1 Children’s from Holland

ederlands N letterenfonds dutch foundation for literature

Spring 2013 2 Children’s Books from Holland 3 Children’s Books from Holland

Everything was better in the old days? No, History is in good hands with Sieb Posthuma With his two Golden Paint Brush awards, Sieb Posthuma (b. 1960) is an Jan Paul Schutten absolutely not. Everything was so much Jan Paul Schutten (b. 1970). In his Sieb Posthuma is one of the top illustrators illustrator, theatrical designer and Kinderen van Amsterdam (Children author. He began his career with worse back then! ‘We were so poor that we Alexander Calder’s in the . His new picture of Amsterdam, 2007), which won illustrations for newspapers and had to drink our tea out of a rolled-up the Golden Slate Pencil, he Wonderful Wire about Alexander Calder reveals a different magazines, and went on to create book Is That All? newspaper!’ The famous Monty Python connected the city’s past to the true side to this extremely versatile artist. covers and children’s books. Posthuma sketch ‘Four Yorkshiremen’ was what stories of children from history. This A richly imaginative tribute to also designed the set and costumes for An excess of exaggeration in a story that’s inspired Jan Paul Schutten to create the approach allowed him to present Alexander Calder Alexander had a wire. He could use it to a Dutch National Ballet production of information that is educational and Coppelia. In 2009, he won the Golden packed with hilarity Is That All? Together with make anything he saw in his mind: an fun, without lecturing his readers. Paint Brush for Boven in een groene illustrator Kees de Boer, he has elevated Schutten’s books – on subjects umbrella for unexpected showers or a linde zat een moddervette haan (Up bragging to an art form. including not only history, but also bunch of wire-haired dogs. But how could in a Green Lime Tree Sat a Big, Fat plants and animals, food and people he make something that would move all Rooster). In 2012, he won the same Dirk’s three (yes, three!) grandpas, Albert, – are among the finest non-fiction by itself? Inspired by the life and work of award once again for the illustrations books in the Netherlands. The two he created to accompany Annie M.G. Cuthbert and Hubert, think their grand- Alexander Calder (1898–1976), Posthuma books presented here demonstrate Schmidt’s poems in Een vijver vol inkt son should be delighted with the rickety his great talent for fiction – and for has written and illustrated a book in praise (published in English as A Pond Full of old bicycle they’ve given him. When they humour! of the imagination. With one swift move- Ink, with translations by David Colmer). were young lads, they had to make do with ment, his pen captures the most amazing so much less. A bike with punctured tyres. Author and wonderful figures, which he highlights Author / Illustrator Jan Paul Schutten Sieb Posthuma No, a bike with wooden wheels. No, that using the bright colours of Calder’s later Illustrator Age 4+ was nothing: one of the grandpas had a Kees de Boer mobiles. Pages 32 bike that was just one rusty, square, Age 4+ Alexander Calder’s Wonderful Wire is Publisher Leopold wooden wheel! Pages 32 part of a series of picture books about art Contact Schutten and De Boer elaborate upon Publisher Gottmer produced by Leopold and the Gemeente- Dania van Dishoeck Contact [email protected] this fabulous idea with infectious glee. museum in The Hague. This successful Renée Ferment Both the story and the lavish illustrations [email protected] series differs from other art books for Posthuma is just as playful with his are delightfully and hilariously over the children because of its fictional element, writing pen as he is with his drawing top, as is only fitting. Jan Paul Schutten has ably which gives authors and illustrators the materials and he comes up with demonstrated that he can write opportunity to combine their own creative witty names for his weird and picture books too. JaapLeest.nl skills with those of the artist they admire. wonderful creatures. de Volkskrant

Rembrandt’s Night Watch is the number Sjoerd Kuyper & Last year, Sjoerd Kuyper won the Theo Sjoerd Kuyper (b. 1952) has written The Girl in the one attraction at the Rijksmuseum in Thijssen Prize for his body of work as a dozens of children’s books and won Marije Tolman many awards, including the Golden Amsterdam. But, when you take a good children’s author. His stories combine Golden Dress Slate Pencil for Robin and God, look at this painting, what do you actu- The Big Robin readability with literary skill and depth. and the Theo Thijssen Prize for his The story behind the most famous Dutch ally see? Hidden among all the fine oeuvre in 2012. As well as children’s painting of all – the ideal art education for gentlemen, there is a girl. The story that Three award-winning Robin books in ‘Kuyper’s stories are real and vivid, books, he writes for television and children Schutten tells about her takes young a wonderful for aloud philosophical and warm, rhythmic and theatre. Several of his books have also been made into films. readers on an appealing journey to the balanced, nostalgic and humorous – some- world of Rembrandt and his best-known times all at the same time,’ said the jury for The picture books of Marije Tolman work. the Theo Thijssen Prize, reserving particu- (b. 1976) have been published in more than ten countries. She won lar praise for Kuyper’s read-aloud stories the 2010 Golden Paint Brush and Author ‘Is my collar right? Does my hair look about Robin. The dreamy young boy from the Bologna Ragazzi Award for De Jan Paul Schutten good? Is my hat on straight?’ The men of a village beside the Dutch dunes made his boomhut (published in English as Illustrator the shooting company are feeling a little first appearance in children’s literature in The Tree House) Martijn van der Linden anxious. Rembrandt is painting all of them, Age 4+ 1990 and has returned regularly ever since. Author but who’s going to be the star? Anyone who Pages 28 The Big Robin combines Kuyper’s three Sjoerd Kuyper Publisher Rubinstein is familiar with the painting will know that award-winning titles: Robin en Suze (Robin Illustrator Contact one person ends up in the spotlight: the and Suze), Robin en God (Robin and God) Marije Tolman Adrienne Hak sweetest member of the company, the girl and Robin is verliefd (Robin’s in Love). Age 5+ [email protected] in the golden dress, who is at the heart of These are big stories about small events. Pages 192 Publisher Lemniscaat author Jan Paul Schutten’s simple but very Kuyper deals with important issues Contact effective story. directly and openly. The child, with his Diana Garibbo Illustrator Van der Linden employs visu- Schutten presents an appealing insight honesty, innocence and lack of inhibition, [email protected] al references to The Night Watch and other into life during the Golden Age and the is the central figure in this author’s work. creation of The Night Watch. Trouw Kuyper writes as though he is painting. paintings in his dramatic presentation of Marije Tolman’s charming illustrations You have to read with your eyes half- the Amsterdam of the Golden Age. This Jan Paul Schutten has written a very conjure up a safe little world where the closed, as a blinding golden gleam of book offers a perfect glimpse into history. engaging and accessible story for young imagination triumphs. hay and summer sun shines out at you readers. Kinderboekenpraatjes.nl from between the lines. de Volkskrant 4 Children’s Books from Holland 5 Children’s Books from Holland Bette Westera & Sylvia Weve Edward van de Vendel Scram! I’m Not Your Gran! Thirteen Running Deer

A virtuoso interplay of words and images in a collection of poems about A subtle and sophisticated story about a sister and brother who remarkable old people that will delight the eye and tickle the funny bone. resolve their differences with the help of fantasy animals.

Children’s author Bette Westera and present is a particularly striking element Bette Westera (b. 1958) is a There are plenty of children’s books about She had become more important,’ because The award-winning oeuvre of illustrator Sylvia Weve have taken a of this book and lends an extra dimension versatile author of children’s books imaginary friends, but this poetic tale is of course she has a very special secret that Edward van de Vendel (b. 1964) who particularly enjoys writing for consists of over fifty titles that are unique and gently anarchic approach in to each of the poems. Behind each portrait just a little bit different. The fantasy shines within her, like an ‘inner sun’. children of around six and seven. remarkable in their variety. Van de these vibrant and powerful portraits of of an old person, an ingenious system of She has received a great deal of creatures that appear to Moonie and her Raf immediately understands what’s Vendel has written picture books twelve old people, with their snappy fold-out pages conceals a portrait of their praise for her stories in poem form. brother Raf are like totem animals, going on, because an animal once ap- such as Kleinvader (Little Father), rhymes and eloquent images. Scram! I’m younger selves, so that you know ‘Mrs Van Wacky feats of imagination and symbolizing their characters. They help peared to him as well. After he confesses non-fiction titles about the football Not Your Gran! demonstrates how crafts- Veen from room number one’, ‘Mr Van double-edged humour are typical Moonie to become more self-confident his secret to Moonie, she feels that the team Ajax and bullying, young-adult elements of Westera’s books, which like De dagen van de manship and artistry can come together to Bemmelen from room eight’ (‘who’s as ugly and Raf to control his anger. two of them have more in common than she aims to make enjoyable for bluegrassliefde (The Days of produce an imaginative children’s book as hate’) and Mr Zeybek from Turkey were young readers and old. before, even though it seems to make Raf Bluegrass Love) and De gelukvinder that playfully combines ethics and all young once and dreamed of love and Moonie is staring at a vase one day when angrier than ever. (The Boy Who Found Happiness), aesthetics, emotion and humour. romance, successful careers, or a large Westera has found an outstanding thirteen tiny blue deer come trotting out A subtle psychological shift takes place as well as poetry for young adults brood of children. partner in illustrator Sylvia Weve of it. They climb up her arms and their foot- both within and between Moon and Raf, and for the very youngest readers, (b. 1954), who has illustrated over in his collections of Superguppie How does a writer come up with an idea like Illustrator Weve has also outdone herself steps leave dents in her sleeve. And before and Van de Vendel builds this up subtly and 100 books. Weve’s expressive poems. that? A children’s book in which the main in this book and was clearly motivated by and energetic illustrations are the they disappear into her hood, one of them accessibly in his short, rhythmic sentences. characters are residents of an old people’s a desire to experiment. The resulting perfect match for Westera’s writing. whispers respectfully in Moonie’s ear, ‘Our Moon has grown,’ says Mum. But Author home? And not only that, it’s a poetry illustrations reveal her background in The poetry collection Ik leer je ‘Duchess.’ when Dad takes out the tape measure, she’s Edward van de Vendel collection! This is perhaps not the most graphic design. Using bold shapes and liedjes van verlangen, en aan je This mysterious beginning immediately not even one centimetre taller. It is inside Illustrator apenstaartje hangen (I’ll Teach Mattias De Leeuw obvious of choices. Fortunately there are thirty different colours of ink, Weve has intrigues the reader. The deer do not turn that she has grown. You Songs of Longing and How to Age 8+ creative and independent spirits around, created artistic fold-out pictures that Swing By Your Monkey Tail, 2010), out to be friends in whom Moonie can The story culminates in a thrilling Pages 156 like Westera and Weve, who dare to be feature complete life stories in beautifully which won a Silver Slate Pencil, is confide and they don’t come when she calls. showdown between Raf ’s animal, a roaring Publisher different. A children’s bookshelf without designed compositions and colour com­ evidence of their successful They reflect her own character: jumpy, lion, and Moon’s deer. And it turns out that De Eenhoorn the innovative and hilarious Scram! I’m Not binations. Humour is always present partnership. timid, sweet and fragile. Raf is also looking for confirmation that he Contact Sarah Claeys Your Gran! would be incomplete. throughout this book too, as Weve em- Moonie’s explosive brother Raf is matters and that he’s important too. Author [email protected] The wit and elegance of these rhyming ploys her trademark over-the-top style. Bette Westera completely different. He has a ‘short fuse’ There are colour illustrations on every stories, which joyfully present life in all of In short, Westera and Weve, who have Illustrator and often gets ‘fired up’. And when that page by the young Flemish artist Mattias its rich variety, bring to mind the work of previously collaborated to great effect, Sylvia Weve happens, he stamps and yells. Usually, De Leeuw. The deer and the other animals Annie M.G. Schmidt and are a high point inspiring each other to artistic heights, have Age 8+ Moonie doesn’t complain and she just lets are drawn fluidly, without any outlines, and Pages 60 in Westera’s writing career. delighted their readers once again with this Raf get on with it, but the blue deer give her their movements capture a range of Publisher The link between the past and the magnificent, superbly designed book. Gottmer more confidence. ‘She had risen higher. emotions. Contact Renée Ferment [email protected]

A touching book that combines a fine exploration of child The poems are all flawless psychology with a lively […] Scram! I’m Not Your imagination and an Gran! is the most original exciting story. children’s poetry — De Standaard collection for years. — de Volkskrant A small masterpiece […] that will enchant and A visual spectacle of colour captivate readers young and ingenuity. and old. — Trouw — Pluizer 6 Children’s Books from Holland 7 Children’s Books from Holland Hans Hagen Simon van der Geest The Cockfight Sputterfly

Pio has been unable to go to school for some time because his father has lost his job, A boy’s story, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but much darker... and so Pio hopes to win some quick money by training a rooster to fight.

Stories about people in impoverished off the rooster’s comb and wattle so they Hans Hagen (b. 1955) is a master Hidde is no ordinary boy. What he likes the situation escalates and becomes Simon van der Geest (b. 1978) is circumstances are often very gripping. won’t get in the way during the fighting. of many genres. Together with his best of all is spending time in his secret violent. Their mother works hard and isn’t a young author to watch. He made wife Monique, he has achieved great his debut with a book for teens, When life is hard, the decisions you make The losing birds end up in Cecil’s cooking cellar with his centipedes, slugs, snails, around much, so she has little idea about success with volumes of poetry for Geel Gras (Yellow Grass, 2009), can really matter. If you have no money pot and are eaten when the day’s fighting children, such as Jij bent de liefste earwigs, stick insects, praying mantis what her sons are getting up to. and with a number of fun poems and something goes wrong, your situation and betting are over. (You Are the Sweetest, 2000). His Jackie Chan and golden spear beetle Simon van der Geest succeeds in for boys, which came out at around can quickly go from bad to worse. Hans Most of the losing birds are owned by Jubelientje series for girls is very Tessa. He’s not that keen on people keeping the tone light in spite of the the same time in a children’s poetry Hagen’s The Cockfight is all about living in poor people, because the richer breeders popular and he won a Golden Slate though, except perhaps for Lieke, who circumstances, which are at times rather anthology. He soon went on to win Pencil for De dans van de drummers his first Golden Slate Pencil, for poverty and making the right decisions. can afford to pay for special food and even likes butterflies. bleak. The amusing cartoon-style illustra- (The Dance of the Drummers, Dissus (2010), his vibrant adapta- performance-enhancing drugs. And it’s 2003). Hans likes to go on long tions by Karst-Janneke Rogaar, all the lists tion of Homer’s Odyssey. His third One day, when Pio is working near a usually the poor people who lose out on journeys and he incorporates his Hidde tries to win Lieke’s affection by and the smooth narrative style in the form book for children, Spinder (Sputter­ waterfall, carrying a coolbox full of drinks the betting as well. In fact, that’s exactly experiences into his stories about making a ‘sputterfly’ for her. He chops the of a boy’s diary are reminiscent of Jeff fly, 2012), demonstrates that he can for a group of tourists, he comes across a how Pio’s father, who already had little other cultures. He was inspired wings off a butterfly and glues them onto Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid. not only write beautiful sentences, to write Het Hanengevecht (The but also craft a gripping and stray rooster. Pio would rather be at school enough money to spare, managed to lose a living spider to create a hybrid. Although However, the story behind Hidde and Cockfight) during a visit to the entertaining story. than working, so he decides to use his spare everything, including his old motorbike Philippines. it’s a lot more inventive than what other his cellar is a darker and more tragic tale. time to train the bird to fight, with the aim taxi and his job. boys do to insects, it doesn’t make the Hidde, a romantic at heart, wins the Author of winning a prize at the cockfights. If he So there’s a lot at stake. Hagen, who is a Author impression he’d hoped for. reader’s admiration when he finally Simon van der Geest succeeds, he will be able to buy a new devoted animal lover, manages to keep the Hans Hagen When Hidde’s big brother Jeppe wants manages to breed pink butterflies by Illustrator Illustrator Karst-Janneke Rogaar motorbike taxi, so that his dad can go back story objective and successfully presents to take over the cellar so that he can feeding caterpillars on red-cabbage juice, Philip Hopman Age 10+ to work and Pio and his sister can return to Pio as a boy who loves his bird even Age 8+ practise with his band, Hidde has to go to but it comes too late for Lieke. She doesn’t Pages 230 school. though he knows how things are likely to Pages 105 even greater lengths to protect his space. know what she’s missing out on. Fortu- Publisher The world in which Pio is growing up is turn out. Hagen skilfully uses precise, Publisher He sets angry wasps on his brother and nately, everything works out for Hidde, his Querido a pretty tough place. Cockfighting may be short, powerful sentences to polish the Querido smears slug slime all over the stair rail. He exhausted mother, his violent brother and Contact Contact Lucienne van der Leije illegal throughout most of Europe, but story to its poignant and thrilling essence. hopes this will change Jeppe’s mind, but their mysterious cellar... Lucienne van der Leije [email protected] where he lives it is a very popular sport. The This is a serious story, but not a dark [email protected] birds that fight in the cockpits have a short one, and the surprising twist and unex- and difficult life. Pio’s bird has a deadly pectedly happy ending – in which Pio’s knife attached to its foot to slash its grandfather plays an important part – opponents with, and Pio’s grandfather cuts ­provide a fine conclusion.

Hagen succeeds in presenting a vivid and objective picture of this world. He doesn’t spare his readers any of the details, Sputterfly could very well but he doesn’t judge. become many children’s — de Volkskrant favourite book. — NRCHandelsblad He writes a kind of dancing prose that carries The story interlocks you along very naturally beautifully on many levels and rhythmically. [...] and the boys really come a feel-good book that to life – and all of it is you close with a smile captured in the most on your face. delightful sentences. — www.jaapleest.nl — Trouw 8 Children’s Books from Holland 9 Children’s Books from Holland

Literary Prizes The Netherlands’ major awards for children’s books

Silver Slate Pencils 2012 Silver Slate Pencils 2012 Silver Slate Pencils 2012 Silver Slate Pencils 2012 Golden Slate Pencil 2012 Up to 6 years: From 6 years up: From 9 years up: Non Fiction:

Keepvogel en Kijkvogel Ik en de rovers by Siri Kolu, translated Mister Orange by Truus Matti Je beste vriendin Anne by by Wouter van Reek (Leopold) by Annemarie Raas (Gottmer, originally (Leopold) Jacqueline van Maarsen (Querido) published by Otava, Finland) Poetry:

Winterdieren by Bibi Dumon Tak O rode papaver, boem pats knal! Toen kwam Sam by Vuurbom by Harm de Jonge Driedelig paard by (Querido) by Sjoerd Kuyper (Lemniscaat) Edward van de Vendel (Querido) (Van Goor) Ted van Lieshout (Leopold)

Golden Paint Brush 2012 Silver Paint Brush 2012 Book Key 2012 Woutertje Pieterse Prize 2013

Het Muizenhuis by Karina Schaapman Het Dierelirium by Javier Sáez Castán and (Rubinstein) Miguel Murugarren, translated and adapted by Kees van Kooten (De Harmonie, originally published by Fondo de Cultura Economica, Mexico)

Een vijver vol inkt by Annie MG Schmidt Kelderkind by Kristien Dieltiens and Sieb Posthuma (Querido) (De Eenhoorn) 10 Children’s Books from Holland 11 Children’s Books from Holland Gideon Samson Roland Colastica Black Swan Fireworks in My Head

Literary ingenuity and thriller-like suspense in a story A heart-warming story about the many colours of Curaçao and about a bad girl who plans her own funeral a friendship between two boys from different backgrounds

Gideon Samson’s Black Swan punctures secretly decides to omit a crucial step in With his fifth book, Zwarte Zwaan In his first children’s book written in story. Colastica makes clever use of a Roland Colastica (b. 1960) is the myth of the innocent child. He shows Rifka’s plan. Then it’s the turn of Duveke’s (Black Swan), Gideon Samson Dutch, Antillean writer and dramatist number of historical stories to demonstrate a celebrated Antillean writer and (b. 1985) has firmly established dramatist who has devoted his life that children can be ruthless: they don’t unsuspecting brother Olivier, who pro- Roland Colastica makes it abundantly how the pain of the people of Curaçao is a himself as one of the brightest new to storytelling. In 2006, he was stop to think about how serious their vides his account of the days leading up to stars in Dutch children’s literature. clear that Curaçao is more than an exotic direct result of their past of slavery. awarded the prestigious Cola actions are or about the consequences for Rifka’s funeral – because, yes, there is a He was the youngest writer ever to paradise, using evocative language to Jurcell clearly finds this past difficult to Debrot cultural award for his work other people. For manipulative Rifka, life funeral. This comes as a surprise. Wasn’t win a Silver Slate Pencil, for Ziek sketch an island society where young and deal with. Colastica’s depiction of a boy at is a game and she is the winner. Samson Duveke going to foil Rifka’s plan? And can (Sick, 2009). Critics have compared old are still burdened by the colonial past, the end of his tether is particularly strong, Fireworks in My Head is his debut him to great Dutch children’s writers as a children’s writer and is one of has written a haunting, stunning, taboo- a child be declared dead so soon after and black and white are at times diametri- as Jurcell stands in front of the mirror and such as Guus Kuijer and Veronica the few contemporary children’s breaking literary about a darkly they’ve been reported missing? Hazelhoff, but Samson has also cally opposed. comes face to face with himself, before books set in a former Dutch colony. fascinating character. In the final section,Black Swan takes on been praised as a writer “who is exploding with rage and smashing the Unlike celebrated author Miep elements of a tragedy: pieces of the puzzle expected to make great advances The unspoken friendship between Colas- mirror to pieces, following Bob Marley’s Diekmann, who grew up in Curaçao The central element in Black Swan is fall into place and it becomes clear that in young people’s literature”. tica’s black protagonist, thirteen-year-old maxim: ‘Emancipate yourselves from and wrote a number of books about the Antilles in the 1960s and 70s, Rifka’s ultimate act of manipulation: she this story really did come down to a matter Jurcell, and the elusive Gerrit, a ‘makamba’ mental slavery.’ Author Colastica writes from a black wants to be present at her own funeral. of life and death. We discover what Gideon Samson (white Dutch person), is symbolic of the Fortunately, Colastica preaches hope perspective, which gives this story She keeps imagining how wonderful it happened after Rifka’s disappearance, as Age 10+ tensions between the original population of and his book is about more than the links a fresh angle. would be to see all those people mourning seen from her point of view. Gradually, in Pages 212 Curaçao and the former Dutch occupier. between slavery and racism. The Antillean for her. So she plans to fake her own spite of everything, the reader even begins Publisher The boys are classmates, play football writes naturally and captures realistic, Author Leopold Roland Colastica kidnapping and murder, so that her to develop sympathy for the bad girl. together and both have difficult home lives. likeable characters on the page. He also Contact Age 10+ parents will organize a funeral for her, The plot is brilliantly worked out by Dania van Dishoeck They get along pretty well, but their succeeds in stimulating the reader’s senses. Pages 140 which she can then attend, incognito. Samson, who writes in a clipped, staccato [email protected] background and the colour of their skin You can feel the magic of this exotic island. Publisher Such a daring subject could make this a and apparently simple style. But that makes it impossible for them to admit that. You see and smell the lush colours and Leopold rather daunting book for children, were it simplicity is intentional: at the conclusion This becomes even more true when they intoxicating scents of the beautiful blos- Contact Dania van Dishoeck not for the fact that Samson has created a he neatly twists our expectations. This get involved in an armed street war be- soms. You hear the splash and roar of the [email protected] story that is very readable and as gripping construction is awe-inspiring, but the tween rival youth gangs. crystal-clear sea: Curaçao is a multicol- as a thriller. He relates the events from cleverest thing about this story is the way From the very first pages, this gang war oured island in every respect. Colastica has different perspectives: the first part is told Samson plays with our ideas about guilt produces action-packed scenes that make captured its beauty and diversity in this from the point of view of Duveke, Rifka’s and innocence. Who was really the victim Fireworks in My Head a genuinely exciting magnificent children’s book. friend and reluctant accomplice, who and who was the villain?

Fireworks in My Head is a charming book that provides an insight into contemporary society on With Black Swan, a dark the island of Curaçao in story about a formidable a way that is unique in bad girl, Samson has children’s literature. surpassed himself as a — Trouw teller of quirky tales. — Het Parool Roland Colastica has written a book that brings Samson plays masterfully to life Curaçao in all its with the reader’s many aspects […] a book expectations and even with a hopeful message, manages to spring a for which we have had to surprise on the final page. wait a long time. — Trouw — NRC Handelsblad 12 Children’s Books from Holland 13 Children’s Books from Holland Marcel Roijaards Petra Boers & Suzanne Hertogs Rebel with Wings DUF 3: Get Wise!

A dazzling debut novel about Icarus, one of the most fascinating An innovative visual spectacle designed to astonish and nimbly figures in Greek mythology lead the reader through the illusory world of the media

Icarus plays only a modest role in Greek ‘I spin a wire with my heart and walk Marcel Roijaards (b. 1966) comes How do you tempt young people to read? ‘screenager’ with a convincing account Petra Boers (b. 1968) makes mythology. And yet his ill-fated flight to across it like a tightrope artist,’ says Icarus, from a family of actors, but works How can you draw them into the world of of the crazy and manipulative ruses of creative magazines and books behind the scenes himself, as a and works as a journalist with the sun, with wings made by his father, has in the sparkling, evocative language that culture, history, science and media? How the modern media, without ever turning director, writer and teacher. He a focus on young people. Together appealed to the imagination for centuries. characterizes this book. He follows his based his debut Rebel met vleugels is it possible to surprise them nowadays it into a lecture. with Suzanne Hertogs (b. 1977), Marcel Roijaards became fascinated by the feelings, does not reflect too much, is (Rebel with Wings) on his youth- with anything written on paper and how From hilarious hypes, political propa- graphic artist and owner of the boy and portrays him as an enchanting disarmingly cheeky and full of ideas. theatre play Icarus. Roijaards won do you respond to their unstoppable urge ganda, historical falsification, ‘happiness design company Ontwerphaven, dreamer in this evocative YA novel. Icarus dreams of being able to fly – this a Gouden Kalf at the Nederlands to zap away? Give them DUF, the only buttons’ that advertisers know how to press, she came up with the unique Film Festival in 2012 for his screen- concept for DUF. Boers and theme is subtly repeated – and with all of truly independent ‘magazine book’ in the six ‘porn myths’ (complete with ‘media-free play for the short film Sevilla. Hertogs have recently created In an abandoned open-air theatre in Crete, his captivating tales he brings light to the Netherlands, with its irresistibly quirky sex tips’), to the cunning art of Photoshop a ‘dancecyclopedia’ for young six young actors recall memories of their lives of his friends and his father, the Author combination of images and information. and the idea that there’s ‘no such thing as a dancers, and the magazine GLAS dead friend Icarus, so that he will never be architect Daedalus. Marcel Roijaards free lunch’, they cleverly unveil the world of for the National Glass Museum. forgotten. ‘We imagine you sitting there as Roijaards makes the original myth his Age 12+ DUF comes out once every two years, is illusions in which we live and remind the Pages 223 DUF 1 and 2 have won multiple our audience,’ they tell the reader. own with his distinctive approach. In his about 300 pages thick, packed with fasci- reader that ‘a critical mind is a joy forever’. Publisher awards. Suzanne Hertogs has also These eye witnesses are ‘performing’ version, Icarus is given a larger role than Querido nating facts and fun items, and it looks Remember that slogan – because deceit won many prizes for her individual Icarus’s story after the events, so there is we ever knew about. Icarus falls in love Contact like a book. But that’s not what it is. The is lurking even within the pages of DUF work, including the Red Dot Design still room for epic imagination and embel- with Ariadne, the daughter of the cruel Lucienne van der Leije inventive design and dazzling variety of itself. One interview deliberately features Award, Dutch Design Prize and ED lishment. After all, on a stage, it does not King Minos, and plays a thrilling part in [email protected] columns, articles, photos, illustrations and product placement and the ‘real-life’ report Award for the best European design. seem so unusual to exaggerate the heroic defeating the Minotaur. This monstrous cartoons invite the reader to treat DUF as about young people with ‘Facebook depres- Author exploits of your best friend or claim that he man with a bull’s head is locked away in the a magazine and to keep picking it up to sion’ who ritually ‘kill off ’ their virtual world Petra Boers had special gifts, such as speaking the labyrinth designed by Daedalus, where he take another look. This is what prompted turns out to be a hoax. Graphic Design & Illustration language of the birds. feeds on the children of Athens. creators Petra Boers and Suzanne Hertogs Yes, DUF: Get Wise! challenges the Suzanne Hertogs The actors remain nameless; they are The best thing about Rebel with Wings is to dub their unique concept a ‘magazine reader, with quizzes, puzzles, puns and Age 12+ Pages 304 present only as a group, as a chorus singing perhaps Icarus’s infectious zest for life: it book’ back in 2006. poems. Featuring top-quality work from Publisher the praises of Icarus. And yet you can feel bursts off the pages. The touching relation- The third of DUF has the contributors ranging from famous Dutch Stiching Pica Pica their love for their friend and their sadness ship between Icarus and his father and the theme of getting wise to media tricks and author Arnon Grunberg to philosopher and Contact at the way his story ended. The book at gently philosophical lessons about growing Boers and Hertogs recommend it as a writer Bas Haring and plenty of fascinating Suzanne Hertogs times employs a clever and affectionate up, friendship, devotion and good and evil ‘must-have for every independent teenage and talented newcomers, DUF has proven [email protected] first-person-plural perspective, which are added bonuses. thinker’. They are absolutely right. Striking once again – in terms of both design and emphasizes Icarus’s individualism and his the perfect tone for readers of this age content – that it is the perfect medium for free spirit. group, with clever puns and colourful and drawing in modern young people, wire- appealing design, they present the modern lessly, on ordinary paper.

DUF looks magnificent. The colours burst out from the matte paper, and every Captivating and full page is different. of humour! — NRC Next — Sevendays This is the internet A perfect YA novel […] reformatted for print. The about an irrepressible chunky DUF, a creative lust for life that extends cluster bomb, shows beyond the boundaries exactly how it should be of death. done. Fabulous. — Het Parool — de Volkskrant 14 Children’s Books from Holland 15 Children’s Books from Holland

Recent Translations Recent Translations

Simon van der Geest Marjolijn Hof Yvonne Jagtenberg Sieb Posthuma Marcel Prins & Henk Steenhuis Wouter van Reek Italian edition Turkish edition Complex Chinese edition Italian edition German edition German edition

L’estate in cui diventai famosa (e i miei Dedem ve Ben translated by Burak Sengir Balotje op ballet published by Cotton Tree, Il Signor Paltò translated by Valentina Versteckt wie Anne Frank. Krahinkel & Eckstein - Auf den Spuren von genitori non se ne accorsero!) translated by for Hayy kitap, 2012. Original title: Mijn opa 2012. Original title: Balotje op ballet, Freschi for Gribaudo, 2012. Original title: Überlebensgeschichten jüdischer Kinder Piet Mondrian translated by Rolf Erdorf for Dafna Fiano for Salani, 2012. Original title: en ik en het varken Oma, published by published by Leopold, 2010. Mannetje Jas, published by Querido, 2006. translated by Andrea Kluitmann for Gerstenberg, 2012. Original title: Keepvogel Geel gras, published by Querido, 2009. Querido, 2011. Ravensburger Buchverlag, 2013. Original en Kijkvogel, published by Leopold, 2011. title: Ondergedoken als Anne Frank, published by Querido, 2011.

Rindert Kromhout Rindert Kromhout Guus Kuijer Gideon Samson Jowi Schmitz Toon Tellegen Swedish edition Spanish edition Japanese edition Danish edition German edition English edition Lilla Åsnan och Svarta Fåret translated by Los soldados no lloran translated by Itsumo itsumademo itsushiyomi! translated Superstakkel translated by Birthe Olivia - Manchmal kommt das Glück von Far away across the sea translated by Martin Angelica Sundin for Berghs, 2012. Original Gonzalo Fernández for Ediciones SM, 2012. by Etsuko Nozaka for Fukuinkan Shoten, Lundsgaard for Turbine, 2012. Original title: ganz allein translated by Bettina Bach for Cleaver for Boxer Books, 2012. Original title: title: Kleine Ezel en het zwarte schaapje, Original title: Soldaten huilen niet, published 2012. Original title: Voor altijd samen, amen, Ziek, published by Leopold, 2009. Hanser, 2012. Original title: Ik heet Olivia en Toen niemand iets te doen had, published by published by Leopold, 2012. by Leopold, 2010. published by Querido, 1999. daar kan ik ook niks aan doen, published by Querido, 1987. Lemniscaat, 2011.

Joke van Leeuwen Benny Lindelauf Truus Matti Jan Terlouw Edward van de Vendel For more information about translations, Slovenian edition German edition English edition German edition Norwegian edition visit our website www.letterenfonds.nl Ko je oªe postal grm translated by Katjusˇa Unsere goldene Zukunft translated by Mister Orange translated by Laura Kriegswinter translated by Eva Schweikart Duen som ikke kunne stupe translated by Ruªigaj for Misˇ Zalozba, 2012. Original title: Bettina Bach for Bloomsbury, 2012. Original Watkinson for Enchanted Lion Books, 2012. for Urachhaus, 2012. Original title: Bodil Engen for Cappelen Damm, 2012. Toen mijn vader een struik werd, published by title: De hemel van Heivisj, published by Original title: Mister Orange, published by Oorlogswinter, published by Lemniscaat, Original title: De duif die niet kon duiken, Querido, 2010. Querido, 2010. Leopold, 2011. 1972. published by De Eenhoorn, 2011. Children’s Books from Holland

Jan Paul Schutten Hans Hagen Is That All? The Cockfight

Jan Paul Schutten Simon van der Geest The Girl in the Golden Dress Sputterfly

Sieb Posthuma Gideon Samson Alexander Calder’s Wonderful Wire Black Swan

Sjoerd Kuyper & Marije Tolman Roland Colastica The Big Robin Fireworks in My Head

Bette Westera & Sylvia Weve Marcel Roijaards Scram! I’m Not Your Gran! Rebel with Wings

Edward van de Vendel Petra Boers & Suzanne Hertogs Thirteen Running Deer DUF 3: Get Wise!

The illustration on the front cover is taken from Nederland by Charlotte Dematons (Lemniscaat).

Children’s Books from Holland is published by the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

The Foundation stimulates interest in Dutch literary fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s books by providing information and granting translation subsidies. Foreign publishers wishing to publish translations of Dutch literature may apply for a subsidy towards the translation costs. In the case of high quality illustrated children’s books, additional financial support is possible. For more information please contact Agnes Vogt, [email protected].

Editors Dick Broer, Agnes Vogt

Contributors Joukje Akveld, Marlies Hoff, Pjotr van Lenteren, Bas Maliepaard, Mirjam Noorduijn, Thomas de Veen

ederlands Postbus /PO Box 16588 Translation 1001 RB Amsterdam Laura Watkinson N letterenfonds t +31 (0)20 520 73 00 f +31 (0)20 520 73 99 dutch foundation [email protected] for literature www.letterenfonds.nl Platform P visiting address Nieuwe Prinsengracht 89 Design 1018 VR Amsterdam Kummer & Herrman,