ukrainian children's and family books, while its wider list includes literary classics, contemporary Ukrainian writing, poetry, and translations. Malkovych has served as founder, director, and chief editor, maintaining close involvement in the process from manuscript selection through final printing.

A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha was founded in 1992 by Ivan Malkovych as Ukraine's first private publishing house dedicated to children's books. Its founding coincided with the emergence of independent Ukraine and reflected an effort to create attractive Ukrainian-language reading material for children. The first publication, The Ukrainian Alphabet, appeared in July 1992. The house's name was taken from a phrase in Ivan Franko's short story Hrytseva shkilna nauka, where the expression is used in a syllabic reading exercise. The publisher built its identity around Ukrainian language, literature, illustration, and books intended for shared family reading. Malkovych has been described as the founder, director, and principal editor, with direct involvement in manuscripts, editorial decisions, and production. The catalogue included works by Ukrainian authors as well as translations of international literature. In 1995, Alfred A. Knopf acquired rights to The Kitten and the Rooster. This deal was an important early example of international interest in a Ukrainian children's title. The company later expanded its regional activity after participating successfully in the Moscow International Book Fair in 2001. A branch in Moscow opened in 2004, and Russian-language editions were produced for markets outside Ukraine. The publishing programme broadened in 2008, when the house began publishing for a wider readership rather than limiting itself to children's books. Its publication of Yuriy Andrukhovych's new Ukrainian translation of Hamlet demonstrated this expanded literary scope. The edition won the Grand Prix in the Best Book competition associated with the Lviv Publishers' Forum. The publisher's author and translator network has included major Ukrainian literary figures and specialists in translated literature. Reported authors include Mykola Vinhranovsky, Lina Kostenko, Vsevolod Nestayko, Dmytro Pavlychko, Volodymyr Rutkivskyi, Sashko Dermansky, Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko, Andriy Kokotiukha, Oleksandr Havrosh, and Yuriy Vynnychuk, alongside Yuriy Andrukhovych. Translators connected with the list include Viktor Morozov, Roman Osadchuk, Yevhen Popovych, Valentyn Kornienko, and others. Historical reference material states that the house published more than 100 titles with total circulation above four million copies and sold rights in 19 foreign countries. The publisher has also been associated with a reported attempted raid on its office in November 2011, an allegation attributed to Malkovych rather than a confirmed judicial finding. Current financial performance, ownership structure beyond Malkovych's reported control, employee numbers, and present distribution footprint are not established by the supplied sources.

1. 2011Reported attempted raid

   Ivan Malkovych reported an alleged attempted raid on the publishing house's office in November.

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2. 2008Expansion to broader readership

   The publishing programme expanded beyond children's books, including a new Ukrainian translation of Hamlet.

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3. 2004Moscow branch established

   A branch office was opened in Moscow, with Russian-language books intended for distribution outside Ukraine.

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4. 2001Success at the Moscow International Book Fair

   The publisher's reported success at the fair preceded its expansion into the Russian market.

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5. 1995First cited major Western rights deal

   Alfred A. Knopf acquired publication rights to The Kitten and the Rooster.

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6. 1992Publishing house founded

   Ivan Malkovych founded A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha as a private Ukrainian children's publisher.

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7. 1992The Ukrainian Alphabet is published

   The publisher released its first title, The Ukrainian Alphabet, in July.

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A culturally rooted Ukrainian publisher combining children's publishing, high-quality illustration, Ukrainian literary heritage, and selected international translations. The brand is positioned around books that can appeal to both children and adults, with an emphasis on language, literary quality, and durable family reading.

• The Ukrainian AlphabetEarly-learning children's book1992

  The publisher's first title, released in July 1992. It was conceived as an alphabet book with a deliberately literary and culturally resonant opening centered on the word "Angel," rather than a routine object-based sequence.

• The Kitten and the RoosterChildren's picture book

  A children's title whose publication rights were acquired by Alfred A. Knopf in 1995. The transaction is cited as an early international rights success for a Ukrainian publishing house.

• HamletTranslated literary classic2008

  A 2008 Ukrainian translation of Shakespeare's tragedy by Yuriy Andrukhovych. Its publication represented the house's move into books for a wider readership and received the Grand Prix in the Best Book competition associated with the Lviv Publishers' Forum.

• Honey for MomChildren's book

  A children's work by Ivan Malkovych and Sofia Us associated with the publisher. The supplied reference material specifically notes an English translation by Mrs. Yushchenko.

• 2008Move beyond children's publishingStrategy

  After years of concentration on children's books, the publisher sought to address a wider readership.

  What changed. It published Yuriy Andrukhovych's new Ukrainian translation of Hamlet.

  Aftermath. The edition received the Grand Prix in the Best Book competition associated with the Lviv Publishers' Forum and became a prominent example of the expanded catalogue.

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• 2004Expansion into the Russian marketStrategy

  Following reported success at the 2001 Moscow International Book Fair, the publisher pursued a regional distribution and publishing presence.

  What changed. It established a Moscow branch and issued Russian-language books intended for markets outside Ukraine.

  Aftermath. The move broadened the publisher's regional reach, although the supplied material does not provide later performance or current status for the branch.

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• 1992Launch as a private children's publisherStrategy

  The company was created during the early period of independent Ukraine, when private Ukrainian-language publishing was developing.

  What changed. Malkovych established a publishing house centered initially on children's books and launched The Ukrainian Alphabet as its first title.

  Aftermath. The decision established the brand's long-term association with Ukrainian children's literature and early-learning books.

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• 2011Reported attempted raid on the publishing houseControversy

  Ivan Malkovych claimed that an attempted raid or forced seizure of the publisher's office occurred in November 2011. The available reference records the claim but provides no verified court outcome or independently established account of responsibility.

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• 2008New Ukrainian Hamlet translation wins a major book prize

  A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha published Yuriy Andrukhovych's new Ukrainian translation of Hamlet. The edition received the Grand Prix in the Best Book competition connected with the Lviv Publishers' Forum.

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• 2004A Moscow branch follows success at the Moscow International Book Fair

  After the publisher's reported success at the 2001 Moscow International Book Fair, it established a Moscow branch and began issuing Russian-language books intended for distribution outside Ukraine.

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• 1995Alfred A. Knopf acquires rights to The Kitten and the Rooster

  The New York publisher Alfred A. Knopf acquired publication rights to an A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha children's book, providing an early international recognition milestone for a Ukrainian private publisher.

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1. A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha
2. Official website