The Best Children’s Books

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Editors: Agnes Vogt, Dick Broer from Translation: Laura Watkinson Design: Philip Stroomberg Printing: Zwaan Printmedia Holland Joke van Leeuwen Somewhere

Joke van Leeuwen performs in cabaret and theatre shows, writes and illustrates stories and poems for children, and Picture also prose and poetry for adults. In her work, which has received many awards and has been translated into more than twenty languages, she champions the uninhibited way that children look at the 2016 world and speaks out against repression 48 pages and narrow-mindedness. In her most Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: recent picture book, Somewhere, [email protected] books she demonstrates once again that high-quality literature need not be inaccessible. This philosophical graphic novel is about a mountaineer who falls into another world, where everything is put into question.

Annemarie van Haeringen Little Snow White Knits a Monster A charming story with monsters and fairy-tale elements. Snow White the goat is happily knitting away, but then animals begin to fall from her knitting needles. Cuddly little goat kids are lovely, but when a wolf appears and gobbles down Mrs Sheep, Snow White 2014 has to knit up an even more dangerous 32 pages creature to deal with the wolf. Leopold, Luciënne van der Leije: Annemarie van Haeringen, three- [email protected] time winner of the award for the best illustrated children’s book of the year, Translations has created a book about the power of Chinese (Shandong Education Press), the imagination, with the comforting German (Freies Geistesleben), Japanese message that whatever you make up, (BL Publishing), Danish (Turbine) you can also undo. Sieb Posthuma Wouter van Reek The Big Rintje Coppernickel Read-Aloud Book Sieb Posthuma’s art is instantly Wouter van Reek’s Coppernickel began recognisable: his illustrations are always life on TV and moved into picture books stylised, brightly coloured and gently in 2005. Coppernickel Goes Mondrian is humorous. As a creator of children’s the sixth title in the series. Coppernickel books, Posthuma first became known and his faithful companion, Tungsten, for his stories about Rintje, his fox go on a journey through a world made terrier. Rintje was the alter ego of his up entirely of Mondrian colours, as young self, a child approaching the 2014 the artist’s famous paintings come 2011 world with an open mind and enjoying 248 pages to life. This title is part of a series 32 pages safe, child-sized adventures. The ink Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: of art picture books published by Leopold, Luciënne van der Leije: and Ecoline illustrations that Posthuma [email protected] Leopold in collaboration with the [email protected] made to accompany those stories are Gemeentemuseum in . Each packed with fun doggy details. This Translations title is based on an exhibition, ranging Translations book brings together Rintje’s best Arabic (Mahrosa), Chinese (Shanghai 99), from Coco Chanel to Delft blue and Chinese (PHEI), French (Bayard), adventures. With over 100 stories English (Gecko Press), German (Boje), dolls’ houses, from Karel Appel to Egon English (Enchanted Lion), German featuring many familiar events, it’s a Japanese (World Library) Schiele. (Gerstenberg) and 5 other languages book to read aloud every day.

Ted van Lieshout Thé Tjong Khing & Philip Hopman Where Is the Cake? Farmer Boris An enchanting series about a very Thé Tjong-Khing is one of Holland’s young farmer. Boris is just a tiny tot, best-known illustrators of children’s but he lives on a farm and drives the books and was awarded the prestigious tractor like a professional. Along with Max Velthuijs Prize for his rich oeuvre. his animals, he has all kinds of little Where Is the Cake? was his first rhyming adventures, which author and wordless picture book, proving that poet Ted van Lieshout has captured in his pictures don’t need words to tell a a rhythm that’s great fun to read aloud. 2013 story. This successful book was the first 2004 This appealing little farmer has become 24 pages in a series of four titles with plenty of 32 pages the protagonist of a very popular Gottmer, Ingrid van der Mooren: fun and interesting details to find. The Lannoo, Liesbeth De Bruyne: series, with the ninth book currently in [email protected] latest one, Art with Cake, is an ode to [email protected] production. Van Lieshout works closely the artistic imagination, parodying Thé together with illustrator Philip Hopman, Translations Tjong-Khing’s own art and the work of Translations who has created Boris’s world in gentle German (Annette Betz), Danish (Turbine) great artists such as Van Gogh, Braque, English (Harry N. Abrams), German watercolours and bright acrylics. Hokusai and Dalí. (Moritz), and 10 other languages

Gideon Samson Island Days

“Island Days is a book that will remain.” VersTwee

Up to 12 Jakob goes to stay with his dad, in Greece, even though he hasn’t seen him for four years. At first he hides in bed, but then he makes friends with Michális. When Michális’s girlfriend turns up, 2016 the three of them become close. Until 166 pages

things go too far... Island Days evolves Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: from a gentle book about a summer [email protected] years holiday into an intense story that lingers

with the reader for a long time. As he Rights sold did in Black Swan, Gideon Samson German (Gerstenberg) writes incisively about children facing the consequences of their actions. Sjoerd Kuyper The Big L Hotel

“A riotous rollercoaster ride through adversity, love and happiness.” Het Parool

Kos lives with his dad and three sisters in a hotel, but the business is going bankrupt. Then his dad has a heart attack – and Kos tries to keep the hotel 2014 afloat. In an attempt to solve the hotel’s 228 pages financial problems, Kos disguises Lemniscaat, Sacha Duijvestein: himself as a girl and enters the local [email protected] beauty contest... It’s a hilarious read, but ultimately the book is all about Rights sold honesty, loving one another and daring English (Lemniscaat USA), German to be yourself. (Thienemann-Gabriel), French (Didier), Sjoerd Kuyper has written more than Korean (Saenggakui Jip), Slovene (Zala), fifty children’s books, lyrics for musicals Turkish (Kırmızı Kedi Yayınları) and scripts for films and has won many prizes.

Simon van der Geest Toon Tellegen Sputterfly Everyone Was There

“Sputterfly may well become many “Toon Tellegen’s short stories are a children’s favourite book.” source of endless pleasure.” NRC Handelsblad Die Zeit

What Hidde likes best is spending time Tellegen’s philosophical animal stories in his secret cellar with his insects. But are written in a simple yet sparkling tone. then his brother threatens to take his They are about Squirrel, Ant, Elephant cellar, and a battle ensues. The story 2012 and their fellow creatures, whose lives 2009 behind Hidde and his cellar is a sad one, Illustrations by Karst-Janneke Rogaar glide along, apparently without meaning, 380 pages (7 collections)

but Simon van der Geest succeeds in 232 pages in an impossible environment: all of them Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: keeping the tone light, with amusing Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: are the same size and each is the only [email protected] cartoon-style illustrations and a [email protected] one of its kind. Everyone lives together

smooth narrative style in the form of in harmony. Everything is possible and Translations a diary. Simon van der Geest won his Translations there are no obligations. For anyone who English (Boxer, Gecko), French (La joie first forDissus (2010), a Danish (Turbine), German (Thienemann), wants to be delighted and amazed: read de lire), German (Hanser, Gerstenberg), vibrant adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey. French (La Joie de Lire), Polish (Format) a story a day. Spanish and 12 other languages Bibi Dumon Tak Marjolijn Hof Winter Animals Against the Odds

“Written with so much love that it “A moving recognisable story that’s warms your heart” both tragic and easy to digest.” Leesgoed De Standaard

Bibi Dumon Tak writes outstanding Kiek’s father is a doctor overseas. She’s literary non-fiction for children. In worried about him, but her mum says Winter Animals, she whisks you away he’ll be fine. After all, how many children to the most remote areas of our world. 2011 does Kiek know with dead dads? Having 2006 After a snappy introduction to the North Illustrations by Martijn van der Linden a dead dog plus a dead mouse plus 96 pages and South Poles, Dumon Tak discusses 135 pages a dead dad is even more unlikely. So Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: the lives of 23 polar residents and their Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: Kiek decides she needs a dead dog [email protected] ingenious anti-freeze systems and tricks [email protected] and a dead mouse, to improve the for surviving the cold. odds. Marjolijn Hof develops this idea in Translations Dumon Tak provides a great deal of Translations hilarious scenes, without ever making German (Bloomsbury Berlin), English information in her visual, poetic and German (Bloomsbury Berlin), Korean fun of Kiek’s anxiety. Her language is (Groundwood), French (Seuil), Japanese light-hearted writing, with Martijn van (Woongjin Publishing) polished and lively, her dialogues direct (Shogakukan), Korean, Norwegian, Polish, der Linden’s icy blue winter illustrations and disarming, her observations always Portuguese, Slovene, Turkish, Catalan, lending excellent support. spot on. Icelandic, Italian Edward van de Vendel Oliver

“Oliver succeeds in accurately capturing many facets of an adolescent’s life.” 12 years De Standaard Sixteen-year-old Oliver makes his debut as a goalkeeper for Gjøvik FF, and his family falls apart – all on the same day. Oliver tries to keep his cool, 2015 but eventually he has to confront the 220 pages situation, with the help and support Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: of Bendik, his cousin and best friend. [email protected] and up Oliver’s homosexuality, his confusion and his fantasies, are all part of his transition to adulthood. Oliver can be read as a stand-alone title, as a prequel to The Days of Bluegrass Love (1999) and a sequel to Our Third Body (2006).

Gideon Samson Washed Away

A gripping YA novel based on the true story of a survivor of the 2004 Asian tsunami.

11 July, 2010. Pieter (23) is watching the World Cup final when he gets a Facebook friendship request from Elin, a Swedish girl. This catapults him back 2014 to Sri Lanka, five and a half years ago, 176 pages when he spent the best Christmas Eve Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: of his life with her, on the beach, in the [email protected] waves. The next morning, that same sea engulfed coastal areas across Asia. Translations Gideon Samson has won two Zilveren German (Gerstenberg), Danish (Turbine) Griffels, for Sick (2009) and Black Swan (2012). Anna Woltz Rindert Kromhout A Hundred Hours Soldiers Don’t Cry of Night A thrilling novel about a group of In a light and enjoyable style, Rindert young people who overcome their Kromhout has written a story about big fears as Hurricane Sandy hits New York themes such as fear, sorrow and love.

Emilia flies to New York when it comes Quentin Bell recalls his childhood with out that her father, also her school his brother Julian, growing up as the headmaster, has sent inappropriate text sons of art critic Clive Bell and his artist messages to a girl at school. Soon after 2014 wife, Vanessa, the sister of Virginia 2009 Emilia arrives in America, Hurricane 216 pages Woolf. The boys develop in opposite 266 pages Sandy hits New York. During the Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: directions: while Quentin hangs on his Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: subsequent power failure, Emilia and [email protected] aunt’s every word and dreams of a life as [email protected] her friends, beyond the reach of both a writer, Julian becomes fascinated by Twitter and their parents, are forced to Translations communism and eventually fights – and Translations rely on one another. They find out what English (Arthur Levine/Scholastic USA), dies – in the Spanish Civil War. In vivid, German (Mixtvision), Spanish (Ediciones it really means to connect and to feel German (Carlsen), Hungarian (Pagony), captivating prose, Kromhout offers a SM), Turkish (Galata) united. Japanese (Froebel-kan), Danish (Turbine) peek into the lives of the celebrated Bloomsbury Group.

Jan Paul Schutten Benny Lindelauf & Floor Rieder Nine Open Arms The Mystery of Life

The Mystery of Life is the ultimate In August 1937, nine people – father, non-fiction book for children, with its grandmother, four sons and three subtle balance of facts, illustrations daughters – move to a new house, and imagination that make the outside the safe walls of the city. invisible visible. The book has three parts, each with its Jan Paul Schutten provides an energetic, own tone and rhythm. The first is an light-hearted and clear account of 2013 account of the family and their grim 2004 the story of evolution. Floor Rieder’s 160 pages circumstances. Part two involves the 250 pages fabulous illustrations sometimes clarify Gottmer, Ingrid van der Mooren: house and a tragic love story. Part Querido, Luciënne van der Leije: the text and sometimes add humour. [email protected] three shows how past and present [email protected] Jan Paul Schutten, the Dutch king of are intimately connected. Lindelauf non-fiction for young readers, has Translations explores the meaning of truth in his Translations written over 35 books. Floor Rieder Chinese (Cite), German (Gerstenberg), clever and distinctive style. Nine Open (Protea), German (Bloomsbury made her debut with this book. Their English (Beyond Words), French (L’école Arms is written with great warmth, Berlin), English (Allen & Unwin), French latest co-production is The Marvel of des loisirs), Italian, Norwegian, Polish, infectious humour and beautiful (Gallimard), Italian (San Paolo), Korean You, this time about the workings of the Russian, Spanish language. (Changbi), Czech (Albatros) human body. This is what we share A few highlights from the past decade

In celebration of the Dutch–Flemish 2006 2015 Schwerpunkt at the 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair, Dolf Verroen wins the To celebrate Miffy’s Jugendliteraturpreis for sixtieth birthday, we are proud to present a number of the Wie schön weiß ich bin. the Rijksmuseum best Dutch children’s books of the past ten Ten years later, he writes presents an years. This is obviously a limited selection the Dutch Children’s exhibition of the work of Book Week gift book illustrator and graphic and the information about them is very brief, (print run: 400,000), designer Dick Bruna. but we hope they will whet your appetite. which is also published in German to coincide with the Frankfurt Book 2016 You can find much more about these and Fair 2016: Krieg und Annie MG Schmidt’s other books, for children and for adults, on Freundschaft. Minoes is published in its 29th translation, our website: www.letterenfonds.nl reaffirming its status as the most widely And of course, we’d be happy to talk to you 2010 translated Dutch Ronald and Marije children’s fiction title. about them in person. Here and now, in Tolman win the Bologna Frankfurt, or later, somewhere else in the Ragazzi Award for The ‘Miffy’ books are world: Willkommen! The Tree House. the most frequently translated Dutch picture books (published in over 50 languages), while for 2012 non-fiction titles,The Children’s books and YA Fiction in Brasil, China, Japan Guus Kuijer wins the Diary of a Young Girl Agnes Vogt Tiziano Perez Astrid Lindgren Memorial by Anne Frank has that [email protected] [email protected] Award for his oeuvre. honour (published in over 70 languages). Non-fiction Fiction in Germany, Israel, Scandinavia, Mireille Berman South Africa, UK and US [email protected] Victor Schiferli [email protected] 2013 Poetry and Fiction in the Arab World by Thomas Möhlmann Fiction in Eastern and Central Europe, Tonke Dragt (a bestseller [email protected] France, , Latin America & Spain, ever since its publication Russia in 1962) is finally Graphic novels Barbara den Ouden published in English, Barbara den Ouden [email protected] to wide acclaim from the [email protected] British press.