The White Ravens 2020

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2020 | The White Ravens The White Ravens White he Rav T en s A Selection of International Children‘s and Youth Literature

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Emma AdBåge Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek · Schloss Blutenburg · München · www.ijb.de Internationale Jugendbibliothek 2020 | The White Ravens A Selection of International Children‘s and Youth Literature

Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek IMPRESSUM

The White Ravens 2020 This publication is available as PDF at: A Selection of International Children‘s and Youth Literature bit.ly/WhiteRavens2020 The White Ravens Database: Copyright © 2020 by Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek whiteravens.ijb.de/list Editor: Dr. Christiane Raabe Editorial work: Jochen Weber Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek Translation: Dr. Frances Bottenberg, Claudia Söffner Schloss Blutenburg Copy editing: Dr. Nikola von Merveldt Seldweg 15 81247 Munich, Germany Tel.: +49 89 8912110 Selection and texts: E-mail: [email protected] Theodora Arampatzi [TA]: Greek | Prof. Dr. Young Eun Chang www.ijb.de [YC], Prof. Dr. Moonsun Choi [MC] and Prof. Dr. Sojin Park [SP]: Korean | Toin Duijx [TD]: Dutch, Frisian | Prof. Dr. Fang Weiping ISSN 1818-6319 [FW] and Dr. Zhao Xia [ZX]: Chinese | Dr. Ines Galling [IG]: Danish, Finnish, German, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish | The Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek (International Youth Library Dr. Azad Hamoto [AH]: Arabic | Dr. Leila (Roya) Maktabi Fard Foundation) is institutionally funded by: German Federal Ministry of Family [RM]: Persian (Farsi) | Reina Nakano [RN]: Japanese | Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth; Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts; City of Munich. Lucia Obi [LO]: Chinese, Filipino, Myanmar | Claudia Söffner [CS], with the support of Betsy Bird, Michelle Bourgeois [MB], Valerie Coghlan, Áine Ní Ghlinn, Dr. Nikola von Merveldt [NvM], and Dr. Junko Yokota [JY]: English, Irish | Silvana Sola [SO], with the support of Gabriele Poeschke: Italian | Dr. Ilgım Veryeri Alaca [IVA]: Turkish | Jochen Weber [JW]: Portuguese, Spanish Sibylle Weingart [SW]: French | Dr. Katja Wiebe [KW]: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Ukrainian

Layout: Eva Geck, Ute Konstanzer Typesetting: Thomas Pleiner mtp-studio

Cover illustration: Emma AdBåge Also funded by: Copyright © 2020 by Emma AdBåge Catalogue cover: Copyright © 2019 by Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek | Emma AdBåge’s book »Gropen« (The pit) (Stockholm: Rabén & Sjögren, 2018) was selected for »The White Ravens 2019«.

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PREFACE ...... 4 ICELANDIC • Iceland...... 63 IRISH • Ireland...... 64 ARABIC • Lebanon ...... 6 ITALIAN • Italy...... 64 • Morocco ...... 6 JAPANESE • Japan ...... 68 • Palestine ...... 7 ...... • United Arab Emirates ...... 7 KOREAN • Republic of Korea 72 ...... BULGARIAN • Bulgaria...... 8 LATVIAN • Latvia 75 CHINESE • People’s Republic of China ...... 9 LITHUANIAN • Lithuania ...... 76 • Singapore...... 11 MACEDONIAN • North Macedonia...... 77 • Taiwan...... 12 MYANMAR • Myanmar...... 78 CROATIAN • Croatia ...... 13 NORWEGIAN • Norway ...... 78 CZECH • Czech Republic ...... 14 PERSIAN (FARSI) • Iran ...... 80 ...... DANISH • Denmark 16 POLISH • Poland ...... 82 ...... DUTCH • Belgium 18 PORTUGUESE • Brazil ...... 84 • Netherlands ...... 19 • Portugal ...... 87 ENGLISH • Australia ...... 22 RUSSIAN • Russia ...... 88 • Canada...... 25 SERBIAN • Serbia ...... 89 • Great Britain...... 28 SLOVAK • Slovakia ...... 90 • India ...... 32 • ...... • New Zealand...... 33 SLOVENIAN Slovenia 90 ...... • USA ...... 34 SPANISH • Argentina 92 ...... ESTONIAN • Estonia...... 40 • Chile 93 FILIPINO • Philippines...... 41 • Colombia ...... 94 FINNISH • Finland...... 42 • Mexico ...... 95 FRENCH • Belgium ...... 42 • Spain ...... 96 • Canada...... 43 • Venezuela ...... 100 • France ...... 44 SWEDISH • Sweden ...... 100 ...... • Switzerland 51 TURKISH • Turkey ...... 104 • ...... FRISIAN Netherlands 51 UKRAINIAN • Ukraine ...... 105 GERMAN • Austria ...... 52 • Germany ...... 53 NAME INDEX ...... 106 • Switzerland ...... 60 SUBJECT INDEX ...... 109 GREEK • Greece ...... 61 READING AGE INDEX ...... 112

The White Ravens 2020 © Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek 3 PREFACE

With great pleasure, we present to you the 2020 edi- Therefore, we are all the more delighted and grate- tion of our annual catalogue »The White Ravens«. ful that, despite the adversities, publishers, institutions, and organisations, as well as authors and This year, the cover features two children sitting illustrators, have found ways to continue support- comfortably on a sofa. In the warm glow of a lamp, ing the International Youth Library with donation they pass the time reading. A curious raven is and review copies of their new publications. peering attentively into their book. This picture was created by Swedish illustrator Emma AdBåge, Thanks to their support, we are able to present the whose book »Gropen« was selected for the »White 2020 edition of the »White Ravens« catalogue, the Ravens 2019« and she is on the list again with her most important annual publication of the Inter- new book. national Youth Library. It aims to promote quality in children's book publishing and has become an The scene depicted by Emma AdBåge shows an increasingly useful tool for anyone interested in interior space. The world remains outside and can looking beyond national borders. This year, the only be seen through the window. Perhaps this is »White Ravens« contain a selection of 200 notable a symbol for this year, in which a virus has almost children's and young adult books from 56 countries brought normal life to a standstill, at least tempora- published in 36 languages. rily, and countless people all over the world have been forced into isolation within their four walls. As usual, we publish the »White Ravens« prior to the Frankfurt Book Fair. However, since this fair, which Activities in the International Youth Library have is of such importance internationally, is forced to take also been severely restricted in recent months. place mostly in virtual space this year, we decided to Much of what was previously taken for granted and produce a digital-only version this time instead of a shapes our work was suddenly no longer possible printed edition. You can download our 2020 cata- or only to a certain extent. For a time, many inter- logue as a PDF file from our website www.ijb.de. national contacts, which are so important to us, were interrupted. We heard from several publishers In addition to being featured in the catalogue, the about the enormous problems and challenges they reviews, bibliographical data, and book covers are were, and still are, facing due to the restrictions also available in the »White Ravens« database on during the pandemic. whiteravens.ijb.de/list.

4 For decades now, all recommended books have The library’s in-house staff members in Munich cover been put on display in hard copy at the Internatio- many literary regions, and freelance readers and nal Youth Library’s booth at the Bologna Children’s advisors are charged with monitoring and tending Book Fair. This tradition allows booth visitors to to further languages and countries. The »White peruse the books at leisure, leafing through their Ravens« catalogue thus presents a unique selection pages and exploring them. We sincerely hope that of 200 books that cover a highly diverse range of we will have this opportunity again in 2021. voices. Its international nature results from the ef- forts of approximately twenty children’s and young Selecting the books for the »White Ravens« list is adult book experts, who are tasked with sifting one of the tasks of our language and children’s book through the thousands of books received annually specialists. They set aside new publications that by the International Youth Library. catch their attention and strike them as noteworthy and that they want to recommend to an internatio- Once again, a sincere thank you first and foremost nal audience. Books are chosen for the list based on to the countless publishers who have been sup- the universal relevance of the themes they address, porting the work of the International Youth Library their literary and pictorial qualities, or their inno- for decades through their book donations. I also ex- vative approaches or design. tend my gratitude to all those who have contributed to this catalogue both abroad and here in Munich. Our library staff have long relied on various means to acquire a well-grounded overview of the topics, I hope the »White Ravens« fall into the hands of trends, and people involved in current international many curious readers, and that these readers make children’s and young adult literature: They read new many new discoveries. May the selected books, publications in the original languages, visit important along with their creators, receive the international international book fairs, scout and gather informa- attention they deserve. We hope that our work tion, maintain contact with publishing houses, contributes to this goal. institutions, organisations, and other experts. In addition, they also engage in conversation with the research fellows at the International Youth Library, Dr. Christiane Raabe foreign scholars who have a profound knowledge of Director of the International Youth Library the literature of their home countries. September 2020

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Mahjdlj,Nabjha (Mheidly, Nabiha) (text) Hilmj, Mu'min (Helmy, Moemen) (text) Zahr-ad-Djn, Hassan (Zahreddine, Hassan) (illus.) Dubjl, Matiyas (Döbele, Matze) (illus.) Hikaya tarwiha al-6uyut Hala (Hikaya tarwiha al-khyut) (Aura) (A story told by threads) ad-Dar al-BaiMa' (Casablanca): Yanbu' al-Kitab Bairut (Beirut): Dar al-Hada'iq (Al-Hadaek), (Yanbow al-Kitab), 2019. – [26] p. 2018. – [26] p. ISBN 978-9920-771-10-8 ISBN 978-614-439-155-6 Emotion | Soul | Colour | Synaesthesia | Thread | String | Storytelling | Picture book Picture book ARABIC

A wide variety of threads interweave their stories A girl named Hala (Aura) possesses the gift of in this book: One comes from a silkworm and seeing and recognizing other people’s inner psy- was worked into a silk scarf. Another describes its chological states and radiations in a very special marvellous spider web. A cotton thread is tucked way. She has the unusual ability to perceive their into a farmer’s coat, while a linen thread belongs moods and feelings as a rainbow palette of differ- to a string that’s wound about a letter. A “thread ent colours. They surround people’s bodies like Lebanon

Morroco of light” describes what it’s like to be a thin beam halos. Every colour has a different meaning and between light and dark, sunrise and sunset. After reflects the state of the person affected. So Hala all have taken turns to tell their stories, the “thread knows whether someone is happy or sad, cheerful, of thought” says: “I have assembled all of you here. angry or downtrodden. Hala herself tells the story, Now I will ask a writer to sew a beautiful story out which reaches its climax as she notices a sudden of you that will travel from generation to genera- alarm-red colour surrounding her classmate Faris tion”. Nabiha Mheidly’s original, poetic story about just as a strange man is leading him away from the threads and the art of telling a story by interweav- school. Thinking on her feet, Hala prevents the ing narratives is a masterpiece both in terms of its boy’s kidnapping. The perceptive story, written in form as well as its language. Hassan Zahreddine beautiful language, is accompanied by restrained created enchanting and very aesthetic illustrations black-and-white pictures in which only the colour- to accompany the text, using different printing ful halos of individual people shine forth intensely. techniques (etching, drypoint, and aquatint). They (Age: 7+) [AH] nicely reveal the delicate, filigreed structures of the inconspicuous protagonists. (Age: 8+) [AH]

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'Aqa' allah, Nakla' (Atallah, Najla‘) (text) Huršjd, Djkar (Khourchid, Jekar) (text) Sirr As'ad Bjkdulu, Eazala (Bigdelou, Ghazaleh) (illus.) (Sir Asad) al- H imar wa-'l-bulbul (Asad’s secret) (Al-himar wa al-bulbul) Ramallah (Ramallah): M'assasat Tamir lit-ta'ljm (The donkey and the nightingale) al-muktama'j (Tamer Institute for Community Dubai: Dar al-'Alam al-'Arabj (Dar Al-Aalam Education), 2018. – 128 p. Al-Arabi), 2019. – 31 p. ISBN 978-9950-27-000-8 ISBN 978-994-838157-0 Family | Coming of age Singing | Flying | Cunning | Revenge | Fable | Picture book ARABIC

Asad is working in a printer’s shop over summer va- This story follows the form of classic animal fables. cation to help his family out financially. The seven- It begins by portraying the fox as a wily fellow, as teen-year-old lives with his mother, two sisters and is often the case – only, it doesn’t last in this case. four brothers in a camp in Gaza City, while his The fox’s victim is a donkey who’d love to sing like father sits in prison for reasons unknown to Asad. a nightingale but only manages to bray, disrupting His difficult life circumstances force the young the fox’s nap in the process. When the donkey asks

man to take on a lot of responsibility and grow up about how to learn to sing like the nightingale, the Palestine early. Still, he has many questions and doubts, faces fox responds: “The nightingale sings so beautifully inner conflict, and must find his own way, because because it can fly, so to sing like that you must he feels he differs in many ways from most boys also learn to fly”. Following his flying attempt, the his age. Thankfully, an older shopkeeper, Ms. Um donkey unsurprisingly ends up in the hospital with Fauzi, is there to offer answers to his questions, and broken bones, where the learned Dr. Ibex explains

there’s also a girl named Houria, who supplies him how he can get his revenge. In the end, the fox United Arab Emirates with interesting books. Using a literary language founders in virtue of his own vanity and arrogance, that feels true to the protagonist, the novel de- plummeting from the sky like Icarus in the Greek scribes Asad’s experiences, dreams, and plans for myth. Jekar Khourchid tells the story in a lively, his future. Author Najla Atallah (b. 1987), who humorous and fast-paced way. The text lends itself hails from Gaza, sensitively and genuinely captures well to being read aloud and is accompanied by the young man’s life as well as the hard reality of Ghazaleh Bigdelou’s double-page colour illustra- the largest Palestinian city. (Age: 14+) [AH] tions, which caricature the animals in comical ways. (Age: 6+) [AH]

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Nikolova, Radostina (text) Stoev, Slavi (text) Eftimova, Hristina (Eftimova, Khristina) (illus.) Arkova, Mateja (Arkova, Mateya) (illus.) Šantavija do šija Prodavaca na omraza (Shantavia do shia) (Prodavacha na omraza) (Totally haywire) (The seller of hatred) [Sofija]: Izdatelstvo Marmot, [2019]. – 160 p. [Sofija]: Robertino, 2019. – 52 p. ISBN 978-619-7241-10-5 ISBN 978-619-246-003-7 Rural life | Neighbourhood | Eccentricity | Intrigue | Hatred | Dispute | Gullibility | Differentness | Acceptance Manipulation | Community BULGARIAN This children’s book definitely secures Radostina A hedgehog enters the forest with a cart of »use- Nikolova (b. 1986) a firm spot in contemporary ful« wares: intrigue, hatred, strife. A squirrel asks Bulgarian children’s literature. Her children’s book for them out of curiosity and allows the hedgehog series »Adventures of the Moths« was already to foment conflict between himself and his friends, much loved. Nikolova outdoes herself, though, the mice: They wanted to steal the squirrel’s provi- with this funny story about the twins Lina and sions, the seller claims. The hedgehog eventually Niko and their oddball neighbour. She uses a typi- pits all the forest’s inhabitants against one another, Bulgaria cal children’s literary scenario, pours in a lot of getting something out of each of them for his false situational comedy and punchy dialogue, and kicks information. When the animals realize their mis- things into high-gear for a fast-paced story: When take in the spring, the hedgehog has already moved bossy Lina and nerdy Niko move into a boring on to the next forest. The tale closes with an open village, their strange neighbour Stefania is soon end. This is a wonderfully poetic, allegorical story the most interesting object of study. She dresses by Slavi Stoev, who as a psychologist knows such oddly, lives withdrawn, and there is something emotional triggers and introduces them here in an amiss with her pets. She may be a sorceress who illuminating way. His tone stays clear and funny, jinxes humans. After a short time, Lina particularly just as Mateya Arkova’s illustrations are light but cultivates a superb enmity toward Stefania, enjoys defined. Published by the young publisher Rober- playing tricks on her and takes her for crazy. But tino, the book delivers a strong message to not the siblings soon find out what lies behind Stefania’s gullibly fall for hateful comments and discordant bizarre behaviour. (Age: 8+) [KW] messages and to arm oneself against all »sellers of hatred«. (Age: 7+) [KW]

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Chen, Danyan (text) Huang, Xiaoheng (text) Echo_Anjing (illus.) Guituzi (Liu, Jing) (illus.) Wo de ma ma shi jing ling Da chuan (A spirit who I call Mom) (Big boat) Fuzhou: Fu jian shao nian er tong chu ban she Beijing: Zhong xin chu ban she (CITIC Press (Fujian Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House), Group), 2019. – [38] p. 2019. – 170 p. (Series: Tong xin kan zhong guo yuan chuang hui ben) ISBN 978-7-5395-6835-5 ISBN 978-7-5217-1046-5 Spirit | Mother | Growing up | Fantasy fiction Rural life | Modernity | Fishing | Boat | Identity | Self-image | Picture book CHINESE

This is the updated version of a pioneering book of A big fishing boat built with the purpose of improv- contemporary Chinese children’s fantasy writing that ing living conditions for the people in a small fishing was first published in 1998 and has been reprinted village witnesses the transformation of the village repeatedly since then. The story is set in Shanghai. from a remote and poor place to a modern travel When teenage protagonist Chen Miaomiao acciden- resort. Abandoned as useless, the boat nonetheless tally discovers that her mother is a spirit who can fly protects its people from the onset of a catastrophic and who drinks frog blood to survive in the human typhoon and is later converted into the resort’s child- world, it takes time for her to accept the truth. The ren’s funfair. Narrated partly through the boat’s per- day will also come when her mother must return to spective, this picture book is about the changes of life her own world. The book has an unusual flavour in in many parts of China and also presents an anthropo- its integrating of the tradition of Chinese folklore and morphic story of a silent boat searching for its self- that of Western fantasies. Chen Danyan, who began identity. The combination of acrylic and watercolour publishing in the early 1980s, is best known for her conveys a unique effect of vibrant brightness, and is children’s books as well as her historical fiction and reminiscent of the gravity, tenacity, and pleasure of non-fiction about life in urban Shanghai. Her most life itself. Huang Xiaoheng is a young children’s book

representative children’s books include the »Nü zhong writer. Guituzi is the illustrator of »Xue ren« (Snow- of China Republic People's xue sheng san bu qu« trilogy (The middle-school man) and »Ma tou qin de gu shi« (The story of the girls) and »Zai nan de li wu« (The gift of disaster«). horsehead fiddle). »Da chuan« received the Golden She is the winner of the Chinese National Award for Prize of the 2019 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Outstanding Children’s Literature and other children’s Competition at the Shanghai International Children’s literature awards. (Age: 9+) [FW, ZX] Book Fair. (Age: 4+) [FW, ZX]

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Li, Donghua (text) Liu, Xugong (text/illus.) Kong que- (i.e. Zhao Min) (illus.) Che piao qu na er le Yan huo (Where are the tickets?) (Firework) Wuhan: Chang jiang shao nian er tong chu ban Wuhan: Chang jiang wen yi chu ban she she (Changjiang Children’s Publishing Group), (Changjiang Literature and Art Press), 2019. – 197 p. 2020. – [30] p. (Series: Li Dong hua zhi cheng zhang xi lie) (Series: Hai tun hui ben hua yuan; 585) ISBN 978-7-5354-9991-2 ISBN 978-7-5721-0101-4 Adolescence | Leukaemia | School | Bus | Ticket | Journey | Imagination | Peer group | Rivalry Picture book CHINESE

Everything is going well for Aimi, the top perform- Just as the bus is about to start and the driver asks ing and most popular student. However, the arrival the passengers to show their tickets, a wind comes of Hana, that pretty and perfect girl, spoils all of up and blows away all the tickets. Everyone on this. Everything changes for Aimi when Hana board has to join the driver on his quest to get the is around, and she needs to deal with a strange tickets back. The wild ride over hill and dale, past feeling of jealousy deeply buried within her. It volcano islands, around a racetrack and through eventually turns out that this perfect girl has severe snow mountains turns into a journey through the leukaemia. Her life is like the brief moment when whole world, full of surprising visual details inspired a firework bursts into a beautiful sparkling display. by both Eastern and Western cultures. When the The narrative is delicate and accurate in depicting tickets are discovered in the place where the sun an adolescent’s mind and heart. Readers are led sets, the journey ends with another surprise, taking through a seemingly common plot of peer rivalry the whole story’s splendid imaginativeness even to gain a special glimpse into the tragic side of hu- further. Liu Xugong (b. 1973) is a children’s book man life. Li Donghua is a children’s literature writer writer and illustrator from Taiwan. His picture representative of her generation. Her best-known books include »Dao wu gui guo qu« (Go to Tor-

People's Republic of China Republic People's books include »Zhu ben ben de xing fu shi guang« toise Country) and »Hao xiang chi liu lian« (I really (The happy days of Folly Piggy) and »Shao nian want to eat a durian) for which he won the Taiwan de rong yao« (A boy’s honour). Among others, her Hsin-Yi Children’s Literature Award. The Taiwanese works have won the Chinese National Award for edition of »Che piao qu na er le« won the Prize of Outstanding Children’s Literature. (Age: 10+) Excellence of the 6th Feng Zikai Children’s Picture [FW, ZX] Book Award in 2019. (Age: 3+) [FW, ZX]

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Yu, Dawu (text/illus.) Huwei (i.e. Francis Wong Hooe Wai) (text/illus.) Yi tiao da he Xiao xiong de xin yi (The river) (The little bear's new clothes) Beijing: Zhong guo shao nian er tong chu ban Singapore: Ling zi chuan mei si ren you xian gong she (China Children’s Press & Publication Group), si (Lingzi Media), 2019. – 28 p. 2019. – 43 p. + [10] p. (Series: Shi cheng wang shi hui ben xi lie; 7) (Series: Jiu shen lu hui ben guan) ISBN 978-981-47-9177-9 ISBN 978-7-5148-5551-7 Singapore | Chinatown | History 1960s | Craft | Yellow River | China | Geography | Culture | Trade | Childhood memories | Picture book Picture book | Non-fiction CHINESE

This picture book is a geographical and cultural in- After »Grandpa’s little room« and »Go Trishaw go«, troduction to the Yellow River (Huang He), referred this is the third volume of a picture book series set to by the Chinese as »Mother River« from its source in Singapore’s old Chinatown. While the earlier vol- on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to its mouth at the umes featured the lives of the author’s family in the Yellow Sea on the other side of the country. It is told 1940s and the architecture still existant in the 1960s, through the river’s perspective and voice, giving the »Xiao xiong de xin yi« (Little Bear’s new clothes) narrative a certain childlike liveliness and playful- reflects Huwei’s own childhood memories. A boy

ness. The illustrations are creative combinations of wants to find someone to sew new clothes for his Singapore oil painting techniques and the wide-scope perspec- Teddy bear, but this turns out to be difficult. On his tives of traditional Chinese painting, displaying the tour through the old shophouses, people of various grandness of the river as well as the people living industries send him elsewhere - a tailor, a calligra- alongside it. Yu Dawu is known for his illustrations pher, a baker, a market woman, a manure collector for »Xi you ji« (Journey to the West) and »Nezha – until he finds a toy manufacturer who can sew the nao hai« (Nezha's triumph against Dragon King), required items. Retired architect, heritage preserva- which won the 1989 Asia-Pacific Children’s Books tion expert, and writer Huwei, who published his

Illustration Prize of the Asian Cultural Centre for first picture book at the age of 60, records Singa- of China Republic People's UNESCO. His works have been featured in exhibi- pore’s Chinese cultural heritage in delicate water- tions around the world. »Yi tiao da he«, created in colours, not only out of nostalgia, but also with the the artist’s seventies, turned out to be one of the intention of preserving knowledge about vanishing highlights in the emerging trend of non-fiction writ- crafts and educating the younger generation. ing for young children in China. (Age: 4+) [FW, ZX] (Age: 6+) [LO]

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Zhang, Youyu (Chang, Yeou-yu) (text) Zhou, Yifen (Chou, Yih-Fen) (text) Lin, Yixian (Lin, Shain) (illus.) Zhang, Chao (Wu mao) (illus.) Jiang hu, hai you ren ma? Xue ying nai nai de gu shi (Is there still anybody in these rivers and lakes?) (The story of Grandma Snow Flower) Taibei: Yuan liu chu ban shi ye gu fen you xian Zhu bei shi: He ying wen hua shi ye you xian gong gong si (Yuan-Liou Publishing), 2019. – 285 p. si (Heryin Books), 2019. – [39] p. (Series: Lü du yu = Read it!) (Series: Wo men de gu shi xi lie) ISBN 978-957-32-8586-1 ISBN 978-986-96460-1-7 Martial arts | Friendship | Adventure | Coming Taiwan | China | History 1949-2007 | War | of age | Fantasy fiction | Wuxia novel Mother | Daughter | Separation | Picture book CHINESE

Wuxia novels about »martial heroes« are a distinct Chou Yih-fen, founder and editor-in-chief of Heryin genre of Chinese fiction, set in a fantastical version Books, dedicates her newest picture book »to an era, of ancient China. The associated term »jianghu« and all those whose destinies were shaped by it«. (»rivers and lakes«) refers to a community of martial One of those is Grandma Xueying, whose short-term artists or outlaws who live by their own code of memory is shaky but who still remembers that time chivalry. This is the first martial arts novel of Chang as if it were a painting. Instead of becoming the man- Taiwan Yeou-Yu, who has authored more than fourty highly ager of her mom’s teahouse in Suzhou, she goes to acclaimed children’s novels, and illustrator Lin Taiwan in 1949 to train as a nurse. When the People’s Shain. It won the 2020 Taipei International Book Republic of China is proclaimed in the same year, Fair Award. Niutou village, a seemingly peaceful Taiwan and China are warring states and there is no place, hides a mystery about a disappeared martial chance to return. She then graduates from college, artist community. One day, a group of menacing gets married, has children … and writes all those let- martial arts masters show up and cause a stir in the ters to her mother, which cannot be sent off. In 1987, village. Is there still anybody left in the local »rivers when martial law is lifted in Taiwan, she is able to re- and lakes« community to face them? Will it be one turn to her hometown, only to learn that her mother of the two thirteen-year-old friends, one of whom is has long since passed away. Zhang Chao (pen name: fond of repairing shoes, while the other is aspiring Wu mao), professor at Shandong Academy of Arts to become a martial arts master? How fast do they and multi-awarded illustrator, contrasts the deeply have to grow up now? Will their dreams of heroism moving story through his own visual narrative, with a affect their friendship? Where will their personal mixture of traditional Chinese imagery and Western »jianghu« be? (Age: 10+) [LO] techniques. (Age: 6+) [LO]

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Charms, Daniil (Kharms, Daniil) (text) Tihi-Stepanib, Jasminka (text) Vernib, Vendi (illus.) Ljeto na jezeru Cicu Beslab, Leo (transl.) (Summer at Bice Lake) Sedam macaka Zagreb: Ljevak, 2018. – 191 p. (Seven cats) (Series: SMS biblioteka) Zagreb: Mala Zvona, 2019. – 83 p. ISBN 978-953-355-187-6 ISBN 978-953-8313-00-4 Coming of age | Parental absence | Siblings | Poetry | Short story | Nonsense literature | First love Anthology CROATIAN CROATIAN

2019 was THE year for illustrator Vendi Vernić Fourteen-year-old Lucija is annoyed because the (b. 1991). The work of this student of renowned summer is not at all as she’d hoped. Her mother illustrator Svjetlan Junaković and graduate of the has to work far away, her father toils at BMW in Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts was featured at the Munich, and so her parents leave Lucija in the illustration exhibition of the children’s book fair half-finished family home, along with her annoy- in Bologna in 2017. In 2018, she won an award for ing brother and overbearing grandmother. The artists under the age of 35 at that fair. In 2019, she best place to relax is the nearby lake, where she Croatia went right on to publish five books in three coun- makes new contacts, including a nice boy. Gradu- tries. Her illustrations for »Sedam mačaka« won ally, Lucija revises her relationships: she no longer the renowned Grigor Vitez Award that same year. dreams of joining her father in Germany, she views Vernić’s passion for Russian literature surfaces here her best friend in a new light, and she grows closer in her nimble and multi-layered illustrations of sto- to her little brother and her grandmother, who is ries, poems, and vignettes by Daniil Kharms, which caring for her own mother with dementia. When she illustrates using a mixed-media technique. Her Lucija’s brother tragically drowns in the lake and submissions to the competitions in Bologna were her parents both return home, the summer at Čiče illustrations to texts by Gogol and Dostoevsky. This Lake becomes a defining turning point in Lucija’s book shows Vernić’s talent for dealing with absurd, life. The recipient of several awards, Jasminka Tihi- phantasmagorical and nonsense-influenced mate- Stepanić’s (b. 1958) novel is a coherent coming-of- rial, by extrapolating it visually and bringing to age story with an acute sense for the real lives of light its quirkiness. (Age: 5+) [KW] children and adolescents. (Age: 12+) [KW]

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Kot'átko, Petr (text) Malý, Radek (text) Kot'átková, Eva (illus.) Grbavcic, Jirí / Dvorský, Pavel (illus.) Anicka, mluvící potok a další chovanci Atlas vyhubených živocichO ústavu paní Majerové (Atlas of vanished animals) (Anna, the talking brook, and other residents Praha: Albatros, 2019. – 87 p. of Ms. Majerova’s sanctuary) ISBN 978-80-00-05360-8 Praha: Meander, 2019. – 161 p. Animal extinction | Environmental awareness | (Series: Modrý slon; 142. svazek) Atlas | Non-fiction ISBN 978-80-7558-068-9 Home | Past | Fantasy world | Time CZECH

Wondrous, mysterious, spooky things happen in »And they all lived happily ever after«. The fairy- the old house where Anička the talking baby and tale adage applies to none of the 41 creatures her parents live. The house has a past that the baby introduced in this atlas. Mammoth, dodo, and can effortlessly enter, traverse, and explore. Anička Neanderthal man: all extinct. They only live on in meets poem-writing squirrels and a talking brook the descriptions of Radek Malý and the colour- there, and becomes a resident of Ms. Majerová’s ful, whole-page illustrations by Jiří Grbavčic and sanctuary, which offers refuge to animals, chil- Pavel Dvorský. The detailed, gorgeous depictions dren, and other beings. Together they dive deeper and descriptions of species and their fates can only into the story of the sanctuary and learn of the serve as a reminder and as a warning of how much dramatic events surrounding a girl named Lenka. life has already disappeared from the Earth. The Czech Republic Unconventional, linguistically and conceptually atlas also shows that the disappearances continue. daring, rich with nonsense and dimensional play Page by page it nears the present day and ulti- across time and space, author and philosopher Petr mately introduces creatures that still existed a few Kot’átko (b. 1955) reveals the endless narrative years ago, like the Zanzibar leopard (until 1996), power of stories. Eva Kot’átková’s (b. 1982) delicate the Pyrenean ibex (until 2000) or the Chinese river illustrations seem out of time and space in the best dolphin (until 2007). In the end, we are left with a sense, lending wonderful expression to the other- bitter question: Which creature will next be added worldly yet utterly real-seeming events in the book. to this beautiful, sad atlas? (Age: 9+) [KW] (Age: 8+) [KW]

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Rezková, Milada (text) Stará, Ester (text) Šrámek, Jan / Vlková, Veronika (illus.) Urbánková, Marie (illus.) To je metro, céce! Jedééém! (It’s the metro, man!) (Let’s go-o-o-o!) Praha: Paseka, 2019. – 165 p. Praha: Pop-Pap, 2018. – [26] p. + 1 poster ISBN 978-80-7432-944-9 + 2 cut-out sheets ISBN 978-80-906625-9-9 Prague | Underground train | Public transport | Non-fiction Vehicle | Pop-up book | Picture book CZECH

Being underground is always exciting. The same This picture book was a wonderful surprise in the goes for the underground train. There is much to Czech Republic and a great hit for the publisher learn about Prague’s metro system in this non- Pop-Pap, whose elaborately produced books ap- fiction children’s book. It is furnished with great pear in limited print editions. In »Jedééém!« every illustrations that imitate the aesthetic and design double page is dedicated to a different transport of various Prague metro stations and were created vehicle. Whether car, rocket, submarine, or bicycle using a mix of computer graphics and watercolour – Marie Urbánková (b. 1995) translates every ride drawings. Not only that, readers are also intro- into fresh, unfussy papercut illustrations, showing duced step by step to all the secrets of the under- it in action. That said, the book’s real show-stoppers ground by friendly Karel Jr. and his easy-going are the many flaps that conceal further little details. grandpa Karel. Karel Sr. worked for the Prague Alongside the pictures, crisp couplets invite readers Czech Republic metro for ages and knows its corridors, buttons, to peer under the flaps to discover, for instance, and mechanisms like no one else. He has good what animal is being lit up by the bicycle light, what connections, too – since everyone in the public snack the truck driver is eating en route, or which transport system knows him, they let him and Ka- airplane passengers have found their seats. The rel Jr. access normally closed-off areas of the metro snappy verses are from Ester Stará (b. 1969), who cosmos. This unusual metro book by Milada Rez- consistently pursues enthralling book projects and ková (b. 1979), Veronika Vlková (b. 1985), and Jan is as much at home with a picture book as with a Šrámek (b. 1983) embraces the form of a children’s book of children’s prose or verse. (Age: 2+) [KW] non-fiction book in which facts are combined with story-telling elements. (Age: 8+) [KW]

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Bjørg, Annette (text) Kvist, Hanne (text) Wichmann, Kamilla (illus.) Brøgger, Lilian (illus.) Sommervenner Pigen der hed Djamesbond (Summer friends) (The girl called Djamesbond) [København]: Carlsen, 2019. – [26] p. [København]: Gyldendal, 2019. – 48 p. ISBN 978-87-119-0407-7 ISBN 978-87-02-15777-2 Child | Old age | Loneliness | Communication | Imagination | Imaginary friend | Loneliness | Picture book Courage | Friendship DANISH DANISH

A man is sitting on a bench. »From the side, he re- Lasse has a friend who has courage aplenty. She sembles a question mark, the way he slouches, bent parachutes, rides kangaroos, climbs steep walls, over his knees.« What a sad sight! Nevertheless, and wrestles down her enemies by kissing them the little girl asks his name; and from then on, she until they run out of breath and faint. What a great turns up every day to talk to him. True, the man is girl, this Djamesbond! It doesn’t matter that only rather taciturn; but when the girl isn’t dissuaded, Lasse can see her, does it? Yet one day, Djamesbond his resistance slowly melts away. Readers learn shows up in real life, because she is fed up with Denmark that he feels quite lonely, because his children do being merely an imaginary friend. Hanne Kvist and not visit him and his wife has died. The girl keeps Lilian Brøgger are among the crème de la crème of talking to him, and sometimes she even challenges Danish children’s book creators. In »Pigen der hed him a bit. Eventually, the man asks the girl for her Djamesbond«, they once again exhibit their great name, too. From that moment on, they are »Som- skills. They present loneliness and queasy feelings, mervenner«, summer friends. Kamilla Wichmann’s as well as courage and imagination. Hanne Kvist pictures have a kind of Art Nouveau feel to them. weaves dialogue, interior monologue, and thoughts The muted colours that she uses also mirror the into a text in which a lot happens between the cautious and mindful way in which the two pro- lines, while Lilian Brøgger lets Lasse watch wide- tagonists approach each other. (Age: 4+) [IG] eyed as Djamesbond, a whirlwind with a yellow petticoat, bright red shoes, and impulsive facial expressions, leaps across the pages with pizzazz. (Age: 6+) [IG]

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Nielsen, Carsten René (text) Vedsø, Mette (text) Marcussen, Mette (illus.) Når hjertet er en elpisker Drømmecykler og fodboldhunde. (When the heart is an electric blender) Digte for børn [København]: Høst & Søn, 2019. – 151 p. (Dream bikes and soccer dogs. Poems for children) ISBN 978-87-638-6357-5 [Vordingborg]: Vild Maskine, [2019]. – [26] p. Anxiety disorder | Pressure to perform | ISBN 978-87-934-0491-5 Self-confidence | Community Poetry | Nonsense literature DANISH DANISH

Carsten René Nielsen and Mette Marcussen have During English class, Pi suddenly collapses. Every- released a poetic gem, published by the new Danish thing goes black; dizziness; boom. At the hospital, publishing house Vild Maskine: It features poems she is diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Her parents, illustrated with delicacy and filigree that all tell well-off workaholics for whom high performance little stories – lyrical, off-beat, and melancholic and success are everything, only want the best for narrative poems, rich in language. There are poems their daughter. They arrange therapy after therapy, about adults who are as boring as shopping carts, so that she can cope with »the crisis« as quickly as Denmark about a cowboy who loves the ocean, or about the possible, go back to school, and function well. Yet eponymous dogs who secretly meet at dusk to play that doesn’t work. Pi takes the time she needs and soccer. Readers hear about horses who wear too makes friends with three extraordinary people in her much lipstick, or witches who snore »like a swarm apartment block: Gillian Brown, an elderly lady, plus of bees buzzing in and out of an elephant’s trunk«. Bianca and her daughter, Vicky, all three of them The unconventional visual language and the as- street-wise, warm-hearted, and imperfect. Pi gets to tonishing ideas make »Drømmecykler og fodbold- know different ways of living and realizes that she is hunde« a book that inspires readers to marvel, spin perfectly okay the way she is; and at some point, so out the tales, and create their own poems; a book do her parents. Pi, who tells her own story, is curi- they will want to pick up again and again. This is ous, clever, and a good observer. She is definitely no children’s poetry at its best! (Age: 4+) [IG] sociophobe, but rather open-minded and helpful. The four inhabitants of the house quickly become very close, and Pi benefits more from this closeness than from any school lesson. (Age: 12+) [IG]

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This book starts in the Stone Age and chrono- Kiki is a cat with white fur. When she looks in the logically describes how people and nature live mirror, she finds herself extremely boring. She together by means of advancements in science and wants to have beautiful colours, just like so many technology. Readers are taken on a visual journey other animals. Then Kiki has an idea: She uses through time, full of interesting facts about, for pencils, ink, and paint to make herself colourful. instance, the process of metalworking, the develop- Still the other animals don’t think she is beautiful

Belgium ment of the first colour film, and the appearance or special, which makes Kiki very angry. Then she of YouTube – from ancient times to today, from falls into some paint cans that make all of her fur fire to virtual reality, even casting a glance into the purple, just like Goof, a cat who walks by at that future. Readers also learn about the first scientific moment. Together they paint each other various discoveries and meet renowned scientists such as colours. Kiki’s mother is very proud of her – but Andreas Vesalius, Ivan Pavlov, or Marie Curie. The she was proud of Kiki before she coloured her text is understandable for everyone and avoids the fur, too. This simple story offers many repetitive difficult technical terms used in textbooks. The elements that young children really like and that detailed illustrations magnificently complement fit the structure of the story very well. Every time the text. Peter Goes studied at the Royal Academy a colour is used by the cats, it is associated with a of Fine Arts in Ghent. In this explorational book specific animal, such as green with a frog or red for all ages, he uses an animated and very fun illus- with a ladybug. The humorous picture book ends tration style. »Tijdlijn« offers a breath-taking trip with a little moral: appreciate yourself just the way through history. (Age: 10+) [TD] you are. (Age: 4+) [TD]

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Mortier, Tine (text ) Dielemans, Linda (text) Verster, Alain (illus.) Loo, Sanne te (illus.) De koudste winter Brons. over glimmende schatten (The coldest winter) in mistige moerassen Wielsbeke: De Eenhoorn, [2019]. – 66 p. (Bronze. About gleaming treasures in misty swamps) ISBN 978-94-6291-437-7 Amsterdam: Fontaine, [2019]. – 184 p. ISBN 978-90-5956-894-5 Winter | Loneliness | Bullying | Old age Bronze age | Non-fiction DUTCH

A ten-year-old boy and an old man live together in Bronze was revolutionary in the history of hu- a house. The boy is very lonely and is often bullied mankind. This alloy of copper and tin was the first by other children. The coming winter proves to metal from which tools were made with no other be severe and snow-filled, and the boy becomes purpose than to inflict wounds or kill. Since these increasingly isolated from the world outside the weapons were used in many wars, there was a big house, both literally and metaphorically. The market for bronze. In the beginning, the bronze

colours disappear from his life more and more, trade also brought great wealth. The information in Belgium as do the birds he used to feed every day. One this book is based on archaeological findings in the

day he collects wood for the stove and sees a little Netherlands. Linda Dielemans succeeds in making Netherlands robin. This signals the start of the return of colour, an impersonal and seemingly dry subject such as sun, and spring. This beautiful, touching story of bronze the object of a lively and gripping read. The a lonely child has many symbolic elements. The combination of information and enthusiasm repre- relationship between the boy and the old man, who sents the best that the world of non-fiction has to is forgetful and often seems far away during their offer. In an intriguing way, the book combines true talks, is special, depicted in a caring, poetic way facts and evocatively illustrated fictional stories, with intriguing, well-chosen metaphors. The bril- told from the perspective of the bronze itself. Linda liant, atmospheric illustrations, sometimes from a Dielemans has written three works of fiction so far, bird’s eye view, stand out for their use of a palette all of which are set in the Stone Age. The writer that perfectly fits the story. (Age: 9+) [TD] and illustrator have added something essential to what we can see in a museum display case: a story. (Age: 10+) [TD]

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Dijkstra, Lida (text) Kuyper, Sjoerd (text) Fila, Djenné (illus.) Bizar Het beest met de kracht van tien paarden (Bizarre) (The beast with the strength of ten horses) [Hoorn (NH)]: Hoogland & Van Klaveren, Amsterdam: Luitingh-Sijthoff, [2019]. – 165 p. [2019]. – 315 p. ISBN 978-90-245-8734-6 ISBN 978-90-8967-288-9 Ancient Greece | Mythology | Theseus | Reading | Diary | Summer holiday | Love | Ariadne | Fantasy fiction Adventure DUTCH DUTCH

Lida Dijkstra goes straight to the exciting part in Sallie Mo, thirteen years old and always reading, her retelling of the story of Theseus and Ariadne: starts keeping a diary. The first observation she Fourteen young people sent from Athens to be writes down is: »There is absolutely no structure in sacrificed are lowered into a dark tunnel. Gradu- the world«. Writing the diary is a new experience ally, it becomes clear how they came to be there, for her, begun on the advice of a psychiatrist named as frescos and other messages on the walls of the Bloem, whom she is seeing after the death of her labyrinth reveal the story leading up to this point. beloved and wise grandfather. Writing is not easy They tell of the architect Daedalus and his over- for Sallie. She has to struggle with many kinds of

Netherlands confident son Icarus, of how Daedalus murders a questions, wondering who is in charge in a diary, the rival inventor out of jealousy and has to flee from »real-life« person or the writer? With amusing irony, Athens to Crete, and of how Daedalus and Icarus Sjoerd Kuyper presents a realistic teen who, aware escape with wings made by the inventor himself. that the truth is fluid, constantly misdirects the The framing story is cleverly constructed, slowly reader. The driving forces of the plot are Sallie Mo’s revealing one detail at a time. It is depicted in such planned romantic conquest of her secret friend Dy- a realistic way that – in spite of gods and mon- lan, whom she meets every summer holiday, and the sters – one feels it actually could have happened. story of a bunker where an armed banker’s daughter Dijkstra succeeds brilliantly at integrating the is hiding from her rich father. »Bizar« is a beautiful, mythical stories into the exciting main plot. The wide-ranging and unique book, a new highlight in newcomer Djenné Fila skilfully evokes a classical the oeuvre of Sjoerd Kuyper, who was awarded the Greek atmosphere with her powerful illustrations. highly prestigious Theo Thijssen Prize for his body (Age: 12+) [TD] of work in 2012. (Age: 10+) [TD]

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Remmerts de Vries, Daan (text/illus.) Vendel, Edward van de (text ) Vos is een boef Linden, Martijn van der (illus.) (Fox is a bad guy) Wat je moet doen als je over een nijlpaard Haarlem: Gottmer, 2019. – [32] p. struikelt. Gedichten waar je wat aan hebt ISBN 978-90-257-7061-7 (What to do if you stumble on a hippopotamus. Poems that benefit you) Endangered animals | Prejudice | Stereotype | Amsterdam: Querido, 2019. – 68 p. Fox | Picture book ISBN 978-90-451-2226-7 Poetry DUTCH DUTCH

When a dodo rings Fox’s doorbell to collect money This book of original poems could be called a for endangered animals, it is a bit of a strange »self-help poetry collection for children«. Even in moment. But Fox’s mischievous look at the bird’s the most unexpected yet possible situations a child face, combined with the dodo’s confession that the could get into, there is always a solution. For exam- money is for himself, makes the situation doubly ple, »What to do if your train is delayed« or »What funny. The fox invites the dodo to come in and rest to do if someone has died and you didn’t know that for a moment. Later that day, his friends Badger person very well«. The title-poem concerns trip- and Raccoon come to visit him, and he serves them ping over a hippo – its advice is to say sorry and

a big, round roasted chicken. Is this the dodo? Or then gobble up so many sweets that the next hippos Netherlands is that a conclusion based solely on suspicion and you encounter have to get out of your way. The prejudice? This marvellous picture book explores texts are as varied in style and tone as the illustra- the traditional character of the fox in an ironic, tions, and both are full of humour and irony. The ambiguous way. The irony of this funny, exciting, parlando-style poetry bursts with linguistic fun. and original story about friendship, trust, and Edward van de Vendel plays with words in a light- prejudice resides mainly in the interaction between hearted, sparkling way. The author takes children the text and the illustrations, consisting mainly seriously, making it clear that they themselves have of expressive lines and bright watercolours. Daan to take steps to conquer problems. The author and Remmerts de Vries has created more than forty illustrator previously teamed up in the book »Stem books for all kinds of readers and has received op de okapi« (Vote for the okapi), which received many awards. (Age: 5+) [TD] the renowned Woutertje Pieterse Award. (Age: 8+) [TD]

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Westera, Bette (text) Caddy, Meg (text) Weve, Sylvia (illus.) Devil’s ballast Liefting, Steef (design) Melbourne, Victoria: The Text Publishing Dit is geen Cobra Company, [2019]. – 312 p. (This is not a cobra) ISBN 978-1-925773-46-0 Amsterdam: Samsara, [2019]. – [48] p. Bonny, Anne | Caribbean | Domestic violence | ISBN 978-94-92995-09-4 Pirate | 18th century | Gender role | Love Painting | Visual arts | Cobra movement | Non-fiction DUTCH ENGLISH

Marie paints a purple canary bird. That is not normal, »Devil’s Ballast« is a fast-paced historical novel at least according to some people. Canaries are yellow based on the true story of one of the most famous with little pink beaks. They have legs, not wheels. And female pirates: Anne Bonny. Born in Ireland around you’re colouring outside the lines again, Marie! The 1700, the girl reportedly ran away from her abusive story takes an unexpected turn when the girl finds husband at the age of eighteen to join notorious herself in secret painting lessons – she never has to pirate captain John Rackham on his ship. In Meg

Australia colour inside the lines, her animals take on any colour Caddy’s second offering for teen readers, Anne she likes, and her playful drawings are free to sparkle comes across as a feisty and headstrong figure who

Netherlands and shine. This book is a beautiful introduction to refuses to fulfil the expected role of a woman in 18th the work and thoughts of the Cobra avant-garde art century society. Although she is fully aware that a movement (1948-1951). Sylvia Weve’s mixed-media pirate life is defined by violence, competition, and illustrations display the same brightness and sponta- danger – and doubly so for a woman disguised as neity as those of the Cobra painters. The humorous cabin boy – she welcomes freedom and adventure story is told with text and illustrations at the top of as well as the love she receives from Captain »Calico the pages, while the bottom of the pages feature text Jack«. In a riveting narrative, which reimagines a boxes with factual information. Steef Liefting paid short part of Anne’s life from two different points of much attention to the book’s design, which is also view, her own and that of pirate hunter Captain Bar- inspired by the Cobra movement. Bette Westera and net hot on her heels, the author skilfully interweaves Sylvia Weve have published several books together, known facts, myths, and fiction to paint the picture which all received the most important Dutch chil- of a strong, many-faceted woman who bravely dren’s literature awards. (Age: 8+) [TD] stands her ground. (Age: 14+) [CS]

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In his introduction, editor Michael Earp remarks This suspenseful, fast-paced YA thriller is the that his »conviction that LGBTQIA+ youth deserve debut novel of Jannali Jones, a Krowathunkoolong the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the woman of the Gunai nation, and the winner of the literature they read…« motivated him to commis- 2015 black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship. sion this short story anthology. Aptly named »Kin- The gripping story starts with a bang, when Kaya dred«, this exciting compilation gathers the works and her mother Marnie flee their Sydney house in

of twelve authors – renowned and award-winning the middle of the night, terrified that whoever has Australia writers as well as interesting new discoveries – from killed the teen’s father will come after them, too. As across the spectrum of gender, sexuality, identity, the novel unfolds, Kaya and Marnie, an Aboriginal and cultural background. The stories range from romance novel writer, are hiding in their summer a haunting historical tale and a fast-paced quirky home in the Blue Mountains, with as little contact eco-activist story, to witty gritty sewer-rat tale, and a with the outside world as possible. Due to PTSD, the story about unrequited love. Readers will find funny seventeen-year old girl can only unearth snippets of and thoughtful texts, stories that feature young her memories, but i t dawns on her that some things people of colour, First Nations teens, and disabled just don’t add up. Kaya feels increasingly uneasy and youth – all created on the topic of »connection«. A truly sceptical, as there is obviously more to her mother’s fascinating glimpse of LGBTQIA+ life in all its new/old boyfriend than meets the eye. Readers are many variations. The appendix includes information taken for a breathless ride in this novel about trauma, on all the authors and suggestions for interesting secrets, memories, storytelling, and the search for websites. (Age: 14+) [CS] truth. (Age: 14+) [CS]

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This suspenseful picture book is a collaboration Theodore is the newly crowned ruler of not just between award-winning author David Metzenthen his grassland home but the entire animal kingdom; and designer-cum-illustrator Mairead Murphy. and although his proud parents are convinced that With a sparse, matter-of-fact text of a total of eight he has »a natural gift for ruling«, the young lion three-word sentences, Metzenthen creates a simple himself is not so sure. After all, he’s never been sure but thrilling story that even the youngest read- about anything, not even simple matters such as

Australia ers or listeners will be able to follow and enjoy. It which colour of socks to wear or what to have for features »one curious rabbit« who »one dark night« breakfast. Yet now, in the worst summer heat, he hops out of her safe garden and is chased by »one faces a truly tough problem: Should he have his un- hungry fox«. Murphy expands on the short phrases controllably fast growing mane cut or does he need in her pictures, adding a myriad of details to the to keep it? Well, how about a vote? Pip Smith’s witty story while still keeping her illustrations of suburbia and wry text with its funny surprise ending serves as clear and uncluttered. Combining hand-drawn and the perfect springboard for Beau Wylie’s comical il- digital techniques, she gives her characters unique lustrations in soft »savannah« hues. He captures the personalities, plays with pace and perspectives – crazy and contemplative mood of the story, plays from close-ups to bird-eye view – and weaves in a with size, angle, and perspective, and adds count- surreal tongue-in-cheek surprise on two wordless less hilarious details – Theo in curlers is a sight to double-spreads that has quick-witted rabbit Lulu behold. This light-hearted, seemingly nonsensical outsmart the sly predator. Without a doubt, all this story will have readers in stitches, but may also makes for: One fantastic read! (Age: 2+) [CS] spark interesting discussions. (Age: 4+) [CS]

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Watts, Frances (text) Arsenault, Isabelle (text/illus.) Watson, Judy (illus.) Albert’s quiet quest Leonard doesn’t dance [Toronto]: Tundra / Penguin Random House, Sydney, N.S.W.: ABC Books, 2019. – [32] p. [2019]. – [42] p. ISBN 978-0-7333-3304-0 (Series: A Mile End Kids story) ISBN 978-1-101-91762-6 Bird | Diversity | Dancing | Self-confidence | Picture book Reading | Introvert | City | Imagination | Picture book ENGLISH

A »big beaky bird ball«? Sounds like fun, thinks It can be tough to grow up in the city. Impossible Leonard. Well, it would be, if he knew how to dance. to find a quiet corner to read! Luckily for Albert, So, Monday morning: first lesson with the magpies. there’s the back alley where someone threw out a Oops. The warble-warble-waltz is not his thing; and wonderful beach scenery painting that invites the neither is the ducks’ do-si-do on Tuesday – more of a little boy to dream. But it doesn’t take long before do-si-don’t for Leonard; or the crows craw-craw-can- the neighbourhood children barge in with their Canada

can on Wednesday, which he simply can’t-can’t. The shovels and skateboards, badminton rackets, and Australia clumsy, long-legged bird hangs his head, hides in stereo. Add to that a crying baby and a scream- shame, and vows to stay home. Yet his friends won’t ing cat, and poor Albert’s had enough: »Quiet!« he go without him – so… In a mixed-media technique shouts in a big black speech bubble. The unexpected that involved »printmaking, painting, drawing, happens. All kids disappear only to re-emerge with a collaging, and digitising«, Judy Watson has created book in hand and quietly join Albert at the »beach«. vibrant pictures that explode with jungle plants, This picture book is part of a series that celebrates birds from around the world, colour, and humour. the power of the imagination, which allows children The feathery fellows’ spot-on facial expressions and to transcend the dreariness of urban surroundings expressive postures provide such fitting and imagina- and to create their own worlds, together with their tive interpretations of Frances Watts’s entertaining friends. Award-winning French-Canadian artist Isa- text, which is brimming with puns and alliterations, belle Arsenault uses minimal text and comic-style that adult readers will enjoy this story about self- frames to pace the story, giving Albert and his read- confidence, loyalty, and finding your own style just ing friends lots of room to dream. (Age: 4+) [NvM] as much as their small listeners. (Age: 3+) [CS]

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Nugent, Cynthia (text) Smith, Heather (text) Kiddo Wada, Rachel (illus.) Vancouver [et al.]: Tradewind Books, [2019]. – 251 p. The phone booth in Mr. Hirota’s garden ISBN 978-189658066-1 [Victoria, British Columbia]: Orca Book Publishers, [2019]. – [32] p. Family | Summer holiday | History 1960s | ISBN 978-1-4598-2103-3 Competition | Misfortune Japan History 2011 | Tsunami | Community | Coping with grief | Picture book ENGLISH

The Warbles are a great family – warm-hearted, This moving picture book is centred on the grief witty, and wonderfully weird. Ten-year-old Kiddo and healing of a small Japanese boy. After losing his – full name: Katherine Wisteria Warble – is a beloved father in the terrible 2011 earthquake and committed puzzle-solver, coupon-collector, and tsunami in the coastal town of Otochi, where ten competition-enterer, and she has set her heart on percent of the inhabitants died in this natural disaster, becoming the next Junior Journalist for their small Makio is left devastated and furious with the ocean.

Canada town news-paper, The Town Crier. Yet in order When his neighbour and closest friend, Mr Hirota, to qualify for this particular competition, she will builds a white phone booth in his garden and places need to spend every minute of her summer holi- an old black telephone in it, people start arriving days scoring points at various community activi- from near and far to »talk« to their dead friends and ties. So off she goes with aplomb: helping an elderly relatives. Inspired by a true story, this book shows woman with errands, walking a dog (and losing it how an unusual, creative idea can help people con- in the process), weeding a garden (and ripping out front their grief and learn to cope with it. Illustrator a precious rare rose in the process, oops), and even Rachel Wada used a combination of black ink, pen- stealing antique car parts back from the origi- cils, and watercolours, and combined them digitally nal thief. Kiddo is not going to let a few setbacks to create mesmerizing pictures. Partly reminiscent of douse her enthusiasm. Author-illustrator Cynthia traditional Japanese art, they capture all the nuances Nugent’s laugh-out-loud children’s novel is packed of the intense lyrical text, from quiet and happy to with quirky characters, hilarious plot twists, and a terrifying and, eventually, soothing and hopeful, and dab of nostalgia for the 1960s. (Age: 8+) [CS] have earned her the 2020 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award. (Age: 4+) [CS]

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Thomas, Rebecca (text) Various authors (text) Young, Pauline (illus.) Various artists (illus.) I’m finding my talk Elliott, Alicia (foreword) Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Publishing, [2019]. This place. 150 years retold – [32] p. – ISBN 978-1-77108-811-4 Winnipeg, Manitoba: HighWater Press, [2019]. – (Simultaneouly published: I lost my talk. vi p. + 287 p. ISBN 978-1-77108-810-7) ISBN 978-1-55379-758-6 Canada | Mi’kmaq | Indigenous Canada | History | Historiography | Indigenous people | Cultural heritage | Residential School | people | Revisionism | Anthology | Poetry | Picture book Graphic novel ENGLISH

»I Lost My Talk« is a famous poem by acclaimed July 1, 1867 – that is the founding date of Canada, Mi’kmaw poet Rita Joe (1937-2007) about the loss as children learn it in school across the country. of her language and cultural heritage during her The Canadian history taught in schools and public time at a residential school. Over the years, it has discourse, is one told from the perspective of the been an invaluable inspiration for many indigenous settlers. They had the power to make history and writers and artists in Canada. Halifax-based pub- to tell it. This graphic novel anthology sets out to

lisher Nimbus Publishing have achieved something retell this history from the perspective of those most Canada special, when they decided to both re-publish Rita often left out in the official narrative: First Nation, Joe’s poem and commission award-winning young Métis, and Inuit writers and artists join their creative Mi’kmaw poet Rebecca Thomas to write a compan- energies to give faces to the people and peoples ion poem, which is entitled »I’m Finding My Talk«. erased and to lend voices to those silenced. Doing The texts in these two simultaneously published so, they open up new perspectives on 150 years picture books are accompanied by powerful acrylic of Canadian history and claim a more inclusive, illustrations in rich colours created by Mi’kmaw art- restorative vision of the country’s past. Using very ist Pauline Young. The three creators’ »voices« com- different visual styles, the artists bring into dialogue bined make readers witness the cruelties indigenous traditional imagery and graphic novel techniques Canadians were subjected to in the past, while at the in new and exciting ways. Highwater Press is a same time providing a heartfelt and powerful plea 100% indigenous-owned publishing house with the for the way that new generations can reclaim their mission of providing authentic narratives by the ori- families’ culture. (Age: 5+) [CS] ginal inhabitants of the country now called Canada. (Age: 15+) [NvM]

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Al Serkal, Maryam (text) Arbuthnott, Gill (text) Luciani, Rebeca (illus.) Nielsen, Christopher (illus.) Mira’s curly hair Balloon to the moon London: Lantana Publishing, 2019. – [26] p. London: BPP Big Picture Press, 2019. – 77 p. ISBN 978-1-911373-61-2 ISBN 978-1-78741-354-2 Mother | Daughter | Hair | Beauty standard | Aviation | Spaceship | Moon landing | Self-acceptance | Picture book History 1969-2019 ENGLISH

Non-white people across the world are familiar with Since 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the first hair-related bullying and discrimination. What a moon landing, it’s only natural that there has been joy that recent years have seen an increase in sto- an upsurge in books about aviation, astronauts, and ries celebrating curly black hair, like this offering by space travel. Readers can revel in fictional picture Lantana Publishing, a small publisher committed to books, such as Ken Wilson-Max’s »Astro Girl« or diverse and inclusive books. Mira really hates her hair. »Look Up!« by Nathan Bryan and Dapo Adeola, All these tangly curls! Why can’t it be »straight and moon poems, e.g. in »This Rock, That Rock« by smooth, just like her Mama’s«? Yet nothing works: not Dom Conlon and Viviane Schwarz, and a wealth of standing on her head, not pulling it down, not even non-fiction titles, such as »Balloon to the Moon«. Great Britain flattening it with old books. One rainy day, however, Arranged in a »Countdown« of ten chapters – plus Mira watches in awe: Could Mama’s hair be curly, three called »Lift Off«, »Lunar Orbit«, and »Re-En- too. Inspired by her own family’s experience, Emirati try«, Gill Arbuthnott’s text covers the history of hu- writer Maryam al Serkal has penned an uplifting story man air and space travel, starting with the invention about a little girl and her mother who both learn to of the first hot air balloon in 1783. The book offers embrace their naturally wild and wavy hair. Argen- meticulously researched facts, introduces important tinian-born illustrator Rebeca Luciani uses bold, people, and chronicles key developments. It sports bright colours, close-ups and full shots, and a myriad an engagingly varied layout and a design in colourful of patterns to create lively pictures. The city of Dubai retro-style illustrations – including even an »Apollo 13« and the lush landscape serve as a perfect backdrop for comic strip – that will keep inquisitive young would-be a heart-warming tale about love, self-acceptance, and astronauts enthralled. (Age: 8+) [CS] misguided beauty standards. (Age: 3+) [CS]

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Balen, Katya (text) Bexington, Carys (text) Carlin, Laura (illus.) Hindley, Kate (illus.) The space we’re in The night before Christmas in Wonderland London: Bloomsbury Children’s Books, London: Macmillan Children’s Books, 2019. – [38] p. [2019]. – 291 p. ISBN 978-1-5098-7988-5 ISBN 978-1-5266-0194-0 Christmas | Moore, Clement Clarke / Twas the Autism | Siblings | Jealousy | Mother | night before Christmas | Carroll, Lewis / Alice’s Death | Coping with grief Adventures in Wonderland | Adaptation | Intertextuality | Picture book ENGLISH

Ten-year-old Frank loves football and numbers What do St. Nicholas and the furious Queen of and sharing secret morse-code messages with his Hearts have in common? Well, not much, unless you mum. He also loves his little brother, although it take two revered children’s classic books and mash sometimes feels as if he lived in a different universe. them together. In debut author Carys Bexington’s Five-year-old Max is autistic. He only ever wears hilarious remix, St. Nick and his reindeer take a the same grey T-Shirt with yellow stripes, he can’t detour to Wonderland to ensure the poor Princess of bear bright colours or loud noise, and if something Hearts doesn’t have to celebrate Christmas without disturbs him, he will melt down completely. When a single present. However, the welcome they receive

the boys’ mother dies unexpectedly, the family’s is a shocking one: »Off with your head!« the now Great Britain world shatters. In an honest interior-monologue-like grown-up, Christmas-hating Queen bellows. Will narration, Frank’s conflicting emotions – his love, St. Nick be able to bring peace and goodwill to Won- anger, guilt, frustration, and grief – pour onto the derland? The entertaining story is delivered in rol- pages. Form and content form a special bond in this licking verses modelled on the original 1823 poem book: The chapter headings, written in code, signify »A Visit from St. Nicholas«, with a few trademark Frank’s fascination with numbers, the font and Lewis Carroll words thrown in for good measure. layout of words and letters often change to mirror Kate Hindley clearly had a feast combining Nick’s the boy’s feelings, and the sketchy black-and-white reindeer sleigh, technology-savvy elves, art-deco drawings express key moments in the story. Katya style interior design, and Wonderland favourites Balen offers readers an enthralling debut novel such as the Cheshire Cat and the Bandersnatch. about family love, courage, empathy, and not giving A rhythmical and visual delight about Christmas, up. (Age: 10+) [CS] kindness, and craziness for all ages. (Age: 4+) [CS]

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Bilan, Jasbinder (text) Dahl, Sophie (text) Asha & the Spirit Bird O‘Hara, Lauren (illus.) Frome, Somerset: Chicken House, 2019. – 276 p. Madame Badobedah ISBN 978-1-911490-19-7 London: Walker Books and Subsidiaries, 2019. – 54 p. ISBN 978-1-4063-8440-6 Farm | Poverty | Journey | Spirit animal Hotel | Mystery | Prejudice | Storytelling | Friendship ENGLISH

Asha’s family owns a small farm in a tiny village Author Sophie Dahl confessed in an interview that close to the Himalayas, and although they strug- she always considered hotels places of magic and gle to make ends meet, Asha wouldn’t want to live mystery. Thus it is only natural that she chose just anywhere else. Yet after months without a word or such a »curious« place for her first children’s book. money from her beloved father, who works in a The Mermaid Hotel is young Mabel’s home, a cosy distant city, they are about to get evicted by a ruth- bed & breakfast hotel by the seaside. When one day, less money-lender. Together, eleven-year-old Asha a cranky old lady with bright red hair, two dogs, and her best friend Jeeval sneak off on a dangerous two cats, a tortoise, and twenty-three bags moves

Great Britain treck across the highest mountains to find her Dad into Room 32, Mabel is immediately suspicious. and bring him home. A lamagaia, the spirit bird This rude, feather-clad Madame Badobedah – as she of her late grandmother, guides and protects Asha names her – MUST be »an ancient supervillain on and Jeeva as they brave hunger, illness, wolf attacks, the run from the police.« So Mabel goes into spy- criminals, and other perils during their exhausting mode – and discovers that the lady has the heart of a adventure. Debut author Jasbinder Bilan, who was adventurer; a proof that first impressions can be de- born on a farm in the foothills of the Himalayas her- ceiving. This story is comical, quiet, a little sad, and self, skilfully weaves cultural and religious elements imaginative all at once. The watercolour illustrations and magic realism together. The thrilling story, provide amusing snapshots ranging from ominous which is the winner of the Costa Children’s Book or nostalgic memories to imaginative adventure; Award 2019, features a strong heroine who outdoes and Lauren O’Hara’s depiction of curious, head- herself to rescue her family. (Age: 10+) [CS] strong Mabel and stiff, grumpy Madame Badobedah is simply spot on. (Age: 5+) [CS]

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Independent publisher Tiny Owl have set their sight »Liccle Bit«, award-winning author Alex Wheatle’s on publishing beautiful, original children’s books first YA book, was published in 2015. In his latest from around the world. »Quill Soup« is a retell- addition to the highly praised Crongton series, ing of a folk tale known as »Stone Soup« in many the focus is less on drugs and gang wars. Instead, countries. For his version, prolific author and poet readers get to learn more about fourteen-year old Alan Durant chose a South African setting and Naomi, who has been in the care system for a while. decided to use animals instead of human char- Being shuffled from one foster family to the next, acters for universality’s sake. After travelling for Naomi pretends to be big, bad, and unbreakable; she

days without food, Noko the porcupine arrives at a is quick to judge people, retort at or fib to her social Great Britain village, but the locals are suspicious of this stranger. worker Louise; yet on the inside, the vulnerable girl Yet when he brings a huge pot of water to the boil is desperately searching for a place to belong. The and starts making »quill soup«, Monkey, Aardvark, white teen’s first chance of a real home seems to Meerkat, and the others forget their hostility. South come when she is placed with black foster parents African artist Dale Blankenaar’s stunning pictures Toni and Collette and their two kids. The skilfully are influenced by various African art traditions and crafted story is uncomfortable and in-your-face but multi-layered. The brightly coloured scenery with also has its tender and thoughtful moments. Writ- stylised animals in the foreground shows the story ten in an authentic voice, with spiky dialogue and as it unfolds, while a more subtle, grey-toned layer a wealth of evocative expressions, the gritty novel in the background symbolises Noko’s home country. touches on issues of alcoholism, violence, racism, Both are brimming with details that will reveal new and empathy and will have readers cheer for Naomi. gems at every re-reading. (Age: 4+) [CS] (Age: 14+) [CS]

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Azma is an avid reader. She eats and breathes books. As author-illustrator Kanak Shashi mentions in an They make her mind wander and leave her with interview, she wrote the story »Guthli Has Wings« hundreds of unanswered questions, questions that way back in 2010 after working with children in scare her, especially after nightfall, when »those crea- Dehli on a project that involved the questioning of tures of the night« roam around the darkness. Richa gender roles. Originally conceived in Hindi as a short India Jha, committed author and publisher, has crafted a story called »Guthali Toh Pari Hai«, the text was then quiet, thought-provoking story about a young girl, translated into English and published in an anthology hungry for knowledge, who struggles with a grow- of boys’ stories in 2015. It features a bubbly young ing uneasiness. Spanish artist Eva Sánchez Gómez, child, who loves riding her bicycle, climbing trees, who has illustrated more than thirty books so far, and drawing fairies. Her family adores Guthli, but takes the short, philosophical text and transforms it when she tries to wear her sister’s frilly dress and in- into dream-like, partly sinister pencil illustrations. sists that she is a girl, not a boy as her mother, father, Azma’s everyday world, rendered in black and white, and siblings claim, they all get upset and angry with gets increasingly swamped with large areas of yellow her. Guthli feels desperate and becomes quiet and that signify the fascinating world of imagination and withdrawn. For this 2019 picture book version, Kanak its scary creatures that come crowding into the girl’s Shashi has created bright, edgy painted paper collage bedroom. Can her own creativity help Azma face pictures that mirror the changing mood of the story. her fears? An atmo-spheric read about exploring the The energetic illustrations show the family’s journey world with the help of stories and about the liberat- from initial shock and anger to love and acceptance of ing power of writing. (Age: 6+) [CS] their child’s gender identity. (Age: 5+) [CS]

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Cowley, Joy (text) Marsh, Selina Tusitala (text/illus.) Clarkson, Giselle (illus.) Mophead. How your difference makes The gobbledegook book. a difference A Joy Cowley anthology Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2019. – [88] p. Wellington: Gecko Press, 2019. – 85 p. ISBN 978-1-86940-898-5 ISBN 978-1-776572-58-8 Biracial family | Hair | Racism | Bullying | Poetry | Short story | Anthology Self-confidence | Poetry | Autobiography ENGLISH

Joy Cowley is one of the best-known New Zealand Selina Tusitala Marsh is an extraordinary woman. authors and almost certainly the most prolific. Since University professor, Commonwealth Poet (2016), starting her career as a writer in the 1960s, she has and the first Pacific Islander Poet Laureate in New created everything from picture books, poetry, and Zealand (2017-2019), the energetic woman has early readers, to novels for children, teenagers, and performed her poems all over the world and in front adults – more than 600 titles in total. This »bumper of VIPs such as Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth book for the whole family« is a compilation of II. As a child however, she was constantly bullied be- twenty poems, rhymes, and short stories. Readers cause of her »wild Afakasi hair«. In order to escape can enjoy both Cowley classics, such as »Nicketty her classmates’ racist teasing, she tied back her hair Nacketty Noo Noo Noo«, and lesser-known works, trying to be the same as them. Yet then, acclaimed New Zealand all of which are witty, whacky, and wonderful. They poet Sam Hunt paid her school a visit. With hair are ample proof of the author’s unique voice and her (almost) as wild as her own and a performance to mastery of rhyme and rhythm. Giselle Clarkson’s match it, he inspired her to celebrate her difference effervescent illustrations highlight the most exciting and awakened her love for poetry. In vibrant scribbly moments in the various texts. With their scribbly illustrations in black, white, and red and a short lines and blotchy planes of colour, they exude a text interspersed with lots of humorous dialogue in fresh, sketch-like vibe and make each character speech bubbles, Marsh recalls important moments dance across the pages. This enchanting volume, from her childhood to the present. Her insightful which lends itself to reading aloud, will delight graphic memoir is a rallying cry for individuality, multiple generations of readers. (Age: 4+) [CS] Pasifika, and poetry, and a powerful plea against racism. (Age: 8+) [CS]

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»Beverly, Right Here« is the final book in award- In Remy Lai’s debut illustrated novel, eleven-year- winning Kate DiCamillo’s quasi-trilogy about the old Yanghao moves to Australia and feels like he has »Three Rancheros«, friends Raymie, Louisiana, and landed on Mars. Months later, still struggling with Beverly. Set in 1979, four years after the events of the English and finding it impossible to make friends,

USA first book, this middle-grade novel follows fourteen- he sees himself as the Martian, an emotion Lai year-old Beverly as, one day, she just ups and leaves captures perfectly through her comic illustrations. her old life – trying to get away from the death of On top of it all, he has to look after his annoying her beloved dog Buddy and from her self-centred brother, Jingwen, while his mother works. But then mother Rhonda. Without any money or plan, she Yanghao discovers a purpose. He will bake all the manages to secure a job at Mr. C’s seaside lunch cakes he made with his father, who once dreamed of restaurant (although she hates fish), and is taken in opening a bakery before he unexpectedly passed by kind, bingo-crazy elderly lady Iola, who lives in a away. Yanghao thinks if he re-created them all, every- pink trailer. Although Beverly acts tough and con- thing will be better, including his feelings of guilt vinces herself that she doesn’t want anyone to care around his father’s death. But Yanghao and Jingwen for or about her, she can’t help making new friends. must keep their baking a secret – they’re forbidden Written in a deceptively simple style with staccato- to use the oven while their mother is away. Lai’s like sentences and witty dialogue, this quiet book storytelling seamlessly blends text and illustration about friendship, trust, and courage is peopled with to create an engaging tale that successfully uses hu- a bunch of well-rounded, eccentric characters who mour to present difficult topics and evokes empathy draw readers in right from the start. (Age: 12+) [CS] in a way that is perfect for middle grade readers. (Ages 9+) [MB]

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Lawson, JonArno (text) Lukoff, Kyle (text) Kazemi, Nahid (illus.) Juanita, Kaylani (illus.) Over the rooftops, under the moon When Aidan became a brother New York: Enchanted Lion Books, 2019. – [49] p. New York : Lee & Low Books Inc., [2019]. – [32] p. ISBN 978-1-59270-262-6 ISBN 978-1-62014-837-2 Identity | Loneliness | Joy of living | Belonging | Transgender | Prejudice | Siblings | Picture book Picture book ENGLISH

For this picture book, award-winning Canadian Aidan, a biracial transgender boy, is excited to be a poet JoArno Lawson has created a profound, medi- big brother soon – but also a tad anxious. He feels tative poem about loneliness, community, and the that his most important role is to make sure this meaning of life, reminiscent of Shaun Tan’s »The new family member doesn’t feel misunderstood and

Red tree«. Addressing readers directly, the sparse trapped in the wrong clothes and bedroom, as he USA text has a quiet, contemplative tone: »You can be far initially did before his parents fixed the »mistakes«. away inside, / and far away outside. / With others, Kyle Lukoff’s sensitive text, which encourages read- but still on your own / when suddenly / you feel ers to discard stereotypes and gender expectations, something / that gets you moving.« Montreal- has Aidan narrate his journey from birth, when based Nahid Kazemi, a renowned artist and graphic everyone thought he was a girl, to coming out to his designer from Iran, has taken this philosophical text parents, and celebrating his true identity as a boy. and added her own visual interpretation of it. Her Kaylani Juanita chose a colour palette that matches stunning mixed-media pictures follow a huge white the, as she calls it, »light, airy, and gentle« writing bird on its quest through a changing world, look- style and tone of the story. Her vibrant ink-and- ing for a place to belong after being separated from watercolour illustrations feature lots of details and its flock. The imaginative double-spreads, some of fun patterns. They radiate warmth, joy, and love, and which are completely without text, are a whirl of portray Aidan as a confident, spunky, and consider- shapes and dreamy colours. Readers of all ages will ate child. This groundbreaking #OwnVoices book be inspired to imagine new interpretations of text is the winner of the Stonewall Book Award for and pictures with every re-reading. (Age: 6+) [CS] LGBTQIA+ literature. (Age: 4+) [CS]

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Maillard, Kevin Noble (text) Quintero, Isabel (text) Martinez-Neal, Juana (illus.) Peña, Zeke (illus.) Fry bread. A Native American family story My papi has a motorcycle New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2019. – [42] p. New York: Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random ISBN 978-1-62672-746-5 House LLC, [2019]. – [36] p. ISBN 978-0-525-55341-0 Native Americans | Tradition | Food | History | (Spanish parallel ed.: Mi papi tiene una moto. Picture book Transl. by Andrea Montejo. Kokila, 2019) Mexican community | Father | Daughter | Motorcycle ride | Picture book ENGLISH

As its name suggest, »fry bread« is a type of food; When Papi comes home in the evening after work, yet as debut children’s book author Kevin Nobel Daisy races out of the house with their two helmets. Maillard – a member of the Seminole Nation, He lifts her on his motorbike and – vrrroooom – off Mekusukey band – makes clear, there is so much they go. They roar off into the orangey-purpley glow

USA more to it. Fry bread is shape, sound, colour, flavour, of the setting sun and zigzag through their town, time, art, history, place, and nation… simply put: past the tortilleria, the raspado shop (now sadly it is everything. Invented about 150 years ago as out of business), her abuelitos’ cosy house, and to a necessity of survival, it has become a symbol of the building site where her carpenter father’s col- Indigenous resilience and endurance in America; leagues are still hammering away. Inspired by Isabel a »new« tradition, which basically all Native Ameri- Quintero’s cherished memories of her own child- cans share – even if there can never be agreement on hood rides with her father through her home town the-one-and-only »true« fry bread recipe. The lively of Corona (California), this story makes a vibrant free verse celebrating this festive food and family life Mexican-American neighbourhood come alive – is accompanied by award-winning Peruvian artist with a hint of nostalgia. With great skill, Zeke Peña’s Juana Martinez-Neal’s mixed media illustrations comicbook-style illustrations in muted tones convey in warm tones. They depict a diverse modern-day the speed and joy of the ride, while also portraying Native American family with members of different an array of cultural details of an immigrant town skin and hair colours. The extensive eight-page appen- undergoing many changes. This book is a celebra- dix provides a wealth of background information tion of family, the love between a father and his and links for further reading on Native American daughter, and Latinx culture. And of the excitement history, culture, and life. (Age: 4+) [CS] of motorbike rides, too, of course. (Age: 4+) [CS]

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Rex, Adam (text) Reynolds, Jason (text) Keane, Claire (illus.) Kendi, Ibram X. (original text/introd.) Why? Stamped. Racism, antiracism, and you San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books LLC, New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company, [2019]. – [54] p. 2020. – 320 p. ISBN 978-1-4521-6863-0 ISBN 978-0-316-45369-1 Villain | Interrogation | Picture book Racism | Antiracism | Race relations | History | Non-fiction ENGLISH

»Why?« Parents know, and dread, this question; Jason Reynolds’s remix of Ibram X. Kendi’s National especially when it is repeated again and again and Book Award winner, »Stamped from the Beginning«, again – as in this book. Yet who would have thought is a compelling and convincing story for young peo- that this simple three-letter word, uttered by an in- ple. In a conversational tone, Reynolds offers detailed

quisitive little girl in a red polka-dotted dress, would examples to show why and how racism exists as a USA have the power to convert super-villain Doctor X- way of systemically depriving black people of civil Ray, who is out to take over the world, into a peace- liberties and rights. Historical details of dates, events, ful, boot-knitting, yarn-selling fellow. Adam Rex’s and names give credence to the premises of the nonsensical comedy plays out as a kind of therapy- book: that black people face systemic racism across session between the bold child and the mean rocket- the spectrum of how laws are written, implemented, boot-wearing adult, as they are roaming through and imposed, and are also denied equal opportu- a (mostly deserted) shopping mall. Claire Keane’s nities. The notion of being simply »not racist« is vibrant digital illustrations, sporting speech bubbles debunked by the repercussions of complicity in an with bold black outlines, have a sketchy, dynamic unjust society. This timely book calls for antiracists, quality. With great skill, she presents the protago- who know that there is nothing inherently wrong nists’ facial expressions and body language – as well with black people, to take action to identify, work as the villain’s various childhood flashbacks – having against, and dismantle systemic racism. Although readers feel the mood changes and subtle shifts in rooted in the details of US history, the implications intonation. A hilarious read for curious youngsters are universal and are reverberating around the and stressed-out parents alike. (Age: 4+) [CS] world. (Age: 12+) [JY]

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Geoff Rodkey is known for his comical books, such As war ravages Europe, the United States has not as the bestselling »The Tapper Twins« series. As yet entered the fray but still suffers from years of the can be gleamed from the quirky cover illustration Great Depression. Worlds away from the fighting, a featuring a young human being flanked by two giant ghost who died as a teenager watches children grow-

USA blue-ish mosquito-like figures, his latest offering ing up at Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow, a Chicago for middle grade readers belongs to the genre of orphanage run by nuns. She is particularly captured science fiction. However, although »We’re Not From by Frankie, a fourteen-year-old half-orphan whose Here« is set in space, the story references present- father is alive but cannot care for her or her sister day problems such as immigration, refugees, and Toni while supporting his new family. As Frankie racism – and it does so in a clever, funny, and grip- navigates the daily struggles of life at the orphan- ping way. The story follows a group of humans who age and eventually uncovers her past, the ghost, are seeking refuge on the planet Choom. Yet even as first-person narrator, delivers a perspective that though Choom’s government officials initially issued feels both omniscient and deeply personal. She too a friendly invitation, by the time the group arrives is adjusting to her own reality and a history she is after their twenty-year-journey, the planet’s inhabit- still trying to piece together. Author Laura Ruby was ants, especially the mosquito-like Zhui, have turned inspired by her late mother-in-law’s teenage years hostile. It is up to Lan and Ila and their parents to to write this atmospheric character study. She uses persuade the three co-existing species on Choom superb imagery to balance historical fiction, the that human »aliens« are actually a friendly, peace- fascinating lives of often forgotten people, and a loving species. Will slapstick comedy and pop music truly unique ghost story. (Ages 14+) [MB] do the trick? (Age: 10+) [CS]

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Vecchione, Patrice / Raymond, Alyssa (eds.) Williams, Alicia (text) Zamora, J. (foreword) / Mahmoud, E. (afterword) Genesis begins again Ink knows no borders. Poems of the New York: Atheneum, [2019]. – 364 p. immigrant and refugee experience (A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book) New York [et al.]: Seven Stories Press, [2019]. – ISBN 978-1-4814-6580-9 xviii p. + 183 p. African-American family | Racism | Skin colour | (A Triangle Square Books for young readers) Beauty standard | Bullying | Self-acceptance ISBN 978-1-60980-907-2 Migration | Refugee |Home | Identity | Racism | Poetry | Anthology ENGLISH

Published by the independent publishing house Genesis has had enough. Another eviction because Seven Stories Press, this impressive YA anthology her gambling alcoholic of a father hasn’t managed to gathers the poems of 64 eminent contemporary pay the rent; and right on the day when her school poets who all share the experience of being first- »friends« had agreed to come home with her….

or second-generation immigrants to the US. Their How embarrassing. She really hates him. But more USA families and ancestors hail from countries near than her Dad, she hates herself, her wide nose, her and far, such as Haiti, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, nappy hair, and especially her dark skin that no Vietnam, Syria, the Philippines, and many more. milk bath or lemon rub can lighten. With bullies In their heart-wrenching texts, they talk about a at school and constant criticism from her father kaleidoscope of topics and emotions, from home- and grandmother, it takes new friends, a support- sickness, fear, guilt, and belonging, to the loss of ive music teacher, and a talent show for Genesis to their culture, racism, hostility, language difficulties, finally start accepting herself. Alicia D. Williams’s and the search for their identity. The poems, which complex debut novel sheds light on the harsh effects were originally published between 1984 and 2018, of colourism in the past and present. It drives an offer readers compelling insights into these poets’ otherwise bubbly and headstrong girl to self-hate lives and souls and prove that indeed »Ink Knows and self-harm in an attempt to meet popular beauty No Borders«. The collection is bookended by an standards – and to feel loved by her (equally dark- insightful foreword and afterword and contains skinned) father. This harsh realistic story, a riveting short biographical information for all the poets read lightened by some humour and hope, will stay included. (Age: 14+) [CS] with readers long after they have finished the book. (Age: 10+) [CS]

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Jaaks, Piret (text) Vaiksoo, Jaanus (text) Tammik, Marju (illus.) Kaev, Katrin (illus.) Emme draakon King Nr: 39 (Mommy’s dragon) (Shoe #39) [Saue]: Päike ja pilv, 2019. – [34] p. [Tallinn]: Ärkel, 2019. – 183 p. ISBN 978-9949-7376-3-5 ISBN 978-9949-7272-2-3 Mother | Daughter | Rage | Exhaustion | Family | Friendship | Shoe store | Secret Picture book ESTONIAN

There’s a dragon living in Mommy – this much the Multiple-award-winning and highly praised, »Shoe young first-person narrator knows for sure. Her #39« was a giant success for author Jaanus Vaiksoo puerile thought processes and explanatory schemes and his small publishing house Ärkel. The book’s help her determine how, when, and why the dragon secret to success lies in its mixture of a light, yet breaks out of her mother, snarling and grumbling. multi-layered text full of inexplicable elements and Usually it appears when the little girl is around, but a protagonist to sympathize, share the thrill, and Estonia there’s no lawful regularity. Not even Mommy knows grow with. Paul is a likeable, somewhat insecure what the dragon looks like or how to keep it at bay, fifth grader with parents who have too much to do. which troubles the girl. Thankfully, though, Mommy He finds two important anchors outside his fam- knows the dragon will go away again and leave them ily in Arthur and especially Arthur’s cool daughter, both in peace. In an unpretentious way and from the Minna. Paul and Minna want to discover the secret child’s perspective, Piret Jaaks (b. 1980) tells a tale of behind a gentleman who, each and every day, buys parental strain and shows how sometimes a dragon the same pair of shoes in size 39. Paul first notices just needs to break out of mothers and fathers, even him in a shoe store he hides in to escape two mean though they don’t want it to. The bright, collage-like classmates. There’s obviously something special illustrations by Marju Tammik (b. 1972) counter about the store, so Paul also becomes a patron there. balance the subject matter with great levity and show The shoes he tries on take him on imaginary jour- a wonderful mother-daughter relationship that is as neys and let him follow his dreams. The key role, turbulent as it is loving. (Age: 3+) [KW] however, is played by the shoe vendor Jekaterina. (Age: 11+) [KW]

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Vallik, Aidi (text) Papa, May Tobias (text/transl.) Lumimari (illus.) Various artists (illus.) Seebu maailm Flores, Liza / Nazareno, Isa (research) (Soapy’s world) Karapat dapat. Bata, alamin ang iyong mga [Tartu]: Lugu-Loo, 2019. – 46 p. karapatan! = Dignity. Child, know your rights! ISBN 978-9949-9498-7-8 Quezon City: CANVAS; Ang INK, 2018. – 58 p. + [2] p. ISBN 978-971-9689-07-2 Parents | Divorce | Daughter | Depression | Text Filipino and English Melancholy | Escapism | Picture book Children’s rights | Picture book | Activities book | Bilingual book ESTONIAN ESTONIAN FILIPINO

To write believably about a child,s depression, anxi- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of ety, and melancholy in a children’s book is no easy the Child, which served as the inspiration for this undertaking. In a marvellous and touching way, book, was adopted by the United Nations General children’s book author and lyricist Aidi Vallik Assembly in 1989. In spite of being ratified by the (b. 1971) and illustrator Lumimari (b. 1976) succeed Philippines a year later, the publishers see it as nec- in doing just that in »Seebu maailm«. In a poetic essary to take a stand and educate Filipino children interplay of text and full-page illustrations, they tell about their rights »at a time where the very value of Estonia

the story of a parental divorce and the consequences human rights is questioned«. All the convention’s Philippines for daughter Seebu (Soapy). She owes her nickname 54 articles are re-written in child-friendly language. to her great passion, soap bubbles. After her father Selected passages directly address young readers and leaves the family and Seebu experiences how the are beautifully illustrated by the country’s best book pain of separation eats into both her mother and illustrators. Readers find extra pages interleaved herself, soap bubbles become a place of refuge and that can be coloured in or used as game boards. a shimmer of hope: When Seebu lets the delicate This book is the fruit of the collaboration between formations into the world, she forgets all the dumb CANVAS, a non-profit organization that promotes heartache and effortlessly flies among the bubbles children’s literacy and runs the »One Million Books through life. Eventually, she even succeeds in envel- for One Million Filipino Children« campaign to oping all that she loves into a great protective soap donate books to disadvantaged communities, and bubble. (Age: 7+) [KW] 21 members of Ang INK, the Philippines’ children’s book illustrators organization. (Age: 6+) [LO]

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Maijala, Marika (text/illus.) Laffitte, Valentine (text/illus.) Ruusun matka Aux quatre coins du monde (Ruusu‘s journey) (At the four corners of the world) Helsinki: Etana Editions, [2018]. – [52] p. Bruxelles: Versant Sud, [2020]. – 36 p. ISBN 978-952-7105-30-6 (Series: Les pétoches) ISBN 978-2-930938-11-0 Dog | Captivity | Running away | Freedom | Picture book Ecology | Climate change | Animals | Environmental awareness | Picture book FINNISH FRENCH

Wax crayons are the favourite drawing tools of many In this picture book about climate change, four children, but illustrators rarely use them. Why is representatives of endangered animal species that? As Marika Maijala shows in her picture book describe changes in their habitats and food access, »Ruusun Matka«, they work really well. Even with as well as the destruction of the ecosystems they this »simple« medium, she draws accurately; and share with other plants and animals: the polar bear, at the same time, the wax crayons lend the illustra- whose habitat is melting under his paws; the bee, Finland Belgium tions an expressive vitality. This way, the choice of who must fly far distances in search of pollen; the the tools and technique reflects the story’s theme sea turtle, whose environment is being polluted and of running. The book is about Ruusu (Rosie), a overheated; and the orang-utan, whose existence is greyhound, who one day has enough of her mono- threatened by the destruction of tropical rain forests. tonous existence at the dog track and simply runs This sensitively designed book shows the growing away. She passes the finish line and runs further and endangerment of the species diversity in various further and further, through the city, across streets, regions of the world and in our own backyard. It and through the park. Finally, she is free! And what’s makes human-caused climate change tangible for more: she finds new friends, too. This proves: Leaving very young children without resorting to »cata- familiar paths always pays off. (Age: 5+) [IG] strophism«, and carefully invites ecological rethink- ing. French illustrator Valentine Laffitte, who lives in Brussels, presents impressive, colourful collages made from artfully cut and torn paper. (Age: 4+) [SW]

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Robberecht, Thierry (text) Dubé, Pierrette (text) La cache. Roman Malo, Audrey (illus.) (The hiding place. A novel) Les fables extravagantes de Conrad le corbeau Namur: Mijade, [2019]. – 76 p. (The extraordinary tales of Conrad, the raven) (Series: Zone J – Le feuilleton des Incos) Montréal, Québec: Les 400 coups, [2019]. – [80] p. ISBN 978-2-87423-108-7 (Series: Grimace) ISBN 978-2-89540-829-1 Escape | Migration | Refugee | Xenophobia | Solidarity Animals | Fable | Persiflage FRENCH

They’ve arrived! Refugees from Syria come to a Ten eccentric but lovable anti-heroes are on the French small town. Lodging and provisions must quest for happiness. Among them are Albert, a be arranged for the many newcomers as soon as good-natured dromedary whose paradoxical busi- possible. Fourteen-year-old Elsa wants to be an ness ventures never seem to succeed, and a gentle active help, too – against the will of her mistrust- boa constrictor named Bob who, of all things, falls ing father, but supported by her grandfather who in love while playing winter sports. The protagonists Belgium remembers his own experience of escape during of these marvellously absurd animal fables flout Canada German occupation in the Second World War. Elsa the rules, ignore conventions (even of their own secretly houses the Syrian refugee family Saade in species), and leave their comfort zones – sometimes an empty caravan. When the family is threatened only for a single decisive, or risky, or wonderful in their lodging by right-wing extremists, it’s Elsa’s moment. Pierrette Dubé subtly satirizes the genre of father who comes to their aid, to everyone’s surprise. the animal fable, cleverly employing her well-honed In examining universal experiences of escape and talent for absurd entanglements, wordplays, and displacement, this trenchant short novel by Belgian paradoxical humour. The »morals« at the end of the author Thierry Robberecht reveals tensions and stories thus also take highly bizarre turns to avoid learning processes surrounding the support of refu- being pinned to any pedagogical intention, except to gees. The incisive text functions as a preliminary, entertain! Illustrator Audrey Malo brings the mar- low-threshold way into the topic of migration, while vellously surreal stories to life with her distinctive also discretely drawing attention to various contra- comics-influenced, cheeky line. (Age: 7+) [SW] dictions among the »helpers«. (Age: 12+) [SW]

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Nadeau, Christine (text) Aderhold, Carl / Davisse, Françoise / Pomerlo, Camille (illus.) Jugla, Cécile (text) La ville aux dos d‘éléphants Dubray, Anne-Hélène (illus.) (The city with the elephant back) Histoires d‘une nation Montréal, QC: Éditions de l‘Isatis, [2019]. – 56 p. (Stories of a nation) (Series: Griff; 5) Paris: Nathan, [2019]. – 127 p. ISBN 978-2-924769-78-2 ISBN 978-2-09-259122-2 Mining | Health hazard | Ecopolitics | France | Immigration | National identity | Environmental protection | Picture book History 1914-2010 | Non-fiction FRENCH

How can a one-time mining stronghold completely Every fourth French national has at least one grand- redefine itself? In this picture book, Christine parent with migration experience, lending them Nadeau allegorizes the varied history of Thetford access to an important cultural and emotional herit- Mines in southern Quebec – her hometown – whose age. But many of these family stories attesting to the wealth originally came from asbestos extraction. inventiveness and willpower of immigrants have

France But after a decades-long battle, the miners forced an yet to be narrated or documented. This non-fiction

Canada economic change of course and the end of asbestos book by journalists Carl Aderholt and Françoise mining, which is extremely health-damaging. After Davisse summarizes interviews from their docu- the mines were closed, the bizarre crater landscape mentary film »Histoires d’une nation«. They believe (called »elephant back« by locals) was landscaped, that the people featured in these biographies are and the city warmed to sport and tourism. Now this relevant role models in the controversial debate over idyllic place faces a new threat from mining com- France as a land country of immigrants. 45 French panies seeking to mine magnesium in its asbestos- men and women with familial roots in Poland, China, contaminated dumps. The book’s five-page appendix Mali, the Antilles and elsewhere portray what con- of documentary material on the topic of asbestos, tributions their families (in their own generation or as well as Camille Pomerlo’s retro illustrations, help those past) have made across more than a century this volume in the »Griff« series to successfully to build the France of today. These are courageous sensitize young readers to ecological issues. (Age: 10+) people, who took control of their lives, seeking to [SW] bring to fruition the Republic’s unfulfilled promises of freedom, equality, and solidarity. (Age: 9+) [SW]

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Adimi, Kaouther (text) Babin, Alice (text) Les petits de Décembre. Roman Various artists (illus.) (The December kids. A novel) Histoires du soir pour filles rebelles. Paris: Éditions du Seuil, [2019]. – 247 p. 100 femmes françaises extraordinaires (Series: Fiction & Cie) (Good night stories for rebel girls. ISBN 978-2-02-143080-6 100 extraordinary French women) Paris: Les Arènes, 2020. – 215 p. Algeria | History 1950-2016 | Violence | ISBN 979-10-375-011 Resistance | Uprising 2-7 France | Woman | Role model | Biography FRENCH

Mahdi, Jamyl, and Inès enthusiastically play soccer Girls need access to authentic female role models. on a wasteland – like many children before them This is why Italian author duo Favilli/Cavallo in this inconspicuous soldier neighbourhood in launched the biography series »Good Night Stories the West of Algiers. In 2016, their dirty football for Rebel Girls« by means of crowdfunding in the pitch becomes the starting point of a bitter conflict USA. Parts 1 and 2 of this book project were spec-

with two military generals who wish to build their tacular global successes. For part 3, the editors gave France villas there. Against the wills of their families, who international collaborating publishing houses free have nearly all found ways to adjust to the military hand to generate their own »national« selections. regime, the three friends join other teens to occupy Independent publisher Les Arènes published part 3 the land. Who will prevail? A press release about in French as an original volume of its own design. It a real incident inspired this novel. Young Algerian is a real eye-catcher, illustrated by 27 known female author Kaouther Adimi mixes tragicomic fairy-tale book illustrators and artists. In short portraits, elements with literary collage to create a parable journalist Alice Babin introduces 100 women from with few flaws that celebrates the courage of the across 10 centuries, who overcame all manner of Algerian youth who forced the resignation of the adversity in France to realize their career dreams, state president in 2019. Adimi sheds light upon the life goals, and social demands. Babin ventures to complex experiences of violence and the resistance put together a decidedly socio-critical selection. traditions of her home country, showing how these The book could do more to meet diversity criteria, shape the life of young people and women to this though. (Age: 10+) [SW] day. (Age: 16+) [SW]

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Cult author Pénélope Bagieu has scored a coup: Who’s making a racket in little Anathilde’s bedroom She’s transformed the children’s book classic »The at night? A strange little man, whose enormous Witches« into a thrilling comic, and, with appre- head is pockmarked by craters. It’s the moon king. ciation for the smallest of details, has created an He invites, actually rather commands, Anathilde to updated version of Roald Dahl’s wicked fairy tale. travel to his planet with him. Once they arrive, the

France Bagieu proved her mastery of satire with works like bizarre monarch shows his true tyrant colours. How »Culottés«, which won the significant Eisner Award did he come to possess the wonderful toy collection in 2019 and featured biographies of 30 nonconform- he hides away in the subterranean arcades of his ist women. With a mix of respect and bravado, she palace? Disillusioned, Anathilde realizes that this offers a fresh interpretation of Dahl’s witch-centred slightly megalomaniacal collector is less interested novel, placing new content-related and pictorial ac- in her company than in her help hunting for more cents. The protagonist in Bagieu’s adaptation is not very rare toy trophies. This picture book, which a white child, but rather a boy who looks (before his received a Special Mention at the Bologna Ragazzi bewitchment) like he might be from Latin America. Award 2020, appeared with Strasbourg publisher Bagieu’s rendition casts a more critical eye at the 2024. Bérengère Cournut’s text is about stealing, witch-stereotype, while at the same time relishing sharing, and the loneliness of avarice. Most capti- the theatrical potential of this fairy-tale character. vating of all are the illustrations by artist Donatien Her grotesque witches (with a certain soupçon of Mary, whose elaborate retro style recall turn-of-the- drag queen) offer a humorous counter-balance to 19th-century lithographs. (Age: 7+) [SW] the power of the fearsome top witch, who is at her demonic best. (Age: 8+) [SW]

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His ship will leave the harbour at twelve o'clock Three-headed Cerberus from the underworld in sharp. A rabbit named Jacominus Gainsborough, Greek mythology, the sea dragon of Enoshima from who is head over ears in love, waits on the pier for the ancient Japanese legend, the one-eyed giant his lady love from early morning on. Full of doubt, Polyphem from the »Odyssey«, the demon king anticipation, impatience, and with a touch of envy, Ravana from the Hindu epic »Ramayana«, and future

he endures the three hours up to departure time. extra-terrestrials from the planet Mars: Are they France In his thoughts he accompanies his girlfriend, the really »monsters«? Can they have feelings or even rabbit-lady Douce, on her capricious detours to the experience love? How do they react to the animos- harbour. Will she be punctual, even though she lets ity and cunning of unpredictable humans and gods? herself be taken in on the way by so many surprises What are their versions of the fright stories that one and encounters that she almost forgets her rendez- tells about them? Is it certain that they are the only vous with him? The cleverly designed book by »monsters« in those stories? In twelve stories from Rébecca Dautremer is a filigreed, multi-award- different centuries and continents, illustrator Guil- winning marvel. Superimposed pages with cutouts laume Duprat undertakes a perspectival adjustment create a playful optical and colour show, which inter- in the well-known narrative of the »wicked mon- acts with the changing plotlines and masterfully ster«. In expressive pictures, equipped with cleverly conveys the illusion of spatial depth. This is a perfect integrated flaps, he questions the logic of these well- book about waiting and its very different experiences known sagas. In this way, the book offers a playful of time, as well as about enjoying what’s yet to come. entry into the world of myth and into classics of the (Age: 6+) [SW] cinema or world literature. (Age: 8+) [SW]

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A murky forest with a thousand eyes harbours Save the forest! The forest god Tāne Mahuta wants fascinating, fear-inducing, and strange forms. But to save his children, the trees, from insect infesta- this place of fright transforms itself, rhyme by tion. He thus asks the birds, whose habitat is also rhyme and page by page, under the magical influ- threatened by the insect plague, for help. But the ence of a children’s poem on the topic of encounters. selfish birds offer flimsy excuses and turn away out This unconventional picture book centres on the of cowardice and comfort. Only the kiwi, the most France France topics of »fear« and »dream«. How does one cope unremarkable of all the birds, shows he is gener- productively with fear and how does one playfully ous and ready to give up what he is fond of in the find the lighter side of life? How can one make name of the common good: his ability to fly, feel the use of the power of dreams, without being at their sun, and experience beautiful life in the tree tops. mercy? Franco-Canadian illustrator and author This well-known origin myth of the Maori conveys Natali Fortier does not shy away from unsettling fundamental values for current times of crisis: How pictures, but rather uses their power. She expects does one genuinely live in solidarity, and why is it readers to engage with the secrets and puzzles she easier to renounce something when keeping the »big presents but does not resolve. For this she draws on picture« in view? Young Franco-Japanese illustrator her unmistakeable style: the interaction of com- Izumi Mattei-Cazalis cleverly combines collage and pact, somewhat static pastel chalk paintings and the stencil techniques. A little supplement introduces stroke of a sketch done with sanguine chalk pencil. the aviary world of New Zealand. (Age: 5+) [SW] »Forêt noire« is a splendid invitation to begin one’s own dream diary. (Age: 7+) [SW]

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Perrin, Jean-Éric (text) Régis Jr., Guy (text) L‘art du rap Les cinq fois où j‘ai vu mon père (The art of rap) (The five times I saw my father) [Paris]: Palette, [2019]. – 76 p. Paris: Gallimard, 2020. – 193 p. ISBN 978-2-35832-277-5 (Series: Haute enfance) ISBN 978-2-07-286215-1 Music | History 1970-2020 | Rap | City | Youth culture | Non-fiction Haiti | Loss of father | Exile | Memory FRENCH

This non-fiction book by music expert Jean-Éric How does one remember a father who one only saw Perrin on the history of rap fills an empty spot in five times as a child and who ultimately went into French young adult literature. Perrin shows how exile and never returned? In a text whose every line rap, that rhythmic-provocative speech song, is part is thought through and clear, Haitian author Guy of multi-faceted global urban culture and has long Régis Jr. proceeds on a painful inner journey into since left behind defamation as »ghetto sound« his childhood during the dictatorship of Jean-Fran- France lacking musical or poetic depth. In light of the çois Duvalier. Precious moments of joy mix with commercialization of the once-rebellious genre, he frustration, longing, fear, and torturous uncertainty. explores which interpreters in which countries still Régis’s memories skirt the character of his enigmat- express the socially critical core of this music. U.S. ic, contradictory father, who unexpectedly surfaced rappers are a bit too present in text and image in this but a few times and disappeared again, and his no book, but Perrin does show how, delimited by North less mysterious mother, who raised him by herself. American dominance, independent scenes have The parents’ inability to answer their son’s pressing developed in France, Africa, and Latin America, for questions relating to origin, family, and home land instance. He critically engages the chequered careers contrast with the narrator’s linguistic brilliance, who of some stars and also speaks about controversial precisely recalls the lonely child he once was and topics of the musical genre: gangster rap, sexism and who now stands by the boy’s side to shed some light the materialistic lifestyle of its stars. (Age: 14+) [SW] on the mysteries. (Age: 16+) [SW]

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Ressouni-Demigneux, Karim (text) Strady, Sophie (text) Et Léonard de Vinci réinvente la peinture Cornille, Didier (illus./concept) (And Leonardo da Vinci re-invents painting) Bienvenue dans ma maison d’édition. Paris: Rue du Monde, 2019. – 59 p. Avec 10 petits livres ISBN 978-2-35504-590-5 (Welcome to my publishing house. With ten little books) Italy | Art history | Renaissance | [Paris]: Hélium, [2019]. – [6] p. Leonardo da Vinci | Discovery | Non-fiction ISBN 978-2-330-12448-9 Book | Publisher | Book trade | Pop-up book | Non-fiction FRENCH

Art historian and Renaissance specialist Karim On the occasion of its ten-year anniversary, Paris Ressouni-Demigneux pursues the question of publisher Hélium has orchestrated the production who Leonardo da Vinci was and why his work still of a very original book: A pop-up book in the form fascinates today. In this elaborately designed, large- of a cardboard envelope – a tongue-in-cheek call- format non-fiction book, he explores 80 works that back to the distant past when book projects came to reveal the many extraordinary talents of the mys- the publisher’s by conventional mail. Opening the France terious genius, his aptitude for »lateral thinking«, envelope reveals a publishing house on the inside. his observational acumen, and his inventiveness. If one looks closer, one learns about the fascinating It becomes especially clear that in his artistic work, careers that are needed for publishing work. Tucked Leonardo considered »seeing« and »understanding« into slots are ten separate little books. Some contain as equal. His artistic and scientific goal to represent secrets of book manufacturing, of typography, or of nature in a comprehensive way is explained using the work of authors, illustrators and editors. Others striking examples from his drawing and painting offer practical inspiration for writing or producing oeuvre. These include, for instance, his astonishing- a book oneself. Author-duo Didier Cornille and ly timeless studies on anatomy, physiognomy, and Sophie Strady celebrate the medium of the book as mechanics, as well as his flying objects, whose exact- a creative collaborative effort. The presentation pays ness and visionary power remain impressive even attention to the »quota« of men and women. Unfor- today. This book offers an unusually well-written tunately, too little attention is paid to other diversity balance of short biography and art historical sketch aspects. (Age: 6+) [SW] for an all-ages audience. (Age: 10+) [SW]

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Gerbeaux, Thomas (text) Molen, Janny van der (text) Kerleroux, Pauline (illus.) It deiboek L‘ incroyable histoire du homard (The diary) qui sauva sa carapace Ljouwert: Afûk, 2019. – 192 p. (The incredible story of the lobster ISBN 978-94-93159-06-8 who saved his carapace) Text Frisian and Dutch Geneva: La Joie de lire, [2020]. – 132 p. Friesland | History 19th century | Socialism | (Series: Hibouk) Bilingual book ISBN 978-2-88908-501-9 Freedom | Empathy | Love of animals FRENCH FRISIAN

On a little island in southern Brittany, nine-year-old Niels moves to the province of Friesland because his Jeanne accidentally injures a lobster who runs in mother becomes mayor of the Boazeradiel district. front of her while she’s playing. The lobster in ques- He misses his friends and his old town. When he tion is in fact a talking lobster who escaped from a finds an old painting, Niels finds out about a young restaurant’s boiler and thus avoided the worst fate of girl named Geertje Kleefstra, who lived in the village all – ending up as »lobster in salted butter«. Jeanne of Reduzum at the end of the nineteenth century. offers solidarity: She hides and cares for the injured Geertje’s father was an enthusiastic follower of Fer- animal, and pluckily supports the lobster’s plan to dinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, a socialist and repub- Switzerland

free his pals, the crustaceans still trapped in the lican, and his companion Pieter Jelles Troelstra. The Netherlands kitchen’s water basin. But does she know what she’s diary of Jehannes de Groot, an eccentric man who in for? The path of the bolters back to the sea is rid- lived in the village, plays an important role in the dled with obstacles. This humorous, wordplay-filled discovery of the meaning of the old painting. This novel from native Breton author Thomas Gerbeaux book tells a fictional story about struggle, courage, is also about the curious love that certain humans and genuine friendship and is based on historical show toward animals – their empathy extends only facts about a time of poverty, hunger, and social to some animal species, while excluding others. The diversity. In a clever way, historical information is bright collages of Breton illustrator Pauline Kerleroux interwoven with modern-day life. It is impressive lithely lean into the rhythm of the text. (Age: 8+) how Frisian and Dutch mingle in this bilingual [SW] book. (Age: 10+) [TD]

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Hochleitner, Verena (text/illus.) Orlovský, Sarah Michaela (text) Die 3 Räuberinnen Roher, Michael (illus.) (The 3 robbers) Filomena Grau. Von Zaubertricks, Innsbruck [et al.]: Tyrolia-Verlag, 2019. – 128 p. Mutproben und Fellbündeln ISBN 978-3-7022-3802-5 (Filomena Grau. About magic tricks, dares, and bundles of fur) Robber | Game Wien: Picus Verlag, [2019]. – 131 p. ISBN 978-3-7117-4010-6 City | Rural life | Loneliness | Friendship | Dog GERMAN

As a popular German folk song says: »In the forest, Filomena is furious, absolutely furious! Her parents there are robbers...« It’s oh so true: real robbers have dragged her from the city to the countryside, with real robber names. Well, wait a second! While to a farm called Himmelhof, where they are plan- Bruno and Maja have found their robber names in ning to live together with a bunch of other weirdos. the blink of an eye – Bronski and Wanda – the third Such hogwash! Filomena thinks they’re all stupid; member of their group can’t think of anything that including Merlin, of course, because he is always Austria fits. Thus for now, he keeps his own name, Kasper. cheerful and, in no time, best buddies with the These three robbers now roam the staircase, intend- village school children, ugh yuck! Yet, with time ing to loot, rob, and steal. Yet even if their plan is to comes clarity; and not only that: A »mountain of be truly mean and nasty, in reality they are a kind- fur« comes around the corner, too, whom Filomena hearted lot. Therefore, their raids do not cause any names »Zottelbär« (shaggy bear). The dog is her havoc, but rather result in a lot of joy and happiness. confidant and her secret, until Merlin gets wind of Verena Hochleitner skilfully translates children’s him. However, suddenly this doesn’t matter any- fantasies into text and images, in a slightly sub- more, because actually, Merlin is quite okay... Some versive, wild, and impetuous way. Such fun for the things simply take time. This is the topic that Sarah readers! The next instalment is already underway: Michaela Orlovský and Michael Roher have their »The 3 Robbers« turn into »The 3 Knights«. Surely heroine Filomena talk about in her diary – straight enough, they fight against shame and disgrace and from the shoulder, with an eye for all things stupid, for fame and glory. (Age: 6+) [IG] as well as all things beautiful. (Age: 8+) [IG]

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Auer, Judith (text/illus.) Baldy, Juliane (text) Ein Stück Käse Paul. Roman (A piece of cheese) (Paul. A novel) Mannheim: Kunstanstifter Verlag, 2020. – [32] p. Frankfurt am Main: Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt, ISBN 978-3-942795-91-3 [2020]. – 188 p. ISBN 978-3-627-00272-5 Cunning | Compliment | Fable | Picture book First love | Summer | Loss | Coming of age GERMAN

Fables never go out of fashion. It is true that they »During the next few hours, she isn’t online for often have a somewhat dowdy charm, because their even a second. Thoughts are racing round my head (main) purpose is conveying »the moral of the again. Sissy. Damn it. Slumber party. Sad side-show. story«, the essence of the fable, so to speak. Never- Total humiliation.« The ›she‹ is Ida. Paul fell head theless, it all depends on how it is done; and Judith over heels in love with her on the last day before the Auer does it really well! In »Ein Stück Käse«, she summer holidays, the holidays that Ida is spending employs the technique of colour pencil hatching to in Sicily. Now, the two of them are texting back and give Aesop’s fable about Raven and Fox a fresh look, forth, and as soon as Ida is offline for a while, Paul’s Germany using clear colours and displaying a great sense of thoughts start spiralling: Have I made an idiot of composition and facial expression. The flame-red myself? Does she really like me? Paul and Ida, that’s fox charms the raven so skilfully that the bird forgets intense – although, or probably because, their com- to keep its beak shut and starts singing. Naturally, munication is only possible via written language and the piece of cheese, which the cunning predator is a few shaky webcam pictures. Reading this novel, after, falls straight into Fox’s snout – duh... Neither you can feel your heart beating like Paul’s, you cheer Fox nor Raven come across as particularly good fel- and suffer with him, and you long for a happy end- lows, but that’s yet another »moral of the story«: ing for him. Juliane Baldy delivers this tragi-comic In ambiguity you shall find glory! (Age: 4+) [IG] coming-of-age story with a crisp and casual tone, with tender gruffness and true passion for words (savour those one-word-sentences!), making this debut novel a one-of-a-kind read. Full score! (Age: 14+) [IG]

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Baltscheit, Martin (text) Duda, Christian (text) Büchner, Sabine (illus.) Milchgesicht Lang lebe König Frosch! (Milksop) (Long live King Frog!) Weinheim [et al.]: Beltz & Gelberg, [2019]. – 155 p. Hamburg: Dressler Verlag, [2020]. – 104 p. ISBN 978-3-407-75543-8 ISBN 978-3-7915-0149-9 Rural life | Family | Disability | Outsider | Cunning | Lying | Naivety | Venality | Fable Growing up GERMAN

Martin Baltscheit’s reputation as a specialist for This is a disturbing book. Archaic. Raw. Cut to the modern fables precedes him. With his new book, bone. It is set in an environment defined by hard »Lang lebe König Frosch!«, he easily proves it true. work, fixed roles, and rigid rituals. Someone like Wild Boar and Fox are longingly waiting for a little Sepp doesn’t fit in; because Sepp is different. He mayfly. Then Frog turns up instead; and although suffers from a disease with a name that his parents, the two friends see through the amphibian’s mayfly poor farmers, can’t even pronounce. Since they disguise, they do fall for his »The-evil-stork-turned- aren’t able (nor willing) to take care of Sepp, they Germany me-from-prince-into-frog« story shortly afterwards. hand him over to an unmarried, childless aunt. Aunt They willingly let him order them around. Eventu- and nephew form a strange kind of symbiosis and ally, Frog starts hallucinating about their shared past mutual dependence. The village looks askance at and appeals to their unwavering loyalty. Well... them. Nobody thinks Sepp can achieve anything. He A blatant satire about fake news and loudmouths on does attend school, but the teacher doesn’t pay any the one hand, and a mordant mockery of the willing attention to him. What a big surprise when he sud- belief in false, bodeful promises on the other, this denly knows how to read and do sums. How did he book is brimming with unmistakable references to learn that? Christian Duda, who has distinguished current affairs. Nevertheless, even readers who don’t himself as an uncomfortable voice in German youth decipher these subtexts will benefit from and enjoy literature with novels like »Gar nichts von allem« this braggadocious tall-tale. Because thanks to both (None of the above), once again proves that his linguistic and visual wit, the book provides plenty of books don’t fit into the usual categories. »Milch- delight along with the moral instruction typical of gesicht« is an impressive novel. (Age: 14+) [IG] fables. (Age: 8+) [IG]

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Kerze (Candle) is searching for Power. The neigh- Duckbutt. That’s the narrator’s not very flattering bour’s dog has disappeared and twelve-year-old nickname. She works at the local supermarket and Kerze wants to find it, she promised. And she always hangs out in the backyard with the other temps. keeps her promises. More and more children from Minus one person: Jo. He disappeared. Marie, his the village help her search. They move into the forest (maybe ex-) girlfriend, is dying to know what’s go- with Kerze, who is a natural leader. Soon they run ing on. Thus Marie, Can, Vika, and her little daugh- around on all fours, sniff at each other, and live in a ter, Fine, and the narrator slope off in a rickety old pack. The adults are helpless, fearful, angry, desper- car. The only reason the narrator is part of the crew Germany ate. Even if they direct their anger at individual is that the car is hers, but in a way also because Jo people whom they can blame for the situation, they gave her the nickname. In the July heat, they ride can’t change anything. Verena Güntner’s novel is a through villages without money, without a plan. modern and disturbing parable about a world that Inevitably, they get to know each other better, share is coming apart at the seams. The children’s »ani- secrets, get on each other’s nerves, and make the malisation« is nothing more than visible proof of odd, unexpected encounter. Telling coming-of-age the humans’ alienation from themselves, their fellow stories »on the road« is a classic. Sarah Jäger’s debut human beings, and their environment. The children, novel stands out for its narrator, who, although she as bearers of hope for the next generation, find a so- seems rational to the point of being uptight, has an lution by exiting civilisation and returning to nature eye for acute observation and sharp wit that sur- – even if this solution is neither free of conflict, nor faces more and more. (Age: 14+) [IG] permanent. (Age: 14+) [IG]

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»I’m sure he was remaindered.« That sounds mean. »Palast der Miserablen« begins in a cell in an Iraqi Yet, the little boy just cannot believe that his mother torture prison. Shams squats there, more dead than actually chose his father, who grouches and grum- alive, yet with a touch of hope, and remembers: bles all the time about mere trivialities. How much Born in the south, he moves to Baghdad with his better it would be to have a cowboy or a pirate for a family as a schoolchild and ends up in the »Tin dad. They’re so cool and relaxed! On the other hand: District«. Hard work, creativity, and stoicism help Cowboys never wash – whereas Daddy smells really him steer through daily life, which is shaped by Germany nice; and a pirate would destroy every football with dictatorship, arbitrariness, war, economic embargo, his grappling hook hand. So maybe Grouch-Daddy and mismanagement. Shams discovers reading and is not so bad after all? The clever dramatic structure becomes part of a group that discusses forbidden lit- of the story contrasts the putative super-daddies erature and politics in the »Palace of the Miserable«. with the everyday dad’s unexpected advantages, One day, despite all his caution, Shams is arrested. creating numerous aha-moments. In an interview, In this linguistically rich novel – which interweaves Ulf K. ›confessed‹ that »Der Meckerpapa« indeed the present at the prison with memories – bounce- has some autobiographical traits, as his two sons backability and desperation are side by side. While tend to hold a mirror up to him at times. That’s ex- the descriptions of Shams’s childhood and youth actly why the book combines the child’s perspective are laconic and humorous in spite of all the horror, with a lot of adult self-irony, which makes it a read the scenes in the prison cell will shake readers to for everyone. (Age: 4+) [IG] their core, precisely because they lack any kind of sensationalism. What happens is bad enough. (Age: 14+) [IG]

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Konstantinov, Vitali (text/illus.) Kreller, Susan (text) Es steht geschrieben. Elektrische Fische Von der Keilschrift zum Emoji (Electric fish) (It is written. From cuneiform script to emojis) Hamburg: Carlsen, [2019]. – 191 p. Hildesheim: Gerstenberg Verlag, 2019. – [71] p. ISBN 978-3-551-58404-5 ISBN 978-3-8369-5943-8 Home | Language | Homesickness | Language | Script | History | Non-fiction New beginning | Foreignness | Belonging GERMAN

Readers will surely wonder how long Vitali Kon- Repotted: All of a sudden Dara, Aoife, and Emma stantinov must have worked on this book. And find themselves in Velgow, their mother’s hometown rightly so, because »Es steht geschrieben« is packed in north-eastern Germany. Hold on, weren’t they in full with expert information about languages, Dublin a moment ago? Yet, because their mother characters, and sign systems, while at the same decided they couldn’t stay there because they’re time using them to tell the story of writing through broke, Velgow it is. Everything there is mysterious them: Rather than regurgitating facts in a tedious (who is Ernst Thälmann?) or wrong (tea bags have encyclopaedia style, this book presents them in the strings!). The fact that the grandparents aren’t will- Germany style of a graphic novel. The book thus becomes ing to remember how to pronounce »Aoife«, and an aesthetic and typographic pleasure with great that the so-called Baltic »Sea« is little more than a potential for astonishment and amazement. Readers bad joke, makes everything worse. Emma wants to can puzzle, smile, and leaf through the pages again go home, to Dublin. In »Elektrische Fische«, Susan and again. Vitali Konstantinov uses coloured pencils Kreller tells a gentle and poetic story of homesick- for the pictures, mainly black and red. Despite the ness and wanderlust, and of a speechlessness due inevitable reduction to the essentials, he presents not only to missing words – after all, language is the different writing systems with precision, even existence. Gradually, Emma works her way towards adding the odd anecdotal joke and a pinch of irony. new words, new meanings, new codes; and when Among other things, this book highlights the often she meets Levin, two searching souls find each ambivalent role of rulers, missionaries, and other other. (Age: 14+) [IG] literates: Since those who can read and write, have the sovereignty of interpretation. (Age: 10+) [IG]

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Kuhl, Anke (text/illus.) Neuendorf, Sarah (text/illus.) Manno! Alles genau so in echt passiert Die Welt, die dir gefällt. Ein Mitmachbuch (Aw, come on! It all happened just like that) (The world that you like. An interactive book) Leipzig: Klett Kinderbuch, 2020. – 128 p. München: arsEdition, [2019]. – [32] p. ISBN 978-3-95470-218-3 ISBN 978-3-8458-3068-1 Siblings | Family | Grandparents | Childhood Creativity | Imagination | Storytelling | Picture book GERMAN

Anke Kuhl’s artistic style is just as unmistakable as »Where would you most like to be right now? How her fondness for anecdotal writing and for the comi- would you travel there? Who would you like to meet cal, yet distressing moments of life. In her autobio- there?« That’s the text of the first three double pages graphical comic book »Manno!« she lets her readers of the picture book »Die Welt, die dir gefällt«. You share childhood memories that »all happened just can see the continents, then a variety of means of like that«: Anke and her sister Eva fight over favour- transport, from unicycles to hot-air balloons and ite underpants, hit each other with toilet brushes, propeller planes, and finally you can choose whether Germany and turn to »Openom« (Grandma and Grandpa) you would like to meet a tightrope walker, a pirate for love and security, when their parents are at each girl, or a queen. However, there is still more to come. other’s throats. The TV shows mentioned and the You can collect many more »ingredients« for your rooms’ decor and furniture lend the book such an own special world: pets, favourite food, and clothes. old-style West Germany feel that the kids of the The world that you like can be reinvented every day, 1970s and 80s (i.e. today’s parents) will feel like in a because everything can be combined with every- time machine. Yet at the same time, the goings-on thing else. Readers will surely think of a thousand between plush sofa and the TV shows of legendary other people and things to be part of their world(s). hosts, such as the Dutch entertainer Rudi Carrell, This is a picture book with excellent illustrations – are universal: After all, sibling rivalry and sibling playful without being over the top – and with a high love are ever-present. »Manno!« truly is a book for interactive potential for encores. (Age: 3+) [IG] everyone! (Age: 10+) [IG]

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Schützsack, Lara (text) Straßer, Susanne (text/illus.) Kehn, Regina (illus.) Fuchs fährt Auto Tilda, ich und der geklaute Dracula (Fox drives a car) (Tilda, I, and the stolen Dracula) Wuppertal: Peter Hammer Verlag, [2020]. – [26] p. Frankfurt am Main: FISCHER Sauerländer, ISBN 978-3-7795-0630-0 2019. – 253 p. Car | Fox | Animals | Passenger | Picture book | ISBN 978-3-7373-5650-3 Board book Berlin | Friendship | Family | Dog | Search GERMAN

»This story begins where most adventures begin. Foxes are generally considered sly and wise crea- Right on your doorstep«. Yep, that’s true, even if tures. In Susanne Straßer’s new board book, how- it doesn’t look like it at first: It’s summertime, it’s ever, Fox is a little scatterbrained; he doesn’t seem hot, and the whole city is drowsy... NOTHING is to notice that more and more animals are joining happening. Tilda and Oda are bored, at least until him. The wild ride in his red car keeps Fox totally Jorinde trips over them and crashes to the ground absorbed, over rough and smooth, up hill and down while looking for her missing dog Dracula. Ta-da! dale, and through puddles – »Splish, splash, splush, An adventure! So, sure as eggs is eggs, Tilda and such great splashing!« – racing around bends in Germany Oda must find Dracula! The author Lara Schützsack the forest. He has no clue whatsoever that Mouse, has a knack for creating autonomous, self-confident Mole, Bird, and others jump onto his bushy tail. girl characters and a metropolitan atmosphere like Only when a child joins them and they all tumble to no other writer. Even in her novel »Sonne, Moon the ground, does the fox cotton on. Unfortunately, und Sterne« (Sun, Moon and Stars), also published they can’t get going again, as they are far too heavy. in 2019, the slightly shabby, dusty summertime- So the kid simply hops onto a skateboard and starts Berlin provides the perfect setting. In »Tilda, ich pushing the whole party! Thanks to its onomatopoe- und der geklaute Dracula«, the girls roam through ic text, which lends itself to reading-aloud, and the the noisy quarter called »Mitte« as well as through principle of repetition and variation, »Fuchs fährt cosy allotment gardens. Will they find Dracula? In Auto« is a picture book that will surely delight little the end, everything turns out to be different from listeners. (Age: 2+) [IG] what they expected – now that’s truly adventurous! (Age: 10+) [IG]

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Wirlinger, Hannes (text) Schwalbe, Linda (text/illus.) Möltgen, Ulrike (illus.) Ida und die Welt hinterm Kaiserzipf. Der Vogelschorsch. Ein Roman Das Leben der Weltreisenden Ida Pfeiffer (Vogelschorsch. A novel) (Ida and the world beyond Mount Kaiserzipf. Berlin: Jacoby & Stuart, [2019]. – 301 p. The life of world traveller Ida Pfeiffer) ISBN 978-3-96428-031-2 Zürich: NordSüd, 2020. – [66] p. ISBN 978-3-314-10519-7 Outsider | Friendship | Jealousy | Mystery | Death Pfeiffer, Ida | Pioneer | Expedition | Gender role | History 19th century | Biography GERMAN

»Vogelschorsch (Bird-George) was as different as Curiosity + an urge to explore + courage = Ida can be.« The 17-year-old boy with his long old coat Pfeiffer. In 1842, at the age of 44 and without any and his peculiar hairstyle seems to be from a differ- financial means, she sets off on her first trip around ent era. Even when there is a slight smile on his lips, the world – as the first woman ever – thus fulfill- he is always surrounded by an aura of melancholy ing a lifelong dream, but one that was considered and enigma. To animals, he feels close, whereas with »unsuitable« for someone of her gender. As a small people, it is difficult. Lena tells the story of Vogel- child, Vienna-born Ida was a tomboy and loved to Germany schorsch with a keen sense for human interaction. explore nature. Yet then her father died, and her Switzerland She is fascinated by his sensitivity and his otherness. mother forced her to lead a life within the confines The special relationship that develops between the of her times and society: knitting, marriage, chil- two teens confuses Lena’s friends. In »Vogelschorsch«, dren. However, after the death of her husband, Ida Hannes Wirlinger has created a unique gem of a breaks out. She sails around the world, goes ashore character – a truly unconventional figure, the likes on foreign islands, collects plants, observes animals, of which are rare in German-language youth litera- and befriends the people who live there. Linda ture. Clearly reminiscent of characters by renowned Schwalbe uses brilliant colours to paint Ida Pfeiffer’s 19th-century German writer Georg Büchner, Vogel- story, the motto of which seems to be »It is never schorsch is a nonconformist who doesn’t intend to too late«. The illustrations zoom in on different provoke, but cannot help himself. Ulrike Möltgen’s details and vary the perspective, using broad planes pictures, too, express how Vogelschorsch’s desperate of colour and pastose brush strokes. Many pictures attempts to cope with loss make him lose himself. have a quality of sensual cheerfulness and show Ida’s (Age: 12+) [IG] impetuous thirst for adventure. (Age: 6+) [IG]

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Mpaslam, Ddmdtrds (Baslam, Dimitris) (text) Papatheodulu, Antonds (Papatheodoulou, Antonis) (text) Charalampus, Chryso (Charalambous, Chryso) (illus.) Stamatiadd, Ntaniela (Stamatiadi, Daniela) (illus.) To pulober Amália (The pullover) Athdna: Ikaros, 2019. – [36] p. Athdna: Kaleidoskopio (Kaleidoscope Publ.), ISBN 978-960-572-302-6 2019. – 48 p. Market | Song | Joy of living | Self-assertion | ISBN 978-960-471-194-9 Rodrigues, Amália | Picture book Introversion | Isolation | Communication | Trust | Clothing | Picture book GREEK

A boy loves his thick, warm pullover so much that In her red dress, little Amália forges through the he believes to always need it, even when the sun is lively crowds of a market. She carefully holds a shining, or when it impedes him while playing. Like lemon in her hand, which she soon begins to adver- an armour, it protects him and at the same time tise in song. People marvel, the fruit is soon sold, isolates him from others – until one day the boy and it doesn’t take long until the astonished trad- makes a friend. She discovers a loose wool thread ers are also enthusiastic and start to sing out their on the pullover, and he lets her gradually unravel wares, too, in an endearing cacophony. Echoing the Greece it and knit new things with it, which they offer as life of Portuguese singer Amália Rodrigues, who gifts to other people. In the end, the boy feels utter- as a girl did in fact sell fruit using song, Antonis ly liberated. He only holds on to a cuddly wool Papatheodoulou describes a child who asserts blanket in case he’s ever cold. Dimitris Baslam’s herself in creative and inspiring fashion. The story allegorical story accurately describes how the walls is staged by Daniela Stamatiadi’s illustrations, which around the introverted child are transformed into open with a lemon tree and end with a pear, which building blocks that produce connection to and Amália bought from her earnings and appreciatively trust in other people. Emerging Cyprian illustrator devours. The pictures reveal three parallel plots, Chryso Charalambous creates optimistic pictures linked by Amália who ambles through all of them in saturated, bright colours to accompany the text. with glee. »Amália« received the 2020 Picture Book »To pulober« was on the picture book shortlist of Award of the magazine »O anagnostis«. (Age: 3+) the magazine »O anagnostis« in 2020. (Age: 5+) [TA] [TA]

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Pappa, Rodula (Pappa, Rodoula) (text) Photiadds, Philippos (Photiadis, Philippos) Markopulos, Kostas (Markopoulos, Kostas) (illus.) (text/illus.) Pos phtiachnetai ena paidiko biblio kai oi Mpampa, mporume na parume skylo synepeies gia to periballon anti gia myrmengi? (How a children’s book is made and its environ- (Papa, can we have a dog instead of an ant?) mental consequences) Athdna: Martds (Martis), 2019. – 32 p. Athdna: Nepheld (Nefeli), 2019. – 28 p. ISBN 978-618-84312-0-1 (Series: Tsalapeteinos) – ISBN 978-960-504-269-1 Pet | Ant | Dog | Love of animals | Book | Production | Environmental protection | Responsibility | Father | Son | Picture book Picture book | Non-fiction GREEK

All the way from the tree to the reader, this beauti- Ilias wants a dog for Christmas. His father thinks fully designed non-fiction book leads through all that this would be too great a responsibility. That the stations of both the creative and the industrial is why Ilias gets a microscope and… an ant to go process of producing a book. A special focus is along with it. Despite his initial disappointment, placed on their environmental effects. The book the boy cares lovingly for the tiny animal, which he addresses readers of varying age groups by means calls Miltos. A marmalade glass becomes his home, Greece of two textual levels: the concise main text provides a parkour made of cardboard boxes keeps him fit. younger children with basic facts, while longer, Ilias is proud, since Miltos can even walk on the ceil- more complex texts in the margins are aimed at ing – a dog can’t do that! Besides, he has nine lives more proficient readers. The afterword offers further like a cat – whether squashed, burned or trampled information, aimed at sensitizing readers to a more on, Miltos magically survives every normally fatal environmentally friendly behaviour. As all Nefeli accident. After Ilias returns Miltos to his ant family books, the book was printed with eco-friendly ink after they storm the kitchen one day, he finally does on Forest Stewardship Council-certified, acid-free, get a dog. With so much experience as a pet guard- 100% recycled paper. Kostas Markopoulos translates ian, he’s earned it! With a delightful dose of black the compact explanations into technically exact and humour, Philippos Photiadis describes in text and imaginatively interpreted pictures. The book has image the challenges of handling responsibility and received, among others, the non-fiction award from loss. With his unmistakeable cardboard landscapes, IBBY Greece and the Greek graphic and illustration the architect and artist creates a wonderful play space award ΕΒΓΕ. (Age: 4+) [TA] for his lovably ludicrous, and comic-like characters. (IBBY Greece Award 2020, shortlist)(Age: 6+) [TA]

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Tsilinikos, Ddmdtrds (Tsilinikos, Dimitris) (text) Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir (text) Mpulumpasds, Petros (Bouloubasis, Petros) (illus.) Villueyjar F Zoe me to mpampa (Island of errors) (Zoe and Papa) Reykjavík: Björt, 2019. – 349 p. Thessalonikd: Epomenos Stathmos, 2019. – 32 p. ISBN 978-9935-499-51-6 ISBN 978-960-8259-35-5 Island | Secret | Family Single father | Daughter | Mother | Death | Vital energy | Picture book GREEK ICELANDIC

What might happen if a father were suddenly on his There is only one house in Útsälar: the schoolhouse. own? He might get super powers! This happened to Arilda has always lived there. Ever since she can Zoe’s Papa, who has to take care of her all by himself remember, the schoolhouse has been her home. since Mama is not there anymore. Zoe is amazed The girl has never wondered why the house stands by all of his talents in their newly shared everyday completely isolated on an otherwise deserted island, life and supports him when she can. For example, as this isn’t particularly unusual in Iceland. One day, Iceland she eats a second portion of the amazing meal he however, while walking across the island, she gets Greece cooked and lends him a hand, no, lends him two lost in the fog. Not only does Arilda feel frightened, hands – to clap for him as he cleans up her room. she also realizes that something is wrong in Útsälar His greatest super power, however, lies in conveying and with the school. It gradually dawns on her that his love and care without showing his stress to Zoe – she cannot trust anyone; she will have to search which is therefore revealed only to the reader's eyes, for the answers herself. Doing so, she both finds with great humour in the parallel visual narrative in out about the gruesome happenings in Útsälar, Petros Bouloubasis’s pictures. Zoe can always be at and uncovers her own family’s secrets. Ragnhildur ease and depend on Papa, even when he’s juggling Hólmgeirsdóttir’s texts are full of suspense and the household. Dimitris Tsilinikos tells this creative, drive. Thus it didn’t come as a surprise that she was life-affirming story from the perspective of the little nominated for the Nordic Council’s Children’s and girl – »Zoe« in Greek means »life«. It is about Zoe Youth Book Prize in 2016 as a promising new voice and her father’s relationship and how they handle in Icelandic children's and youth literature with her the enormous changes that the loss of her mother very first novel »Koparborgin« (The copper city). brings. (Age: 4+) [TA] (Age: 12+) [IG]

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Renowned author Máire Zepf’s previous books were A zebra wants a new outfit, and its seamstress has »mostly for the tiniest little people« featuring drag- some ideas for changing up the trademark black- ons, witches, and other fun stuff. Her latest offering, and-white-striped look that everyone associates however, is a whole different matter. »Nóinín« is a with the animal. Amidst rolls of variously patterned

Italy gritty and disturbing verse novel for teenagers about fabric, sewing needles, scissors, and measuring tape, online grooming, i.e. sexual abuse or harassment via the zebra becomes the inventive seamstress’s manne- Ireland Internet. The book’s first part is narrated by Nóinín, a quin for a day. The mirror shows the zebra in pretty, shy teen girl, who has met seventeen-year-old Oisín lace-trimmed clothes, eccentrically floral, geometric (or so she believes) online and is utterly in love. So patchwork, and polka dot creations. Which outfit to much so, that she neglects her best friend Eimear and choose? A disconcerting feather dress, a more mod- secretly sneaks out to finally meet her dream boy in est sailor suit, an elegantly chequered robe, or a cro- person. Then the story shifts to Eimear’s narration. cheted »one-of-a-kind« piece? »Zebra dalla sarta« is Nóinín has disappeared and Eimear, who feels guilty an ironic, funny picture book that will amuse young for not protecting her friend but also enraged at the readers. The story, expertly staged using a minimal- criminal, vows to help the police solve Nóinín’s mur- ist aesthetic, invites readers to continue the animal der. This is a powerful modern tale that was praised fashion show with new and unexpected clothing for its »rich imagery, poetic language and intertextual pieces. (Age: 3+) [SO] references to fairy tales and Irish myth« and earned Máire Zepf the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland award 2020. And rightly so! (Age: 14+) [CS]

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Gabriele Clima’s impressive novel presents a story This picture book, originally produced as a final full of violence, rage, and lust for revenge. It is about project for the Higher Institute for Artistic Indus- the fragility of adolescence and the abyss one can tries (ISIA) in Urbino, was picked up by the pub- fall into, but also about ways to grab hold and find lisher Uovonero, established a decade ago with a

one’s way back. Alex, the sixteen-year-old protago- special focus on topics like diversity and disability. Italy nist, is suffering gravely after the sudden death of Giovanni Colaneri is an illustrator of rare sensitivity. his father. His life’s mission is now to hunt down the He challenges the concept of »syndrome«, bear- perpetrator, a »black guy«, who supposedly caused ing down on stereotypes and hasty judgments by the deadly accident. To get closer to his goal, he creating a picture book that invites readers to take becomes a member of the Black Boys, a neo-fascist the time to look and observe carefully, to discover group, whose actions stoke hatred and racism. the many obscured details in its sometimes jam- Alex joins their »revenge campaigns«, commit- packed, wimmelbook-like pages. His characters ting extreme violence, until an even more dramatic enter into dialogue with readers and elicit empathy. incident forces him to confront reality. With effort, A short text explains the concept of a syndrome. The he becomes aware of the insanity of his behaviour two-page pictures are each titled with just one word, and succeeds in escaping the dangerous chaos that inspiring reflection on the life circumstances of pulled him into the abyss. (Age: 14+) [SO] anyone suffering from a syndrome and the realiza- tion that they, too, are affected by the other people’s behaviour. (Age: 6+) [SO]

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Garlando, Luigi (text) Gotti, Grazia (text) Vai all’inferno, Dante! Palumbo, Giuseppe (illus.) (Go to hell, Dante!) Federico Fellini. Rimini – Roma Milano: Rizzoli, 2020. – 500 p. Cervinara (AV): Edizioni Primavera, [2020]. – 75 p. ISBN 978-88-17-14498-8 (Series: 7th Art) ISBN 978-88-85592-22-3 Bullying | Gaming | Coming of age | Dante Alighieri / Divina Commedia Fellini, Federico | Italy | History 1920-1993 | Filmmaking | Actor | Biography ITALIAN

Luigi Garlando is a seasoned author, who writes Rimini, a small town in the Italian region of Romagna, suspenseful stories of ethical and social interest to stands at the centre of this story, which takes readers teens. His newest book is an homage to the Italian on a trip with Federico Fellini (1920-1993), inter- »prince of poets«, Dante Alighieri. It connects the weaving dream and reality. Federico the child, born

Italy life of Vasco, a young contemporary Florentine man a few steps from the Grand Hotel, loves the sea, who is a bully and a passionate gamer, with Dante’s the adventure stories of the famous author Emilio verses. The novel unfolds across 500 pages of diverse Salgari, and the world of comics. Fellini the teenager narrative levels and passages in verse. It is at once draws portraits and sets out for the »Eternal City«. gripping and thought-provoking. The protagonist, There he becomes Fellini the director, and Rome full of rage and repressed pain, seeks to be a su- the film metropolis becomes his central axis, where preme gamer. Along the way, he meets his match in he is joined by his beloved actress Giulietta Masina, the form of Dante. Dante’s story – his passion, vital- the characters of his many films, the great actors, ity, and relation to writing – permeate the novel and female figures, and the dreamlike atmosphere. This lead Vasco to Dante’s masterpiece »Divine Comedy«, book, which impressively captures Federico Fellini’s which helps him make marvellous discoveries and life and the story of Italy in text and image, was realize a way to exit the »selva oscura« (the dark published to mark the director’s 100th birthday to forest). (Age: 13+) [SO] commemorate a true Great whose fame reaches far beyond Italy’s borders. This is the first volume in the new series »7th Art«, which is dedicated to cinema. (Age: 9+) [SO]

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Nanni, Gabriele (text) Rodari, Gianni (text) L’Impero Invisibile Fior, Manuele (illus.) (The Invisible Realm) Pianoforte Bill e il mistero dei spaventapasseri Milano: Pelledoca, 2019. – 207 p. (Piano Bill and the secret of the scarecrows) (Series: NeroInchiostro) San Dorligo della Valle (Trieste): Emme Edizioni, ISBN 978-88-3279-016-0 [2020]. – [32] p. ISBN 978-88-6714-995-7 USA | History 1960s | Kidnapping | Racism | Ku Klux Klan | Friendship | Basketball Wild West | Cowboy | Piano | Picture book ITALIAN

The novel’s protagonists are four fourteen-year-old This picture book is an excellent example of perfect friends from Indiana (USA), who are science-fiction unison of text and image. The text was written by and horror enthusiasts. When they skip school one Gianni Rodari for an anthology that first appeared day to go to a horror film festival in a neighbouring in 1973 with the title »Novelle fatte a macchina«

town, they end up embroiled in a strange kidnap- (machine-made novellas). The marvellous illustra- Italy ping that catapults them into a dark and unfamiliar tions are by Manuele Fior, one of the most interest- world. They follow clues offered by the victim’s ing picture book artists of recent years. Drawing on shoe, which contains a hidden transmitter, and find the iconographic tradition of the great Westerns, themselves confronted by racism, injustice, and the Fior animates the story with melancholic and alien- unsettling shadow cast by the Ku Klux Klan. The ated characters. Rodari portrays the Wild West story takes place in the United States in the 1960s masterfully, introducing readers to a cowboy with and explores the difficult relationship between a piano, horses, a devious sheriff, musical scores, Whites and African-Americans, which continues scarecrows, and a charming girl with a portable to be fraught with conflict. Gabriele Nanni’s novel radio. The brilliant text is intentionally wacky and is about power and unlawfulness, friendship and forgoes heroes. The book was published on the occa- the demand for truth. Throughout the novel runs sion of Gianni Rodari’s 100th birthday. Up to now, he the radio coverage of a historic basketball game in is the only Italian author to have been awarded the which, for the first time, a team of Black players won renowned Hans Christian Andersen Award (1970). the national championship. (Age: 12+) [SO] (Age: 5+) [SO]

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ITALIAN JAPANESE

This picture book is an homage to classic adven- Maki Arai (b. 1965) was the 2017 winner of a ture literature and to immigrants, who have always Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration travelled great distances. The text is based on a true Bratislava for »Tanpopo« (Dandelions). Her careful story. The illustrations introduce fantastical ele- and precise illustrations of plants in watercolour

Italy ments into the realistic story-world. After having brim with life and sheer beauty. Her latest picture

Japan spent many years in America, an uncle unexpectedly book, »Ichigo«, is also breath-taking, awakening returns – with a wooden leg. The boy-protagonist, readers’ sense of wonder for nature. The result of who likes to read and is passionate about stories, close observation and diligent work, Arai’s illustra- now comes face to face with a family member who tions capture the plants from their fuzzy leaves to always got a mention at Christmas dinners. But the juicy flesh of their fruits. The depiction of tiny Uncle Amerigo is not as his nephew imagined him. seeds spread in neat rows across two pages toward He looks very different than in the photos hanging the end of the book is astonishing, with life emanat- on the walls, which immortalize him in his youth. ing from each seed. Young children will be amazed Now he is much more like Captain Ahab and calls to to learn about the plants’ different life cycles, which mind gigantic, dangerous whales and sea monsters, are less familiar than the fruits they bear. Birds and journeys to the ends of the Earth, and extraordinary insects depicted around the plants offer insight into encounters. (Age: 5+) [SO] the ecosystem. With its unusually sophisticated design, this book will undoubtedly spark children’s interest in biological science. (Age: 7+) [RN]

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After World War II, many Japanese children were left »Kono kawa no mukō ni kimi ga iru« begins and without parents and slept in train stations. »Kane o ends with a river scene. The river reminds the pro- narasu kodomotachi« is a novel inspired by a radio tagonist Rino of her hometown by the sea and her drama about those orphans, broadcast in Japan from brother who died in the March 11, 2011 earthquake- 1947 to 1950 with major success. The book offers a caused tsunami. Three years earlier, soon after the

lively account of the children and adults who passion- disaster, she moved to a suburb of Tokyo and was Japan ately performed the drama despite the severe restric- greeted with a classmate’s superficial sympathy. On tions imposed by the Allied Powers. In those turbulent her way to her new high school, crossing the river, post-war times, people changed their values drastical- she makes up her mind to never reveal that she is a ly; in the book, the children view the adults who did tsunami victim. Though she is still suffering from not resist the war or even supported it as hypocrites. the trauma, her suppressed feelings are gradually The children, inspired by democracy, try to live up unlocked and soothed: A friendship develops be- to their beliefs and stand their ground against adults. tween Rino and other brass band club members like Characters such as Shōta, who sells American soldiers’ Ryō, a boy who had to evacuate from Fukushima cigarette butts to make a living after his father died in because his family’s land was contaminated after an air raid, and the drama instructor, who struggles the nuclear power plant accident. Rino often goes with survivor’s guilt because her actress sister was to the river and thinks of Ryō, who lives across the killed by the atomic bomb, are depicted with particu- river. This novel carefully depicts the different feel- lar depth. Through them, the novel shows how art ings experienced by people who have lost their local gives people the power to overcome their pain and to community as well as the complex relationships that draw hope for a new tomorrow. (Age: 13+) [RN] develop between the survivors. (Age: 13+) [RN]

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Hiroshi Abe (b. 1948) is acclaimed for his lively and In »Kimi no sonzai o ishiki suru«, each character humorous animal illustrations, which are based on suffers from some distress, including a possibly dys- his experiences as a zookeeper for 25 years. He has lexic girl, her adopted brother, and her friend who broken new ground with his picture book »Chibi feels uncomfortable with gender-conforming social ryū«, which is, quite unexpectedly, about an imagi- norms. One of her classmates eats compulsively

Japan nary creature. Naoko Kudō (b. 1935), one of Japan’s due to tremendous pressure from her family, and leading children’s poets, provides the rhythmical and another is not proud of her family having roots in a graceful language, which is as impressive as Abe’s foreign country. The adolescents’ problems seem to astonishingly dynamic illustrations, particularly be invisible to most people at school, and they feel on the last fold-out spread. Using a limited colour a great deal of pressure to conform. Though some palette, Abe breathes life into all animals and plants, students speak out about their plight, like the one from the tiniest to the grandest. The dragon, which who cannot go to school because of multiple chemi- was born in the water among mosquito larvae, learns cal sensitivity, their complaints are mostly ignored how to fly from a dragonfly and how to appreciate in the name of majority benefit. One teacher holds a life in the water from a Crucian carp. As he grows, competition for how many books students can read, he flies above the clouds, breathes fire, creates winds, never considering the reasonable accommodations clouds and rain, and finally becomes a force in the that a dysgraphic student desperately asks for. Based universe. This picture book, celebrating the joy of on the belief that all people have the right to be living on the Earth, aims to inspire children, all of respected for their personality and individuality, this whom have unbounded potential. (Age: 5+) [RN] novel encourages young people to appreciate who they are and who others are. (Age: 13+) [RN]

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Shindo, Etsuko (text) Tomiyasu, Yoko (text) Satake, Miho (illus.) Matsunari, Mariko (illus.) Aribaba no neko ga kite iru Sakura no tani (Ali Baba’s cat is listening) (The valley of cherry blossoms) Tokyo: Popura sha (Poplar-sha), 2020. – 219 p. Tokyo: Kaiseisha, 2020. – 32 p. ISBN 978-4-591-16582-9 ISBN 978-4-03-333000-6 Folkcraft | Immigrant | Refugee | Cat Death | Coping with grief | Ogre | Spring | Picture book JAPANESE

Shaifu is a Persian cat who, like the rest of his family, Yōko Tomiyasu (b. 1959), a 2020 Hans Christian hears what commercial goods have to say and mediates Andersen Award nominee, is known for writing between them and customers in the market. He stays magical stories with characters rooted in Japanese for a while in a folkcraft shop in Japan where the goods folklore. Her most recent picture book tells the story tell him their life stories every night. The unglazed of a man who finds a mysterious valley nestled in the

ceramic animals were made by a schoolteacher in the desolate mountains. It is early spring, yet the valley Japan Amazon rainforest. The tassel, which a nomad girl is full of cherry blossoms. The man sees ogres having made to decorate her camel at her wedding, regrets that a picnic there. The cheerful and friendly ogres treat it couldn’t perform its task because of the war. The glass him to a boxed lunch, which is surprisingly similar produced in Afghanistan saw that girls were forbidden to the one his mother used to make in his childhood. to go to school when the Taliban dominated; it then was While playing hide-and-seek with the ogres, the man conveyed overseas, and the local makers showed the realizes that they are his deceased family members. beauty of their craft internationally. The long and life- The story is based on a dream the author had one threatening journey of the fragile glasses reminds one of night just after her father had passed away. This truly refugees’ arduous journeys. The book’s theme – recog- original folktale-like story depicts finding solace after nizing vulnerable existences around us and respecting the death of loved ones, while carefully avoiding over- their cultures – is fleshed out with human characters sentimentality. The language is beautifully nuanced, like Shaifu’s owner, who fled his country years ago, and and the ogre’s song and the man’s rhyme resonate immigrant children who come to the shop. The capti- playfully. The pale-toned illustrations capture the vating illustrations of exotic goods will definitely spark subtleness of the protagonist’s feelings in the magical young readers’ imaginations. (Age: 11+) [RN] yet somehow believable setting. (Age: 5+) [RN]

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Tsuruta, Yoko (text/illus.) Cheon, Hyo Jeong (text) Yasai no onitaiji. Otogi zoshi shuten doji yori Sambaegi iyagi ilgom madang (Six brave vegetables. Based on the old Japanese (Children’s plays. Seven rounds of Sambaek’s story) tale »Shuten doji«) Paju: Munhak dongne (Munhakdongne Publishing), Tokyo: Fukuinkan Shoten, 2020. – 31 p. 2020. – 82 p. (Series: Kodomo no tomo ehon) (Series: Eorini huigok; 06) ISBN 978-4-8340-8547-1 ISBN 978-89-546-7093-7 Japan | History 15th century | Shuten doji / Experimental theatre | Madanggeuk | Adaptation | Vegetable | Ogre | Expedition | Play | Playbook | Fairy tale | Adventure Picture book JAPANESE KOREAN

»Shuten dōji«, the tale of a quest to subjugate an ogre, This playbook is adapted from »Seven Days of is said to have been created prior to the 15th century Funeral for Sambaek«, the 14th Munhak Dongne and since then adapted for picture scrolls and Kabuki Children’s Literature Award-winning book. The story dramas. Here we have a picture book adaptation us- is about an unnamed child, referred to as Sambaek ing traditional techniques known from picture scrolls, (»Three Hundred«), who has been chased by the

Japan like the composition method of showing successive »Death Messenger« for 300 years. While the original events against a single background. Zooming in and book has features of a traditional fairy tale, this book out, another common technique in picture scrolls, is a script for Madanggeuk, a traditional Korean creates a dynamic change of viewpoints perfectly drama genre, which is performed in an open area. suited to the wide format. The story follows six vege- In a Madanggeuk performance, there is no separa- tables, who combine their individual strengths to tion between the actors’ stage and the audience’s Republic of Korea Republic free a princess and several ladies from the tuberous seats. Performers and spectators constantly commu- root of the konjac ogre. During the long journey, the nicate in the open space and complete the show pumpkin god, disguised as an old man, gives them together, building an exciting rhythm together. This magic sake that saps the ogre’s energy and makes successfully adapted book thus provides an oppor- him helpless. The main characters are all vegetables tunity for children to deeply engage with literature specific to the Kyoto region and speak the soft and by becoming characters in the story, and, through nuanced Kyoto dialect. Its simple yet appealing plot the process of making a play together, to develop un- and warmly-portrayed characters make this book a derstanding, communicative, and cooperative skills. truly entertaining read. (Age: 5+) [RN] (Age: 7+) [YC, MC, SP]

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I, An (Lee, An) (text) Kim, Hee-kyung (Gim, Hui Gyeong) (text/illus.) Jeong, Jin Ho (illus.) Na neun yo, Ori dolmengi ori (Who am I?) (Duck Pebble Duck) Seoul: Yeoyudang (Yeoyoudang Publ.), 2019. – [33] p. Paju: Munhak dongne (Munhakdongne Publ.), (Series: Nalgaedallin geurimchaekbang; 32) 2020. – 126 p. ISBN 978-89-92351-79-9 (Series: Munhak dongne dongsijip; 77) Animals | Self-awareness | Self-image | ISBN 978-89-546-70 71-5 Identity | Diversity | Picture book Sound | Rhythm | Poetry KOREAN

Since his debut in 1999, Lee An has steadily expand- »Who am I?«, everyone will ask at least once in their ed the world of Korean children’s literature with lifetime, as we often feel we do not know enough his poems about the sounds of various beings. In about ourselves. We are happy and satisfied one day, his fourth book, he explores the origin of the genre discouraged the next, at times courageous, at other of children’s poetry, and he begins by reminding times timid. In her second picture book, Kim Hee- readers why we read poetry. Avoiding flamboyant Kyung answers the profound question »Who am I?« language, the poet devotes himself to carving and in a very accessible way. An invisible child narrator polishing words carefully, so that the very phrase compares themselves to animals: Deer scare easily, he wants us to perceive takes root in our minds and sloths are only comfortable at home, flying fishes are finally blooms as a »yellow button flower« that heals nervous about every attempt to fly. So, who am I? »a heart that has been damaged«. All beings become Young readers are made aware that there are several potential seeds of change, as the poet watches them aspects of »myself« that together create »me«. of Korea Republic with affectionate eyes over a period of time in suc- Understanding this, they can be at peace with them- cessive poems: A pebble placed between two ducks selves. Although I am unique, there are numerous wakes up and flies to the sky. A raindrop from last unique »I«s, and only mutual understanding will summer turns into a beautiful pendant. A wind- help to recognize diversity and to achieve a peace- ing road leads to long-awaited fruits. This »joy that ful co-existence. Join the child in their discovery comes slowly« is also a reason for reading poetry. of themselves through these simple, beautiful texts Equally enjoyable are the playful illustrations by and bright, translucent watercolour illustrations. Jeong Jin Ho, winner of the 2015 and 2018 Bologna (Age: 3+) [YC, MC, SP] Ragazzi Awards. (Age: 8+) [YC, MC, SP]

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Kim, Sang-Keun (Gim, Sang Geun) (text/illus.) Kim, Sung-Mi (Gim, Seong Mi) (text/illus.) Byeol naksi Insa (Star fishing) (Greetings) Paju: Sagyejeol (Sakyejul), 2019. – [51] p. Seoul: Chaek ingneun gom (Bear Books Publ.), ISBN 979-11-6094-460-0 2020. – [38] p. (Series: Geurimchaegi cham joa; 64) Night | Insomnia | Star | Constellation | ISBN 979-11-5836-165-5 Friendship | Bedtime story | Picture book Neighbour | Greeting | Communication | Misunderstanding | Picture book KOREAN

One night, a sleepless child turns to the moon in The Fox family moves next door to Mr. Wolf. Mr. search of a playmate and is pulled up by a fish- Wolf and the Fox kid soon cross paths, but don’t say ing line. The fisherman turns out to be the equally hello, pretending not to see each other, as they both sleepless moon rabbit. Now, the two of them cast are in a bad mood. They decide to say hello next their fishing rods into the sky. A crab, a fox, and time, but then keep missing out on the opportunity two polar bears take the bait. While the new-found to do so. One day, the fox boy makes up his mind to friends share thoughts about their insomnia, their finally greet the neighbour. However, the very mo- fishing lines start shaking. Something huge has bit- ment he bows politely, Mr. Lion pops out in front of ten! It is a cluster of stars that draws them out into him. The adults don’t notice the kid, who thinks he space. What a playground! What fun to create one’s is being purposely ignored. A few days later, when own constellation in the night sky: Ursa Major, Ursa Mr. Wolf cheerfully offers some freshly bought bread Republic of Korea Republic Minor, Vulpecula, Cancer … and a new one for the to the offended boy, he passes by without even look- rabbit. Playing makes one so tired! Even the rabbit ing at him. Now Mr. Wolf in turn gets upset about can sleep now, back on the moon and sheltered by such rudeness … The more they misunderstand its very own constellation. Kim Sang-Keun describes one another, the more uncomfortable they feel. his creative process as similar to making animated Will they finally greet each other? Who will do so, films. No wonder that this book shows cinematic first? This humorous story about a tense situation, qualities, brought to life through countless shades failed communication, and bad timing, is told using of blue, dialogue, and comic book features without cartoon-like black-and-white line drawings set in any need for an overarching narration. (Age: 4+) stark contrast with flashes of bright pink and baby [YC, MC, SP] blue. (Age: 3+) [YC, MC, SP]

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Bugavicute-Pdce, Rasa (text) Jundze, Arno (text) Veldre, Zane (illus.) Martinova, Kristjne (illus.) Puika, kurš redzeja tumsa Šušnirks un pazemes bubuļi (The boy who could see in the dark) (Sniffsnuff and the Underground Frights) Rjga: Latvijas Mediji, [2019]. – 173 p. Rjga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2019. – 137 p. ISBN 978-9934-15-692-2 ISBN 978-9934-0-7920-7 Parents | Son | Blindness | Family Child care | Eccentricity | Adventure LATVIAN

Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce (b. 1988) is known for her Šušnirks is classy creature. In his case, however, plays as well as film and TV scripts. Here she ven- this brings out a good deal of stuck-up foibles, an tures once more into children’s and youth literature, »I’m better than you« posture and rampant ego- yet stays true to her signature style. This story about centrism. When Šušnirks – no one knows what a boy named Jacob, who sees and explores the world kind of creature he is – is given a child to watch, his

for his blind parents, has appeared in book form well-ordered, aristocratic existence is derailed. The Latvia with inspiring illustrations by Zane Veldre (b. 1986) child’s parents are missing, and since Šušnirks finds and was performed as a play at the Latvian National the situation unbearable, he heads out with the child Theatre – both great successes. For his parents, in search of the parents. Their journey is adventure- Jacob is the key to life. Honestly and unflinchingly, filled and fairy-tale-like, full of trials and strange but also with wit and humour, he narrates how their encounters with fantastical creatures. Literary Jack- everyday life is organized, reporting on its burdens of-all-trades Arno Jundze (b. 1965) has something and challenges, as well as its comic moments. Jacob in store for both big and little readers. Aside from also reveals his wishes: Sometimes he’d love to just adventures and humour, the text boasts a lot of irony be a normal crazy teenager. Interesting perspectival and many intertextual references. A children’s book changes are woven into the novel, as when Jacob’s that takes great delight in the absurd, in nonsense, in mother reflects on wanting to be a mother as a non- splendidly exaggerated characters, and in situational sighted person and on raising a child that she is at comedy! (Age: 8+) [KW] the same time dependent on (Age: 10+) [KW]

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Muižniece, Sanita (adapt.) Zarambaite, Igne (text) Brasliņa, Eljna (illus.) Juodavandeniai Runajošie suWi – pec Edmunda Jansona (Black water) animacijas filmas »Jekabs, Mimmi un Vilnius: Nieko rimto, 2020. – 142 p. runajošie suWi« motiviem (Talking Dogs – ISBN 978-609-441-616-3 Based on motifs from the animated feature film Identity | Coming to terms with the past | »Jacob, Mimmi, and the Talking Dogs« by E. Jansons) Bullying | Family [Rjga]: Liels un mazs, [2019]. – [66] p. ISBN 978-9934-574-23-8 Riga | City district | Rescue | Dog | Comic LATVIAN LATVIAN LITHUANIAN

This comic has all the ingredients required for a su- Ignė Zaramabaitė (b. 1988), known in Lithuania as per children’s book: clever, independent kids, talking a children’s book author, presents her very gripping animals, adults who haven’t a clue, and a suspenseful first novel for adolescent readers. »Juodavandeniai« plot with unexpected twists and turns, where every- centres on sixteen-year-old Anika, who goes unrec- thing turns out alright in the end. On top of this, the ognized when she returns to her childhood village,

Latvia Latvia »Talking Dogs« are wonderfully fleshed out. Elīna where she experienced marginalization, bullying, Brasliņa (b. 1988) creates a feisty, modern children’s and familial problems. The fact that no one recog- Lithuania world full of surprising details, with Jacob and his nizes her due to her changed external appearance smart cousin Mimmi as our heroes. Together with a fuels Anika’s coming to terms with the past and her gang of stray dogs, they set out to save a city district own identity. The titular »Black water« hints at the that has quaint wooden huts and great spots for dark atmosphere that pervades the novel, which playing and hiding. Devious construction magnate aside from being a coming-of-age story, is also a Manny Pie intends to create a chic glass landscape mysterious thriller about human chasms: Like black of high-rises there. He has also kidnapped Snowy, water, human beings are always changing, and their a female member of the dog pack. Someone has to deeper essence is obscured by the shimmering sur- fix all this! »Talking Dogs« is based on an animated face. But this is not the final take-away. A supposed- film and was a great success in Latvia – and rightly ly fun night in a flooded, abandoned farmstead so. This fabulous comic received the Golden Apple turns into a very concrete nightmare for Anika and Award for Best Children’s Book in 2019. (Age: 6+) her »friends«. (Age: 14+) [KW] [KW]

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Zyle, Kotryna (text/illus.) Crvenkovska, Biljana (ed.) Sukeistas. Mistinis romanas Nikolovska, Katerina (illus.) (Swapped. A mystical novel) Bajki od Makedonija za cela godina Vilnius: Aukso Žuvys, 2019. – 231 p. (Macedonian fairy tales for the whole year) ISBN 978-609-8120-39-4 Skopje: Ars Lamina, 2019. – 241 p. ISBN 978-608-259-376-0 Humanity | Killing | Ethics | Love | Mythology Fairy tale | Anthology LITHUANIAN LITHUANIAN MACEDONIAN

In 2019, few young adult books were discussed as An illustration competition was held in Macedonia much in Lithuania as »Sukeistas«. The novel about over five years ago to support its national illustration budding art students Gabija and Gedas in the capital scene. Competitors were asked to produce pictures city of Vilnius provocatively considers questions sur- for a Macedonian fable or fairy tale. The winner, rounding human nature and killing, ethics and love. Katerina Nikolovska, received the opportunity to After a mysterious accident, Gabija hovers between illustrate a series of fables and fairy tales that were the here-and-now and a mythical spirit world. The then published as single editions. The project was Lithuania only person who can save her is Gedas, who reveals so successful that this volume of 52 Macedonian himself to be a son of fairies brought up by humans. folktales was published in 2019 – with a fairy tale for The fairies apparently are responsible for the accident, every week. For the anthology, selected fairy tales and fate calls on Gedas to kill his fairy family in an of well-known fairy-tale collectors Marko Cepenkov extreme way. In her first young adult book, Kotryna (1829-1920), Stjepan Verković (1821-1893), and North Macedonia Zylė stays true to her fondness for Lithuanian mytho- Tanas Vražinovski (b. 1941) were adapted and logy and presents the malevolent, demonic side of textually as well as pictorially updated. Katerina that world, which she interweaves with contempo- Nikolovska’s illustrations invite princesses, dragons, rary human reality. Visually, Zylė also points to the and knights into the here and now and make clear ambiguity of the world and the double identity of the that fairy tales are in no way »old news.« (Age: 5+) protagonists: While Gedas’s passages are printed in [KW] red type on white background, set in verse style, and embellished with illustrations, Gabija’s sections appear in common prose and black font. (Age: 14+) [KW]

Truʼoʼng, My Dung (text) / Nguy8n, ThR Ng0c Bích (illus.) Arvola, Ingeborg (text) Wint Tun, Sandra (Sandara: Win. Htun); Linn, Hsu Brech, Nora (illus.) (Hsu. Lin); Linn, Tin Mar (Tin Ma Lin) (transl.) Buffy By er talentfull. En selvbiografie Ajoun de’ hma (At dawn) (Buffy By is talented. An autobiography) Yangon: Myanmar Book Centre, 2019. – 20 p. Oslo: Cappelen Damm, 2019. – 254 p. (Series: Sa hpa’ kja. sou. = Let’s read) ISBN 978-82-02-60957-3 ISBN 978-99971-54-17-0 Poverty | Solidarity | Team spirit | Skiing (Orig. publ. as »Sóʼm mai« in Vietnamese by Room to Read Vietnam, Hanoi, 2017) Rural life | Morning | Waking up | Picture book MYANMAR NORWEGIAN

Originally published in Vietnamese by Room to Buffy, her mother, and her brother live in Oslo. Read, an NGO focusing on literacy in low-income Money is tight, so they often eat crispbread, but communities, this book was adapted into Bur- somehow they make do. When a free slalom class mese by the Myanmar Book Aid and Preservation is offered, Buffy can hardly believe her luck: She Foundation, an organization seeking to improve simply HAS to join. She buys a pair of second-hand quality and access to education and information skis, grabs some forgotten winter clothes from the Norway services in the country. Such collaborations are vital school’s lost items box, and off she goes. Soon it Myanmar because there is only a very limited number of lo- becomes evident: Buffy By is talented. Her trainer cally produced children’s books on the market right is eager to take her on the school’s ski trip, and now. This picture book is architect and illustrator’s there’s nothing the girl would like better; but such a Nguyễn’s second joint project with social scien- trip costs money. Buffy is at a loss, even though she tist Trương. Delicate water colours frame simple, usually sports a steadfast happy-go-lucky mental- poetic sentences describing the scenery of an early ity and manages to achieve a lot with very little. In morning in the countryside. The wind is the first to this novel, Ingeborg Arvola creates something of a awake, next are the leaves, the caterpillars and birds utopian society: Despite the fact that Buffy’s family on the tree shading the farmhouse. The pruning is poor, there is no bullying or envy. Instead, Buffy shears in Father’s hands set to work, while in the shows how important it is to believe in yourself and kitchen the dishes come to life with a loud bang. your dreams – even without a wallet full of money. Finally, everyone can have breakfast to start a good (Age: 10+) [IG] day. (Age: 5+) [LO]

Brochmann, Nina / Støkken Dahl, Ellen (text) Naqvi, Aon Raza (ed.) Winsnes, Magnhild (illus.) Third culture kids. A˚ vokse opp mellom Jenteboka. Ellen og Ninas guide til puberteten kulturer (The girls’ book. Ellen and Nina’s guide to puberty) (Third culture kids. Growing up between cultures) Oslo: Aschehoug, [2019]. – 262 p. Oslo: Gyldendal, 2019. – 198 p. ISBN 978-82-03-26525-9 ISBN 978-82-05-52086-8 Girl | Puberty | Sexuality | Body | Non-fiction Norway | Multicultural society | Non-fiction NORWEGIAN

Who doesn’t remember puberty: the fights with »Third Culture Kids«, children raised in a culture parents and friends; the rapid mood swings from other than their parents’, features 29 young women ecstatic joy to deep despair; not to mention all the and men, many of whom are established figures in physical changes: Millions of things happen, and Norway’s media, politics, or cultural life. Using many everything shifts. In this non-fiction book, two private photos, they openly share their personal medical doctors, Nina Brochmann and Ellen Støk- stories: where they grew up; what is important to ken Dahl, explain what happens inside a girl’s body them; what life was like at home and at school; what Norway and head in a competent, accessible, and unagitated was good and what was really, really bad; and what way. They give tips, without donning any smart- kinds of challenges, concrete problems, and hostili- alecky doctors’ hats (only very rarely, and then they ties there were and still are – with their families, announce it in advance). »Jenteboka« offers true with their neighbours, with teachers, on the streets, empowerment for girls, not least thanks to the great and online. Most have asked themselves where they illustrations by Magnhild Winsnes. They are modern, belong, but also whether this question of »origin« is without affectation, and show what’s important. An so important at all, whether it needs to be answered, index at the end provides suggestions about where and whether it can always be answered in the same to get additional information, advice, and help. way. The contributions in this volume show in an A similar book for boys wouldn’t be a bad idea... impressive way that most third culture kids are tired (Age: 10+) [IG] of being categorised and shoved into drawers, and of being reduced to outward appearances. They want to be seen as individual people instead of being per- ceived only as part of a group. (Age: 12+) [IG]

Ombustvedt, Åse (text) FarruF-zad, Furuq (Farrokhzad, Forough) (text) Skinkeape (illus.) Haddadj, Huda (Haddadi, Hoda) (illus.) Når er jeg gammel nok til å skyte faren Dasthayam ra dar baqcah mi-karam min? Dikt for ungdom (Dasthayam ra dar baghche mikaram) (When will I be old enough to shoot my father? (I’ll sow my hands in the garden) Poems for teenagers) Tihran: Mjrmah (Mirmah), [2019] (= 1398 h.sh.). Bergen: Ena / Vigmostad & Bjørke, 2019. – 82 p. – [40] p. ISBN 978-82-419-5021-6 ISBN 978-600-333-376-5 Father | Violence | Fear | Poetry Woman | Poetry NORWEGIAN PERSIAN (FARSI)

The title of this book speaks of anger and despair, Forough Farrokhzad was a controversial modern- the black-and-white pictures are awkward, almost ist poet writing from a woman’s point of view. She raw, because the poems present a family in which died in a car accident when she was just 29, but the father terrorizes everyone. They talk about after more than 50 years she is still influential and

Iran psychological abuse through words and physical popular among younger generations. »Dasthayam ra violence through deeds. They talk about an unpre- dar baghche mikaram« anthologizes and illustrates Norway dictable man who makes his child feel small in order those parts of her poetry that are more intelligible to make himself feel powerful, and about a boy and linguistically less intricate and thus well-suited who has no friends because he is always angry and for a young adult readership. This is a first step in unapproachable. They talk about powerlessness and making her poetry known to a new generation of anger, and they don’t mince words. They also talk adolescent readers. The excerpts speak to elements about a girl who sees that something is wrong but of simple living, nature, and feminism. The beauti- unfortunately isn’t able to help much. Thanks to the ful illustrations by renowned artist Hoda Haddadi, dense lyrical language, every word and every verse give a youthful feel to this book. Haddadi brings an hammers its way into the minds of the readers. For ecofeminist sensibility to her illustrations, which the author, writing seems to be both a therapy and is a perfect fit for capturing the philosophy behind an act of self-empowerment. Nevertheless, the ques- Forough Farrokhzad’s poems. Haddadi has received tion remains whether this attempt to free herself by accolades at many festivals and exhibitions, includ- writing can actually succeed. (Age: 14+) [IG] ing the Grand Prix of the Golden Pencil of Belgrade Award 2007 and a 2010 Bologna Raggazi Award in the »New Horizons« category. (Age: 12+) [RM]

Fuladwand, Markan (Fouladvand, Mardjan) (text) Ganjan, Damšjd (Khanian, Djamshid) (text) Barrangj, Muhammad (Barrangi, Mohammad) (illus.) Guftu-guy-i 5adugar-i buzurg ba malakah-i Simurq. Bargiriftah az Manviq-alvair-i 5azirah-i Rangha 'Avvar-i Naišaburi (Simorgh. Bargerefte az (Gofto-gouye jadougare bozorg ba malakeye Mantiq al-tair Attare Neishabouri) (Simorgh. jazirehre-ie Rang-ha) A story from Mantiq al-tair Attare Neishabouri) (The grand wizard and the queen of Colour Island) Tihran: Madrasah, [2019] (= 1398 h.sh.). – 104 p. Tihran: Ufuq (Ofoq), [2019] (= 1397 h.sh.). – 178 p. ISBN 978-964-082024-7 (Series: Ruman-i Nawkawan; 215) ISBN 978-600-353-435-3 Bird | Truth | Wisdom | Self-empowerment | Myth | Parable Mother | Child | Loss | Death | Coping with grief PERSIAN (FARSI)

Simorgh, a bird in Iranian mythology and literature, Rahi’s mother informs him one day that he must go plays a significant role in some Persian classics, such and work for their neighbour, the artist Ms. Parsa, as »Shahnameh« (Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi and to sit for his portrait. In return, Ms. Parsa will buy the story of »Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr« (The Conference of him his dream bicycle. The atmosphere of her house

the Birds) by Fariduddin Attar. In Attar’s parable- feels odd to him. Step by step, Rahi figures out that Iran like poem, the birds of the world gather to decide there once was a boy living in this house, whose who is to be their sovereign. The hoopoe, wisest of room is still intact, including his clothes. Gradually, them all, suggests that they should find the legend- the readers put the pieces of the puzzle together and ary Simorgh. At the end of the long journey, only find out that Ms. Parsa’s son, Amir Taha, drowned thirty birds remain. They realize that they them- in the sea and that the resemblance between Amir selves are the ruler they seek. Mardjan Fouladvand Taha and Rahi is uncanny. Rahi is the only link has adapted Attar’s poem into suitable and under- Ms. Parsa has to her son and to her sanity. At the end standable prose for young adults. What makes this of the story Rahi’s warm heart and spirited character book a magnificent work are Mohammad Barrangi’s saves Ms. Parsa from making a terrible decision. pictures. The young and talented London-based Ira- This book, similar to other works by the author, has nian illustrator uses his feet and toes to paint instead a peculiar narrative structure. The characters and of his disabled hand. That’s why his pictures have narratives go back and forth in time, and readers their own unique look. In his artwork he combines have to reconstruct the order of events. Iranian nov- elements of Persian calligraphy, Eastern stories and elist and playwright Djamshid Khanian has gained imagery, and classical Western painting. (Age: 12+) national and international acclaim for his books. [RM] (Age: 14+) [RM]

Muhammadj, Narkis (Mohammadi, Nardjes) Królak, Agata (text/illus.) (text/illus.) Mytli Teo Ci fikr-i Qubi! (Teo is reflecting) (Che fekre khoubi!) Warszawa: Hokus-Pokus, 2019. – [32] p. (What a brilliant idea) ISBN 978-83-60402-73-3 Tihran: Tutj (Tuti Books), [2019] Thinking | Philosophy |Picture book (= 1398 h.sh.). – [32] p. ISBN 978-622-6630-10-8 Beauty | Difference | Diversity | Self-image | Self-esteem | Picture book PERSIAN (FARSI) POLISH

Turnip is unhappy with his »big« ears. He decides to Teo thinks. Teo reflects. Teo reflects on his thinking. wear a mask over his head to hide them. Everyone About his thoughts. Where they live. What they do is amazed by his »brilliant idea« and decides to do when he is not thinking of them. Whether he will the same. They’re all hiding something they dislike think bigger thoughts when he grows up. And how

Iran about themselves, yet now no one is distinguishable Mom obviously can read his thoughts when she from anyone else. This outcome makes Turnip wonder: bakes him the pancakes he’s secretly craving. This Poland Was this really a good idea? He is not sure anymore. picture book by Agata Królak (b. 1987) splendidly His ears might be ugly and big, but he has cute hair invites readers to philosophize about thinking. The and nice cheeks. Why should he cover them up? minimalist, expressive illustrations deliver meaning »Che fekre khoubi« (What a brilliant idea!) is a story with few details and recall children’s drawings in about self-esteem, self-image, and self-acceptance. their teetering naiveté. Rising above the details, from It helps children to understand that no matter what one landscape-oriented double-page to the next, the they look like, difference is beautiful, and beauty is illustrator creates associative points of connection different. Highly talented illustrator Nardjes Mohammadi and pictorial linkages, which gradually coalesce into has received many prizes and honours, including the Teo’s web of thoughts. Agata Królak knows exactly Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration how to tease out inner complexity, as she has also Bratislava. This book was also acknowledged at the shown in other work, such as the board book »What COW Design Biennial in Ukraine and the Little bears are like« with its depiction of feelings and Hakka Picture Book Competition in Shenzhen, moods. (Age: 3+) [KW] China. (Age: 6+) [RM]

Oziewicz, Tina (text) Ryrych, Katarzyna (text) Kaczmarska, Rita (illus.) Rusinek, Joanna (illus.) Awaria elektrowni Mała wojna (Power outage) (Little war) Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry, 2019. – [40] p. Łódz´ : Wydawnictwo Literatura, 2019. – 79 p. ISBN 978-83-8150-037-1 (Series: Wojny dorosłych – Historie dzieci) ISBN 978-83-7672-655-7 Power plant | Power outage | Darkness | Nature | Nocturnal animals | Picture book World War II (1939-1945) | Lviv | Hiding place | Humanity | Rescue POLISH

Power outage. The house and yard are steeped in Set during World War II, this story follows Janek, the darkness. In their wonderful picture book, Tina first-person narrator, and his sister Lilka, who live Oziewicz (b. 1971) and Rita Kaczmarska (b. 1991) show with their mother and grandmother in the city of what the absence of artificial light at night means for Lwów (Ukraine’s Lviv today), which has been Soviet- humans, but even more so for animals – how they occupied since 1939. When the children hear strange experience darkness and why sensing darkness is (human) sounds coming from behind the bookshelf Poland something special. All scenes in the book are bathed at the home of their music teacher Pan Stefan, and in a saturated dark blue and sequentially show vari- they notice more and more oddities, they assume ous animals observing the night. With low-angle they are in for an adventure. Their grandmother tells shots, readers look up at the sky as various denizens them that Pan Stefan is protecting some children on the property might view it, including fox, crab, by allowing them to hide at his place. She survived frog, moth, toad, woodcock, badger, owl, hedgehog, World War I and deportation to Siberia and calmly and humans. The authors explore tranquil thoughts and earnestly explains why war is not a game of hide- about the beautiful dark, but also explain how such and-seek. In »Mała wojna«, Katarzyna Ryrych, an im- animals leave their hiding places and find protection portant voice in Polish children’s literature, laconically and freedom under the cover of night. Thus, without describes the hardships that define everyday life for saying it directly, this picture book makes a plea for families during wartime. The gripping story is part of more power outages and for granting nature more the series »Adult wars – Children’s stories«, which is room and air. (Age: 4+) [KW] well worth reading. Since 2010, the series has issued books that venture to broach the terrible realities of life during wartime. (Age: 8+) [KW]

Sakowicz, Anna (text) Gorski, Michel (text) Beniak-Haremska, Ewa (illus.) Vilela, Fernando (illus.) Listy do A. Mieszka z nami Alzheimer Além da chuva (Letters to A. Alzheimer lives with us) (Beyond the rain) Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Poradnia K, São Paulo: FTD, 2020. – 47 p. 2019. – 139 p. ISBN 978-85-96-02757-1 (Series: Latawiec) Metropolis | Water | Rain | Ecology | ISBN 978-83-66005-60-0 Environmental protection | Picture book Grandmother | Granddaughter | Alzheimer’s Disease POLISH PORTUGUESE

A little girl named Anielka writes letters to the invis- In the year 2035, Carlos returns to São Paulo. The ible Mr. A. He has gotten to her Grandma and plays giant metropolis has completely changed. When he tricks on her. Anielka understands that Mr. A. is never was a child, twenty-five years earlier, he ran through going away again. What’s more, he’s not only dominat- grey urban canyons and hardly saw any green ing her grandmother’s life. Increasingly, he’s involving anywhere. Now, the city is covered in vegetation. Brazil the whole family and pushing them to the brink of Facades are green, high-rise roofs serve as fields, Poland what’s emotionally bearable. In her children’s book, pastures, and gardens. Carlos remembers the sum- Anna Sakowicz (b. 1972) adopts the little girl’s per- mer rain floods that used to put the city under water spective to describe the onset of Alzheimer’s disease every year, and how he, his friends, and his family and what it does to the afflicted person’s family mem- tackled the problem back then. He describes how bers. The content is based on the author’s personal they broke up the pavement in the car park area and experiences. Though Anielka’s thoughts are those of planted a garden there, how they developed roof- a child, she expresses them in discerning language top gardens and ingenious rain collection devices that is also directed at adult readers. Anielka’s letters and invented multi-purpose basins, subterranean to Mr. A. are accompanied by many little coloured reservoirs, »aquarium busses«, and »car door rain pencil drawings by Ewa Beniak-Haremska. collectors«. This imaginatively illustrated picture (Age: 10+) [KW] book, which includes a few pages with information about young environmental activists, conveys in an original way how an ecological problem can be surmounted with can-do spirit and ingenuity, trans- forming a utopia into a reality. (Age: 7+) [JW]

Hiratsuka, Lúcia (text/illus.) Negro, Mauricio (ed./illus.) Histórias guardadas pelo rio Various authors (text) (Stories kept by the river) Nós. Uma antologia de literatura indígena São Paulo: Edições SM, 2018. – 63 p. (Us. An anthology of indigenous literature) ISBN 978-85-418-2040-0 São Paulo: Companhia das Letrinhas, 2019. – 126 p. ISBN 978-85-7406-864-0 River | Fisher | Story | Storytelling Brazil | Indigenous people | Myth | Fairy tale | Anthology PORTUGUESE

Lúcia Hiratsuka bases her subtle, unobtrusive chil- At the time when European colonizers reached the dren’s book on a lovely image she created to capture region of today’s Brazil, more than 1000 languages the art of inventing and telling stories. In a town by were being spoken there. Today, only a quarter of a river, fishers pull stories out of the water and sell these languages are still alive. These, too, are at risk or give them away to other people. Pedro wants to of dying out, because the ancestral lands of the often learn about the secrets of story-fishing, but no one small ethnic groups that speak them are threatened. Brazil can really explain it to him. Is it a talent, an art, or a Many members of such groups have migrated to craft? How does one do it? Does one perhaps only the cities, where it is hard to preserve their own need the right fishing rod or basket for it? Like those language and culture. One can’t value what one hunting their fortune in fairy tales, Pedro makes doesn’t know, so books like »Nós« offer valuable aid his way to a village to find a Mr. Guido who sup- in foregrounding and valuing such peoples and their posedly can help him further. He doesn’t find the heritage. Mauricio Negro, the volume’s editor and il- old fisherman, but he does find other people; in the lustrator, brings together newly-told origin myths by end, he also finds himself. Hiratsuka’s story flows ten indigenous authors, which reveal a small, fasci- as peacefully as its titular river. The boundaries nating segment of Brazil’s rich indigenous narrative between the real and the fabular blur in an unforced, tradition. Each of the beautifully illustrated stories natural-seeming way. Colourful vignettes illustrate is followed by information about the respective the poetic text. (Age: 8+) [JW] ethnic group, a biographical note about the author, as well as a very useful glossary. This carefully edited volume is a genuine treasure. (Age: 12+) [JW]

Parreiras, Ninfa (text) Sisto, Celso (text) Neves, André (illus.) Elma (illus.) Donana e Titonho. Um conto Blimundo o maior boi do mundo. (Donana and Titonho. A story) Conto tradicional de Cabo Verde São Paulo: Paulinas, 2018. – [40] p. (Blimundo, the largest bull in the world. (Series: Espaço Aberto) A traditional tale from Cabo Verde) ISBN 978-85-356-4395-4 Rio de Janeiro: Rocco Pequenos Leitores, 2018. – 39 p. Poverty | Social disparity | Garbage | ISBN 978-85-62500-91-6 Garbage collector | Dignity | Picture book Cabo Verde | Folk tale | Tyranny | Bull | Freedom PORTUGUESE

»Collecting and picking up. Keeping and keeping The cruel king Morgado – dictator, oppressor, and quiet.« These two brief sentences concisely describe slaveholder – decides to have the giant bull Blimun- Donana and Titonho’s existence. The couple, who do captured and killed. The bull’s strength, unyield- keep their heads above water by collecting and ingness, and unconditional love of freedom are re-using garbage, are spending their whole life unbearable to the king and a thorn in his side, be- Brazil together. Their work carries a stigma of shame, cause they mirror his own tyranny. Blimundo, under poverty, and misery that one can scarcely escape a spell and blindly in love with Morgado’s youngest and that is passed on from generation to generation. daughter, cannot be conquered by weapons, but Dona and Titonho, their children and children’s only through the cunning of a child named Arcádio. children represent those who are ignored and live However, his death also spells the end of Morgado’s at the margins of society, yet whose dignity can still reign. The violent, gruesome end is thus in no way not be taken away. Ninfa Parreiras tells this story in a happy one, the future remains uncertain, and dense, lyrical prose. Short, partly fragmentary sen- Arcádio, along with readers, remains disconcerted. tences, or single words align themselves in sequence. The old fairy tale from Cape Verde is full of symbol- Read aloud, they carry a rhythmic flow like a chant. ism and refers back to experiences from the history André Neves’s illustrations include photo cut-outs to of the African island state, including slavery and accompany the powerful text. The pictures express colonial rule. Celso Sisto tells the story in a rhyth- the characters’ melancholy in a striking way. mic, partly rhymed language. It is difficult to evade (Age: 8+) [JW] the power of the text and Elma’s pictures, which are glowing in bright red. (Age: 7+) [JW]

Pessoa, Ana (text) Viana, Gonçalo (text/illus.) Estrela, Joana (illus.) Troca-Tintas Aqui é um bom lugar (Colour switcher) (This is a good place) Lisboa: Orfeu Negro, 2019. – [38] p. Carcavelos: Planeta Tangerina, 2019. – [222] p. (Series: Orfeu mini) (Series: Dois passos e um salto) ISBN 978-989-8868-67-1 ISBN 978-989-8145-93-2 Colour | Imagination | Storytelling | Coming of age | Diary Picture book PORTUGUESE

Ana Pessoa has a special talent for describing the »There once were two friends, an orange-coloured experiences, thoughts, wishes, fears and challenges dog, a yellow kite and a… white tree?« Wait a min- of the years sandwiched between not-being-a-kid- ute! Something’s off. One had best return the book anymore and not-yet-being-an-adult in an authentic, or start it over again: »There once were…« But even linguistically resonant way, staying in tune with her the second attempt at starting the story will floun- characters and readers. The same applies to her new der. Now a cloud is – wait for it! – green. The illus-

book, which received the Maria Rosa Colaço Award trator is no doubt inept… unless a colour switcher Portugal in 2018 and was created in close collaboration with is perhaps involved? This is probably the case since artist Joana Estrela. What drew the author and illus- things don’t get any better – in the end, a purple dog trator together, according to their own testimony, was and a lime-green sun enter the scene. Gonçalo Viana their shared love of notebooks. So »Aqui é um bom lights a firework of bright colours and expressive lugar« is a kind of comprehensive notebook, in which forms, odd characters and looniness in this picture seventeen-year-old protagonist Teresa Tristeza col- book. »Troca-Tintas« taps into the pure joy and lects what she experiences, feels, and thinks in entries fun involved when we play with the imagination that are never more than two pages in length – writ- and language and delight in spontaneous story in- ten by hand, scribbled, pasted in, enhanced by draw- vention. A book entirely without meaning that ex- ings, sketches, sometimes also photographic snippets. plores the art of thinking and colouring the world Everything finds a spot here and is worth holding just as it pops into one’s head. (Age: 4+) [JW] onto. Together, the fragments form a heterogeneous, living collage, which both in content and form captures the young woman’s sense of life. (Age: 15+) [JW]

Ponomarëv, Nikolaj (Ponomaryov, Nikolai) (text) Romanovskaja, Larisa (Romanovskaya, Larisa) (text) Tocka bifurkacii Siblingi (Tochka bifurkacii) (Siblings) (Bifurcation point) Moskva: Samokat, 2019. – 317 p. Moskva: KompasGid, 2019. – 341 p. (Series: Vstrecnoe dviženie [Vstrechnoe dvizhenie]) ISBN 978-5-00083-581-4 ISBN 978-5-91759-889-5 First love | Communication Experiment | Time travel | Course of life | Change | Science fiction RUSSIAN

When one falls in love for the first time, life divides It’s a classic sci-fi idea – retroactively step into into a before and an after. Timofei reaches this fork others’ lives and change them. Larisa Romanovskaya’s when he meets Marina, who is deaf. Every morning, novel »Siblingi« develops this idea into an enthral- she sits in the same bus to school as he does. They ling read, lending the story a lovely anachronistic experience the tender first bonds, flustered misun- streak, since apart from the highly technical process

Russia derstandings, and scary yet beautiful carousel of of stepping into and out of the timelines, the insecure being in love…. a whole school year long. protagonists make do without any artefacts of the This could be a teen love story like many others, but digital age. The »Siblingi« are a group of children seldom is the moment so astutely dissected and em- and youths who, due to the perilous nature of their bedded in a story as Nikolai Ponomaryov (b. 1976) future lives, are extracted from those life trajectories does here. With trenchant descriptions and a nice and made part of an experiment. The »Institute of sound, he describes, from Timofei’s point of view, all Time« isolates them extra-terrestrially and sends that happens the first time one earnestly falls in love: them, operative-like, to a specific point in time to Wrestling for chances to express this new feeling, prevent something worse from happening, such as a marvelling at the things it makes one do, and not house fire. They are always sent to handle relatively knowing how to interact with each other or their small matters that never directly touch their own own self. Narrated in retrospective, Timofei real- lives. So, what happens when one meddles with one’s izes years later that his »bifurcation point« occurred own life course? What happens to one’s own future sometime that year. (Age: 12+) [KW] self? And why only operate on small matters: Why not eradicate Hitler? (Age: 12+) [KW]

Mladenovib, Dragana (text) Novak, Nikoleta (text) Kuzmanovib, Boris (illus.) Poziv Dar-mar (The call) (Topsy-turvy) Bacak: Pcelica Izdavaštvo DOO, 2019. – 155 p. Beograd: Kreativni Centar, 2019. – 99 p. ISBN 978-86-6089-881-6 (Series: Razlicak) Adoption | Biological mother | Search for identity ISBN 978-86-529-0353-5

This wildly colourful, multi-award-winning book Nikoleta Novak is a well-known children’s book is about flip-flopping and criss-crossing: Dragana author in Serbia. »Poziv«, her first novel for young Mladenović (b. 1977) and Boris Kuzmanović adults, is about Stefan and his life story – which is (b. 1980) creatively run riot, intentionally sowing really one long search for identity. While that in confusion and funny aha-moments in both text and itself is not atypical of a coming-of-age novel, Stefan

illustration along the way. Ungainly figures with was also adopted and moved from Serbia to Canada Serbia outsized eyes romp about with disproportioned as a child; so in this respect, too, he is searching for creatures in vibrantly coloured sceneries framed by himself and his roots. To find his biological mother, jewelled borders. They epitomize the short poems he returns to Serbia. With the help of his friend and texts, which – according to the book’s preface Ema, who he knew from childhood and starts to – interlopers have strewn with little mistakes and become romantically involved with, he begins his unrhymed phrases that readers are supposed to find search laden with blame, mistrust, and uncertainty. and laugh about. Instead of going to the supermar- Told from multiple points of view, the dramatic past ket, it’s off to the superparquet. The grocery list has surrounding Stefan’s adoption gradually comes to a litre of bread and a kilo of milk on it, while the light. »Poziv« develops into an absorbing page-turner weekend finds a book grazing rurally instead of a that feels like a thriller with an optimistic ending. cow. Displacements of sound and meaning, word The novel was named Young Adult Book of the Year reversals and twists, and playful fun with reading in 2019 at the Belgrade book fair. (Age: 14+) [KW] habits make »Dar-Mar« a marvellous book to read slowly and makes looking twice very worthwhile. (Age: 9+) [KW]

Hvorecký, Michal (text) Bauer, Jana (text) Štefanovicová, Klára (illus.) Zając, Malgosia (illus.) Cierna oslava Kako prestrašiti pošast (Black celebration) (How one scares a monster) [Bratislava]: ej.publishing, 2019. – 37 p. Ljubljana: KUD Sodobnost International, (Series: Nežný komiks; 1) 2020. – [34] p. ISBN 978-80-972977-6-3 (Series: Gugalnica. Zbirka najboljših slikanic) ISBN 978-961-7047-62-2 Czechoslovakia | History 1989 | Protest | Student protest | Coming of age | Comic Monster | Cunning | Picture book SLOVAK SLOVENIAN

In November 1989, students of all ages take to the Filip Rabbit has a problem: A monster has made streets to protest in defence of education, demo- itself at home under his bed. How fortunate that his cracy, freedom, and against the socialist system. friend Otto is a monster expert. It quickly becomes Jana is among them, mostly because of her crush, a clear that there are different kinds of monsters, rebellious young man with a passion for the band which can be scared off using different means. Otto Depeche Mode. Jana joins the protesting youth makes loud noises to ward off brutish monsters, Slovakia Slovenia on the streets, yet she remains an obedient child takes raspberry syrup to scare away tooth monsters, to her family of elite party officials. During the and tries to defend himself against hair tuft mon- demonstration she realizes, though, that it’s time to sters by threatening to wash them. When nothing show her true colours. »Čierna oslava« is the first proves effective, the boys reach for one last, cunning part of a comic series that engages with the »Velvet trick and catch the beast. Quirky characters, spooky Revolution« in the former Czechoslovakia. It is a creatures, a surprising end – this picture book of- call to young people today to step up for rights and fers the perfect mix for a story that can be read and freedom, and reminds us that it is worth fighting for looked at again and again. Exceedingly successful democracy. At the same time, this is the exceedingly Slovenian children’s book author Jana Bauer proves successful debut of Klára Štefanovičová (b. 1995), once more how well she can make short, concise student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. texts sparkle and pop. Polish illustrator Malgosia (Age: 12+) [KW] Zając has a keen eye for mischievous pictorial details and aptly catches the atmosphere of the different situations. (Age: 4+) [KW]

Semenic, Simona (text) Sokolov, Cvetka (text) Komadina, Tanja (illus.) Bartolj, Marta (illus.) Skrivno društvo KRVZ Bo res vse v redu? (KRVZ Secret Society) (Will everything be alright?) Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga, 2020. – 309 p. Dob pri Domžalah: Miš, 2019. – 127 p. (Series: Modra ptica) (Series: Zbirka Prva z(o)renja) ISBN 978-961-01-5931-5 ISBN 978-961-272-376-7 Adventure | Secret | City | Map | Dragon | Homosexuality | Father | Son | Metafiction Intergenerational relation | Family conflict | Mountain climbing | Adventure SLOVENIAN

This children’s book features a secret society of re- Bor is hiking in the mountains with Grandma. Usu- sourceful kids, a mysterious city map of Ljubljana, ally the boy enjoys this, since his Grandma knows dragons, a rare dragon plant, quirky scientists, dodgy a lot about the mountains and about climbing. But characters, teacher parents, a cheeky authorial voice, this time Bor is downcast because he overheard and a good deal of wordplay and stylistic elegance. a fight his grandmother and mother were having In her children’s literary debut, illustrated by about him, his father and his father’s life partner.

Tanja Komadina (b. 1976), Slovenian playwright Bor just really wants everything to be okay between Slovenia Simona Semenič (b. 1975) spins a wild adventure Grandma and Papa again, just as he wants their yarn around how the children discover the secret hike through the mountains to end well, as they’ve of the map, the dragon plant, and the dragon itself. become lost. This book once again reveals Cvetka What’s more, she regularly jumps right in, engages Sokolov’s (b. 1963) feeling for familial relationships. with her readers, and points out that the story is As in other works, she dons a child’s perspective nothing but a literary construction: In entertaining and reveals the errors that adults make, as with Bor’s ways, she points out how the story is structured or grandmother, for instance, and her attitude toward how she left out certain plot elements only to describe her son’s homosexuality. Since it’s no big deal for them later. Thanks also to the spirited dialogues, writ- Bor that his father lives with another man, for him ten in the type of secret codes kids invent, »Skrivno (and for readers) what matters is the exciting hike at društvo KRVZ«, which won the Modra Ptica Award, hand, along with the question of why adults get into testifies to a great joy in story-invention. (Age: 9+) fights and judge his father’s life model. (Age: 10+) [KW] [KW]

Frankel, Yael (text/illus.) Martinez Arroyo, Carola (text) El ascensor Nunca jamás (The lift) (Never again) Buenos Aires: Limonero, 2019. – [38] p. Buenos Aires: Norma, 2019. – 236 p. ISBN 978-987-47079-7-0 (Series: Zona libre) ISBN 978-958-545-828-4 Elevator | Neighbourhood | Communication | Picture book Mother | Death | Coping with grief SPANISH

This story is set in a space that’s easy to oversee at a »Nothing bad has happened to me for thirteen glance: inside a lift that doesn’t arrive on the ground years. Now my mother has died«. This is how the floor, no matter how often the button gets pressed. story of thirteen-year-old Fiorella begins on the first Instead, it shuttles between top and (near) bot- page of the book. »She has died«: This is the final tom, collecting several residents of a house along certainty, even though Fiorella’s little sister, Maggie, the way: Doña Paula, Señor Miguel, and Cora with hopes their mother will »undie«. The narrator shares her little twins. Going up and down starts taking a feelings such as incredulity, paralysis, rage, and grief

Argentina little long, so to pass the time Doña Paula shares her with readers, as well as her attempt to newly find home-made cake, and Señor Miguel tells the story her way in life and to gradually fill the void, though of a bear who supposedly never »cares either way« it can never completely disappear. As in her debut about things. Time flies by. Meanwhile, the frame novel »Matilde« (2016), in »Nunca jamás« Carola story and the second-level story-within-a-story Martinez Arroyo uses an authentic language to de- flow into each other in the black-and-white pictures velop the plot as well as the emotions and thoughts that feature a few red accents. In the end, everyone of her female protagonist in an absolutely believable agrees that they »don’t care either way« whether way. Averse feelings – for instance, when Fiorella or not the lift gets repaired. »El ascensor«, highly desires to live her own life yet also remain responsi- original both in its visuals and its text, comes in a ble for her sister – aren’t played down or trivialized, narrow portrait format as befitting a long lift shaft. which is of great merit. (Age: 11+) [JW] It captivates readers through its humour and a sense for the little, unexpected surprises of everyday life. (Age: 5+) [JW]

Schuff, Nicolás (text) Habinger, Esperanza (text) Reboursin, Javier (illus.) Sebastián, Sole (illus.) Mis tíos gigantes Tu cerebro es genial (My giant uncles) (Your brain is ingenious) Buenos Aires: Santillana, 2019. – 57 p. Santiago, Chile: Editorial Amanuta, 2019. – 59 p. (Series: Loqueleo. Narrativa) (Series: Colección Abre los ojos) ISBN 978-950-46-5839-9 ISBN 978-956-364-104-2 Family | Uncle | Tolerance Brain | Non-fiction SPANISH

Not everyone could claim to have such uncles! The human brain is ingenious in a double sense: it is Severino and Saturnino are twins, 99 years old, three both excellently designed and capable of astonishing meters tall – and terribly annoying. They are clumsy, achievements. From first page to last, this astonish- rude, loud, love to stick their noses into other ing book devotes itself to this very special mass people’s affairs or to find fault with them. Despite housed within our skulls. It talks about the parts of all this, they are family, and one must get along with the brain, their functions, and how they communi- Chile them somehow. Easier said than done when, for cate with and control other body parts. It talks about example, they climb a tree and the police have to coordination and balance, memory and language, Argentina get them back down, or when they phone the first- sensory perception, emotions, empathy, and the person-narrator at the crack of dawn to ask whether possibility of training the brain. The text and the he’s finally rewritten his story or whether he could numerous vignette-like illustrations explain all this tell them a new one. There are plenty of fussy and in a clearly structured and straightforward way. The uninspired books for beginning readers. This little book conveys a great deal of intriguing knowledge volume, however, barely 60 pages long, with gener- without overloading the pages or overwhelming ous layout and illustrations, is a gem. With keenly readers. There are unique invitations in each chapter crafted language and humorous dialogue, Nicolás to perform simple self-guided experiments. In test- Schuff tells an original, fast-paced story about two ing one’s senses, equilibrium, or power of recall, for not very lovable characters that provides a lot of instance, one can become aware of what goes on in reading pleasure. (Age: 8+) [JW] our »control centre« and what abilities and achievements it’s responsible for. (Age: 9+) [JW]

Quinteros, Ángeles (text) Siemens, Sandra (text) Vargas, Ángeles (illus.) Cocodrilo con flor rosa ¡Fiesta! Cómo se celebra en Ámerica (Crocodile with pink flower) (Festive! How one celebrates in the Americas) Bogotá: Norma, 2019. – 127 p. [Santiago ]: Escrito con Tiza, [2019]. – 57 p. (Series: Zona libre. Jóvenes adultos) (Series: Colección Binoocular) ISBN 978-958-00-1235-1 ISBN 978-956-6049-00-5 (Parallel ed.: Buenos Aires: Norma, 2019) America | Celebration | Tradition | Folklore | Sexual abuse | Coping with trauma | Memory Non-fiction SPANISH

»¡Fiesta!« takes readers on a varied journey to For a long time, a traumatic experience lay buried visit celebrations in fifteen countries from Chile deep inside seventeen-year-old Teresa. At the age to Canada. Local or unique national festivities are of eight, she was sexually abused by a family friend. mainly featured, for instance Tapati Rapa Nui in Only now, years later, memories begin to stir in honour of ancestors on the Easter Islands, the Mama her. What was long concealed and suppressed is Chile Negra parade in the Ecuadorian town of Latacunga, now brought into the open and articulated. But to or the harvest feast Mal Día para Señor Harding recognize and heal mental and emotional injuries

Colombia (Bad Day for Mr. Harding) on Barbados. These is a painful process that is fragmentary and erratic. are living traditions, which, as characteristic of the In her impressive novel, Argentinian author Sandra Americas, have blended elements from indigenous Siemens uses a fitting literary form to represent cultures of the continents with the cultures of Euro- Teresa’s memory work and trauma processing. pean and African immigrants, and so also reflect When she speaks of the present, the protagonist the ethnic and religious roots of these societies. The uses the first-person voice, and when she speaks of informative texts and expressive, intensely vibrant her childhood, she switches to the more distanced illustrations in the primary shades of blue, yellow third-person voice. The temporal planes alternate and red offer a wonderful entry point to learn about in the short chapters, which are sometimes only a the rich traditions of the Americas. Some further page long and gradually snap together like puzzle information about the fifteen featured countries and pieces. But not everything is explained and explicitly a glossary complete the attractive non-fiction book. portrayed. As a result, speechlessness and repression (Age: 8+) [JW] remain present to the end. (Age: 14+) [JW]

This is a book about life underground in a multi-lin- Fascinated and inspired by Japan’s history and gual megalopolis. The crush is not only visible, but culture, its myths and sagas, Mexican author Martha downright palpable. Meanwhile, a tense, threaten- Riva Palacio Obón has written seven short stories ing silence makes the air rustle. Not headless, but that offer new angles on material, motifs, and char- somehow faceless aliens populate the city, swarm acters from folk tales of the island nation. The texts on train platforms, crowd each other on packed are polished gems written in a poetic, nuanced lan- underground trains while ceaselessly staring at their guage and are inspired by Japanese haibun, a literary Mexico smartphones, as if fused with them. A telephone form that connects prose and verse. The stories tell even dangles from a pram like an umbilical cord. of samurais, noble ladies and monks, of foxes and The frames keep getting narrower, pulling observers cats, palaces, caves, enchanted forests, and mysteri- closer and closer to the characters and sucking them ous temples. They float between reality, dream, and into the denseness, mad rush, wordlessness, and magic. Nothing is explained, no mysteries solved, lostness of this restless, highly technologized world. and a veil is draped over all and is not lifted. The In his extravagant, energy-loaded black-and-white artfully composed texts are nebulous and secret- drawings, Sandro Bassi tells no linear story, portray- filled, a feeling echoed in the partly silhouetted il- ing a state of being instead. »La Nacionalien« holds lustrations of Sólin Sekkur, which offer a night-blue a dystopian mirror up to people living today and glimpse of the worlds of the in-between and of the needs no words to do so. (Age: 8+) [JW] spirits. (Age: 12+) [JW]

Romero, Ana (text) Brusa, Mariasole (text) / Sevilla, Marta (illus.) Gallo, Valeria (illus.) Zanabria, Raúl / Amavisca, Luis (transl.) Nosotras – Nosotros Cosas de bruja (We – We) (Witch issues) Ciudad de México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, [Madrid]: NubeOcho, 2019. – [33] p. 2019. – [44] p. (Series: Egalité) (Series: Colección Los Especiales de A la orilla ISBN 978-84-17673-59-8 del viento) – ISBN 978-607-16-5908-8 (Ital. parallel ed.: Turchina la Strega. Matilda Ed., 2019) Gender role | Gender equality | Stereotype | Role expectations | Self-image | Stereotype | Emancipation | Freedom Freedom | Individuality | Witch | Picture book SPANISH

»Nosotras – Nosotros«, whose title contains the The witch bristles with rage. Dying her hair has female and male Spanish pronoun for »We«, is about gone totally awry. Blood-red, ash-grey or snot- two sides of the same coin. What does it mean to be green colour would have worked – but fairy-blue?! a woman, or a man? The answer is: to be human and To prove she’s still a real witch, she aims to kidnap to not face pressure to conform to gender stereo- a child, it doesn’t matter who, the main thing is to

Spain types and role expectations. The book is divided into do it right away. But the child’s naive, disarming Mexico two parts and can be read either from the front or reaction immediately breaks her stride. She musters from the back. The part on being female considers all she has, but it’s hopeless. Why is she doing this? things sometimes still denied to girls and women: Why is she mean? She has no convincing answer. education, free choice of profession, social participa- The child’s questions and doubts thus have a similar tion and visibility. Men, on the other hand, have al- effect on her as they do in Andersen’s fairy tale: She ways had these opportunities available to them, and is suddenly naked, not literally, but figuratively. Her – this is what the second part focuses on – are usu- self-image, along with her taken-for-granted role ally pressured into playing the role of the »strong« expectations, attributions and supposedly inherent man, who is not allowed to show emotions like characteristics burst like bubbles. This comes as a love, grief or weakness. Trenchant and assertive in shock to the witch at first, but in the end it’s liber- both word and image, this thought-provoking book ating. This wonderful picture book is very witty, reveals the unnecessary restrictions of traditional funny, spirited and trenchant in the dialogues. The gender ascriptions. Both book parts meet in the wild, cheerful double-page pictures aptly capture middle across a double-page that shows free people the story’s comedy. (Age: 4+) [JW] living without such constraints. (Age: 8+) [JW]

Garland, Inés (text) Gómez Cerdá, Alfredo (text) Mutuberria, Maite (illus.) Ninfa rota Lilo (Broken nymph) [Zaragoza]: Edelvives, 2019. – 212 p. Madrid: Anaya, 2019. – 189 p. (Series: Ala delta. Serie verde; 114) ISBN 978-84-698-4808-1 ISBN 978-84-140-2356-3 Love | Dependence | Compulsive control | Coping with grief | Envy | Cyberbullying | Dog Submission | Gender role SPANISH

If humans had as sensitive a nose as Lilo, eleven- What is remarkable about this novel is that it can year-old Emi’s short-legged sheepdog, they would elicit the same reactions from readers as from Nerea, have noticed long ago that something is not quite the closest friend of the protagonist, Marina: incom- right with her. Sometimes Lilo can detect the aroma prehension, outrage, anger and the urgent wish to of yeast and old lemon in the air, which means that bring Marina to her senses. Marina retrospectively Emi is sad and scared. There’s also a mysterious describes her love for her schoolmate Eugenio, which Spain girl, Kai, whose texts to Emi’s phone cause her to triggered turmoil for her, ended in disaster and still cry and get out of sorts. Lilo the excellent sniffer is continues to pulsate. It is a story about machismo, the emotionally sensitive first-person narrator of the compulsive desire to control another person, this story. Looking at the world from his somewhat and possessiveness, about love-blindness, debase- other perspective as an animal, readers learn how ment, submission, and self-abandonment. Marina’s he, his dog friends and the shadowy cat Berenice confessional story alternates across various temporal find the source of Kai’s envy towards Emi. Given his planes. Her report builds in nightmare sequences and motivation to make the humans around him happy, dialogue scenes, in which the emotionally charged Lilo brings the two girls together. Perceptively and atmosphere becomes especially apparent and palp- humorously, Argentinian author Inés Garland tells able. Even though the matter seems obvious – Eugenio a story about handling rage and grief, in which the is the encroaching wrong-doer, Marina the manipu- world of animals and that of human beings perme- lated victim – Marina’s feelings continue to vacillate. ate one another in an unusual way. (Age: 9+) [JW] The novel ends surprisingly openly, which will cause many readers to continue to ponder the nightmarish story a good while into the future. (Age: 14+) [JW]

Nogués, Alex (text) Nogués, Alex (text) Asiain Lora, Miren (illus.) Enríquez, Bea (illus.) Un millón de ostras en lo alto de la montaña La playa de los inútiles (A million oysters up on the mountain) (The beach of the useless) Barcelona: Editorial Flamboyant, 2019. – [42] p. Barcelona: Akiara books, 2019. – 86 p. ISBN 978-84-17749-35-4 (Series: Akinarra; 1) ISBN 978-84-17440-32-9 Geology | History of Earth | Fossil | Non-fiction | Picture book Family | Familial conflict | Moving house | Friendship | Self-discovery | Meaning of life SPANISH

One can discover so much by opening one’s eyes Sofía has a surprising answer to her teacher’s and carefully observing the world! Oysters up on question concerning what she’d like to be one day: a mountain, for instance. Hard to believe, but yes, »useless«. Useless – according to her father, this is these are the fossilized remains of oysters that lived what people are who supposedly give nothing of in a tropical sea 85 million years ago. This mag- value to society. He himself is a driven workaholic, Spain nificent book takes readers on a tour of the Earth’s her mother is unhappy, and Sofía is still angry at her history and reveals how exciting geology can be. parents because they moved to a little coastal city It uncovers the secrets hidden in stones, rocks, »at the end of the world« with her. Together with her mountains, and under the earth, and shows how the new friends, Sofía gets to know »useless« people – various geological eras are layered on top of each musicians, painters, a collector of unremarkable ob- other like the lines and notes of an ancient song. The jects at the beach – and in the end opens her father’s narrative texts and pictures of »Un millón de ostras ...« eyes to what really matters in life. The story, told vividly introduce the complex topic and give young from the perspective of the eleven-year-old protago- readers an idea of the unfathomably large time spans nist, captures the girl’s thrown-out-of-joint world in of Earth’s history, primeval animals, the movement a precise and sensitive way and with subtle humour: of the tectonic plates, the beginnings of geology, and the feeling of being the new kid, the tensions be- the fascinating nature of rocks, which are anything tween her parents, the conflict with her father and but mute. To start out on their own geological jour- the question about the goal and meaning of life. The ney, readers just need a magnifying glass, a note- nimble, colourful illustrations and vignettes round book, something to write with, and… a hammer. out the small book. (Age: 10+) [JW] (Age: 9+) [JW]

Puerta Leisse, Gustavo (text) Watanabe, Issa (illus.) Odriozola, Elena (illus.) Migrantes Sentimientos encontrados (Migrants) (Found feelings) Barcelona [et al.]: Libros del Zorro Rojo, [Madrid]: Ediciones Modernas El Embudo, 2019. – [36] p. 2019. – [42] p. ISBN 978-84-949901-5-1 (Series: Colección Me lo pienso) Refugee | Migration | Death | Wordless book | ISBN 978-84-120418-0-4 Picture book Emotion | Picture book | Non-fiction SPANISH

The introduction of this extraordinary book con- A caravan of highly diverse animals, loaded down tains a piece of advice that one absolutely should with bundles, suitcases and cookware, traverses a follow: »You can read this book how and whenever dark forest. Almost shyly, Death joins the train and you’d like.« It’s true – the way to do justice to this is a constant companion from then on. The animals book, which spans 16 double-pages, is by engaging eventually cross a deep, blue-black sea and not all with the 256 meticulously pencil-drawn vignettes of them reach the other side. Those who make it Spain and the thoughtful, explicating texts in a playful continue their journey, until they unexpectedly hit and autonomous way. The pictures offer views into upon a wonderful pomegranate tree. A deep and the rooms of a multi-story house, showing people heavy silence lingers over the pages of this word- in their everyday lives and various emotional states. less book. The contrast between the bright colours The texts beneath explain and investigate an emo- of the refugee train and the gloom of the world that tion on every page – such as longing, joy, envy, or surrounds it produces a simultaneously captivating shame. It is left up to readers to make connections and painful intensity. Issa Watanabe captures the between the text and pictures. Additionally, the text full range of the characters’ emotions in her detailed and pictures of this spiral-bound mix-and-match pictures with soft, flowing strokes: fear and hope, book can be leafed through separately from each pain and grief, despair and solicitude. There are cur- other, which creates countless opportunities to rently many children’s books that focus on displaced explore the facets of the world of human emotion. people and migration; its simplicity, intensity and An exceptional, thought-provoking book for leafing- touching beauty makes »Migrantes« a stand out. through, searching, discovering, questioning and (Age: 6+) [JW] understanding. (Age: 8+) [JW]

Soderguit, Alfredo (text/illus.) AdBåge, Emma (text/illus.) Los carpinchos Adbåge, Lisen (text/illus.) (The capybaras) Folk. Främlingar och vänner – nån du Caracas [et al.]: Ediciones Ekaré, 2020. – [40] p. kanske känner! ISBN 978-84-120600-8-9 (People. Strangers and friends – someone you might know) Foreignness | Rejection | Difference | Solidarity | Stockholm: Natur & Kultur, 2019. – [60] p. Freedom | Picture book ISBN 978-91-27-15621-0 Poetry SPANISH SWEDISH

Life in the chicken yard is running its usual course Twin sisters Emma and Lisen Adbåge are among until, out of the blue, the perplexed feather folk the new stars in the Swedish illustrators’ sky, which find themselves standing across from a bunch of doesn’t come as a surprise, as they are truly multi- capybaras. They are different, don’t know the rules, talented. Their collaboration »Folk. Främlingar och and are »wild«, one hen says and gets her chicks to vänner – nån du kanske känner!« shows the great safety. But the newcomers are themselves looking creativity and variation of their texts and pictures.

Sweden for protection from the hunters who are after them. The eponymous poem, the third one in the book,

Venezuela Now, as so often happens, strangers become friends is accompanied by illustrations like those on the as each gets to know the other and learns to appre- book cover: many different heads in all shapes and ciate their different qualities. In the end, the chick- colours, including a Lego-figure head and a visual ens and the capybaras journey off together to try reference to Edvard Munch’s famous painting their luck elsewhere, far from the humans, who are »Skrik« (»The Scream«). So much to look at! The surely their greatest threat. This book offers a won- tone of the poems ranges from funny, bizarre, and derful interplay between its short, laconic text and absurd to thoughtful and melancholic. Yet this is simple black-and-white illustrations, which feature a not the only reason why no page resembles the next; few red and brown accents. The pictures stand out in in addition to a varied page layout and different their keen and subtle comicality. The animals’ facial picture-text arrangements, the illustrations are cre- expressions and other little details bring the real ated in every medium imaginable, from wild felt-tip depth of this sympathetic, wise, and surely not at all pen scribbling to mixed watercolour techniques and simple animal story to light. (Age: 4+) [JW] wax crayon. (Age: 4+) [IG]

Lannebo, Charlotta (text) Lindenbaum, Pija (text/illus.) Nilsson Thore, Maria (illus.) Vi måste till jobbet Astrid, alltid Astrid! (We have to go to work) (Astrid, always Astrid!) [Stockholm]: Lilla Piratförlaget, [2019]. – [36] p. Stockholm: Rabén & Sjögren, 2019. – 163 p. + [4] p. ISBN 978-91-7813-097-9 ISBN 978-91-29-71731-0 Everyday life | Work | Imagination | Game | Family | Siblings | Self-assertion | Picture book Self-confidence SWEDISH

»I have several wonderful names: Astrid Eva Mary Learning by example: The fact that children imitate Kovacs. This sounds truly great. And it fits perfectly, their parents is nothing new. The latest picture book because I think I’m a great person.« This great by Pija Lindenbaum shows how well this works: person is eight years old and the youngest of four Musse, Elin, and the first-person narrator are play- siblings. It never gets boring in this family, espe- ing in their bedroom. On the first double page, they cially as Astrid has to share a room with her sister put the »baby», in this case a small, pink toy piglet, Blanka, which doesn’t always go smoothly because to bed, because they really have to get going. With Sweden Astrid needs »thinking time« every now and then. the turn of the page, the illustrations enter into the In any case, she knows exactly what she likes and imaginary world of the children and show them dislikes – such as potatoes from the school canteen! leave the apartment, lock the door, and drive to Yuck! Still, because her parents don’t write her an work. The three of them are doctors: They stand at Astrid-does-not-have-to-eat-potatoes-apology, she the operating table and wield scissors and syringes. has no choice but to mash and smear the potatoes Blood is dripping. After work, it is time for grocery under the table... The children’s novel »Astrid, alltid shopping, and then they board the train to go camp- Astrid« is a lively and warm-hearted account of the ing in the countryside. Pija Lindenbaum is a master turbulent everyday life of an amazing, self-confident of depicting the imaginary worlds of children – as is girl, who makes you want to read more about her. evident in »Vi måste till jobbet«. When the children Luckily enough, there are more volumes in the take the train, readers don’t see them rocking back works! (Age: 8+) [IG] and forth on chairs, but sitting in a train compart- ment. Neither do they see the teddy bear who gets patched up, but a »real« boy. (Age: 4+) [IG]

Lindström, Eva (text/illus.) Oskarsson, Marie / Raghunath, Jeeva (text) Mycket att göra hela tiden Andersson, Kenneth (illus.) (A lot to do all the time) Masken Stockholm: Alfabeta, [2019]. – [26] p. (The worm) ISBN 978-91-501-2065-3 [Bromma]: Opal, 2019. – [26] p. ISBN 978-91-7226-163-1 Girl | Dog | Everyday life | Picture book Earthworm | Death | Funeral | Mourning | Picture book SWEDISH

Eva Lindström tends to create wide spaces in strong Ulf Nilsson and Eva Eriksson’s book »Alla döda små colours, in which the characters often seem small djur« (2006; All the dead little animals), in which, and occasionally a little lost, but at the same time, one boring day, three children found a funeral home, they often seem very free. She generally uses words is a modern classic. Could it have inspired the trio sparingly, just like in her new picture book: Here, of Marie Oskarsson, Jeeva Raghunath, and Kenneth a single verb in the infinitive form per double page Andersson to write their picture book »Masken«? In Sweden tells the story. In a large, blue room, which almost this story, three children, plus Rabbit and Teddy, find looks like an ocean, a girl gets out of bed. On the a dead earthworm. It has to be laid to rest, of course. next page, she wakes her three big, blue, floppy- They place it on a leaf, march around in a funeral eared dogs. Then, all four of them walk into the for- procession, dig a grave, and sing sad songs. Tears est, jump around, ponder, argue, the dogs run away, are also shed, especially by the rabbit, who cries so the girl is sad, she searches, and finally she finds much that he finds himself standing in a puddle. them. This basic dramatic structure corresponds to Then they waltz off wondering if the earthworm has the basic verb form. It lends the narrative a simpli- already turned into a skeleton. However, on the last city that mirrors the way a child learns to speak. page, a big surprise awaits the readers: They’ll see a At the same time, the use of the infinitive creates a worm digging its way through the soil, clearly alive sense of universality because the verbs are not gram- and with a huge smile on its face. (Age: 3+) [IG] matically connected to the particular character in the story. (Age: 4+) [IG]

Stridsberg, Sara (text) Timgren, Katja (text) Lundberg, Sara (illus.) Allt jag vet om kärlek Dyksommar (All I know about love) (Diving summer) [Stockholm]: Gilla Böcker / Lilla Piratförlaget, Stockholm: Bokförlaget Mirando, [2019]. – [42] p. [2020]. – 181 p. ISBN 978-91-983303-9-7 ISBN 978-91-7813-115-0 Father | Suicide attempt | Psychiatric clinic | Love | Homosexuality | Depression Daughter | Imagination SWEDISH

»One day, the person who used to be my daddy is There are many teen novels about love – about the simply gone. It was as if someone had cut him out love between boys and girls, as well as between two of reality.« Zoe’s father is in a psychiatric hospi- boys or two girls. In this coming-of-age novel, Katja tal. He tried to kill himself. That fact alone is hard Timgren tells a story about two boys who become a to understand for his daughter, but when he also couple: Axel and Petter. Axel is one of the »average« refuses to see her, she feels completely lost. Despite guys, he works hard at school, knows what he wants

this, Zoe goes to the hospital every day. She becomes to study, and hardly ever parties. Petter, with his Sweden friends with Sabina, another patient. Zoe and Sabina great political commitment, his artistic streak, and do swim training together in the garden, on the his large circle of friends, is the opposite; yet he also green grass, and occasionally Sabina disappears into has a dark side; he is on the brink of an abyss, from her own world. Nevertheless – or maybe because of which Axel cannot save him. What makes »Allt jag that – she carries Zoe through this difficult time. In vet om kärlek« special is that Katja Timgren creates »Dyksommar«, Sara Stridsberg and Sara Lundberg a language that is empathetic but not kitschy, plain – both of whom have received many awards – use but not cold. She gets very close to the two pro- precise language and vivid images to tell a story that tagonists, writes about how love strikes them like Sara Stridsberg has experienced herself. Thus they lightning, about fear and hope, about happiness, and comfort not only others but also themselves. about the longing and sadness that make it almost (Age: 6+) [IG] impossible to breathe. (Age: 12+) [IG]

Berber, Nacide (text) Tekin, Latife (text) Üçbasaran, Deniz (illus.) Tekin, Mehmet (illus.) Halet Çambel. Geçmijle bugünü Altınçayır Vadisi’nin Çocukları bulujturan kadın (The children of the Goldenmeadow Valley) (Halet Çambel. The woman who bridges Istanbul: Can Çocuk, 2020. – 92 p. past and present) ISBN 978-975-07-4204-0 Istanbul: Final Kültür Sanat Yayınları, 2020. – 61 p. Ecology | Mining | Gold | Nature | Mythology ISBN 978-605-374-964-6 Çambel, Halet | Biography | History 1916- 2014 | Archaeology | Sport | Fencing TURKISH

This illustrated biography portrays Halet Çambel The story is set in the Altınçayır Valley, which (1916-2014), an industrious woman born in Berlin, translates as »Goldenmeadow«, situated on the coast Germany, with ancestors from Turkey. She was not of Turkey. The villagers, especially the children, are only an Olympic fencer, she was also an archaeolo- identified by their varied traits and interests. Even gist, a scientist, and a renowned scholar. In the post- the rich flora acts as if animated, at times commu-

Turkey Ottoman era, Çambel declared herself an advocate nicating with the villagers. The story is layered with of the newly formed Turkish Republic and aspired vibrantly depicted herbal knowledge and mytho- to contribute to the country’s advancement of soci- logical resonances. But there is also gold, a lure that ety. She established the first on-site archaeological the mining industry cannot resist, disregarding the exhibition in Turkey. Together with other scholars, villagers’ objections to quarrying. Renowned author she unearthed and deciphered the long-anticipated Latife Tekin masterfully uses magical realism, syn- bilingual tablet of Hittite hieroglyphs and the Phoe- thesizing elements of fairy tales, postmodern tropes, nician alphabet, a true gift to world culture. Çambel and time-travel. Readers glimpse the devastation also helped the local populations around her excava- of gold mining as it destroys the countryside. The tion sites, assisted with new methods for archaeol- ending of the story is ambiguous, inviting readers to ogy, and volunteered as a teacher in understaffed ponder whether it was a real story or a fictional tale. schools. This gripping biography introduces Halet The miniature illustrations by Mehmet Tekin at the Çambel’s impressive life story to young readers. start of each chapter advance the story with visuals. Award-winning illustrator Deniz Üçbaşaran supplies (Age: 11+) [IVA] pastel illustrations, which enrich the text and evoke a nostalgic atmosphere. (Age: 9+) [IVA]

Arjenjev, Volodymyr (Arenev, Volodymyr) (text) Malyk, Halyna (text) Kvitka, Lina (illus.) Olijko, Hrasja (Oliyko, Hrasya) (illus.) Sapijensy Pirats'kyj maršrut (Sapiyensy) (Piratsky marshrut) (Sapiens) (The pirate tour) Charkiv: Vydavnyctvo Ranok, 2019. – 219 p. L’viv: Vydavnyctvo Staroho Leva, 2019. – [24] p. ISBN 978-617-09-5776-4 ISBN 978-617-679-715-9 Student | Future | Space travel | Humans | Game | Pirate | Sea travel | Geography | Science fiction Picture book UKRAINIAN

Who’s human, who’s an avatar, who’s an alien? How Halyna Malyk has been one of the best-known does one fly a spaceship? What is it like to have children’s and young adult book authors in Ukraine parents who are researchers and work on Mars or for many years. She returns to rhymed-text form in in secret laboratories? Mishko Neborak and his this »Pirate tour«, offering easy-going verses about new, mysterious friend with a metal heart Sashko a group of child pirates planning a great voyage Nenarok live in the year 2178. They are learning to around the globe. Throughout she weaves in many

navigate the »Shooting Sperling« at school and to real places along the Dnieper and Danube rivers, Ukraine complete operations in space. All the while, they the Atlantic coast and the Strait of Gibraltar, making keep encountering questions about how the world the route traceable in a real Atlas. The mini-pirates began and what makes a human a human. Space- sometimes quarrel over plans for the journey and, ship commanders who turn out to be threatening most likely, will make their naval passage through avatars, incredibly old knowledge that is stored in living rooms, kitchens and gardens – which under- a library, and clever kids – Volodymyr Arenev’s scores the splendid playfu lness and childlike (b. 1978) sci-fi children’s novel offers not only splen- carefreeness of the story. The illustrations by Hrasya did adventures and gripping existential questions. It Oliyko (b. 1988) provide great fun and the right is also full of allusions to great science fiction mate- momentum for the wild tour. »Piratsky marshrut« rial. »Sapiyensy« was named Children’s Book of the is the third collaboration between the two artists. Year in 2019 by BBC Ukraine. (Age: 10+) [KW] Hopefully many more will ensue. (Age: 3+) [KW]

A Borando, Silvia 64 Dvorský, Pavel 14 Haddadj, Huda 80 Abe, Hiroshi 70 Bouloubasis, Petros 63 Hamano, Kyoko 69 AdBåge, Emma 100 Brasliņa, Eljna 76 E Ganjan, Damšjd 81 Adbåge, Lisen 100 Brech, Nora 78 Earp, Michael 23 Helmy, Moemen 6 Aderhold, Carl 44 Brochmann, Nina 79 Echo_Anjing 9 Hilmj, Mu'min 6 Adimi, Kaouther 45 Brøgger, Lilian 16 Eftimova, Hristina 8 Hindley, Kate 29 Al Serkal, Maryam 28 Brusa, Mariasole 96 Eftimova, Khristina 8 Hiratsuka, Lúcia 85 Amavisca, Luis 96 Büchner, Sabine 54 Elliott, Alicia 27 Hochleitner, Verena 52 Andersson, Kenneth 102 Bugavicute-Pdce, Rasa 75 Elma 86 Hooe Wai, Francis Wong 11 Arai, Maki 68 Enríquez, Bea 98 Hsu. Lin 78 Arbuthnott, Gill 28 C Estrela, Joana 87 Huang, Xiaoheng 9 Arenev, Volodymyr 105 Caddy, Meg 22 Huršjd, Djkar 7 Arjenjev, Volodymyr 105 Carlin, Laura 29 F Huwei 11 Arkova, Mateja 8 Chang, Yeou-yu 12 Farrokhzad, Forough 80 Hvorecký, Michal 90 Arkova, Mateya 8 Charalambous, Chryso 61 FarruF-zad, Furuq 80 Arsenault, Isabelle 25 Charalampus, Chryso 61 Fila, Djenné 20 I Arvola, Ingeborg 78 Charms, Daniil 13 Fior, Manuele 67 I, An 73 Asiain Lora, Miren 98 Chen, Danyan 9 Flores, Liza 41 'Aqa' allah, Nakla' 7 Cheon, Hyo Jeong 72 Fortier, Natali 48 J Atallah, Najla‘ 7 Chou, Yih-Fen 12 Fouladvand, Mardjan 81 Jaaks, Piret 40 Auer, Judith 53 Clarkson, Giselle 33 Frankel, Yael 92 Jäger, Sarah 55 Clima, Gabriele 65 Fuladwand, Markan 81 Jeong, Jin Ho 73 B Colaneri, Giovanni 65 Furuuchi, Kazue 69 Jha, Richa 32 Babin, Alice 45 Cornille, Didier 50 Jones, Jannali 23 Bagieu, Pénélope 46 Cournut, Bérengère 46 G Juanita, Kaylani 35 Baldy, Juliane 53 Cowley, Joy 33 Gallo, Valeria 96 Jugla, Cécile 44 Balen, Katya 29 Crvenkovska, Biljana 77 Garland, Inés 97 Jundze, Arno 75 Baltscheit, Martin 54 Garlando, Luigi 66 Barrangi, Mohammad 81 D Gerbeaux, Thomas 51 K Barrangj, Muhammad 81 Dahl, Roald 46 Gim, Hui Gyeong 73 K., Ulf 56 Bartolj, Marta 91 Dahl, Sophie 30 Gim, Sang Geun 74 Kaczmarska, Rita 83 Baslam, Dimitris 61 Dautremer, Rébecca 47 Gim, Seong Mi 74 Kaev, Katrin 40 Bassi, Sandro 95 Davisse, Françoise 44 Goes, Peter 18 Kazemi, Nahid 35 Bauer, Jana 90 DiCamillo, Kate 34 Gómez Cerdá, Alfredo 97 Keane, Claire 37 Beniak-Haremska, Ewa 84 Dielemans, Linda 19 Gorski, Michel 84 Kehn, Regina 59 Berber, Nacide 104 Dijkstra, Lida 20 Gotti, Grazia 66 Kendi, Ibram X. 37 Beslab, Leo 13 Döbele, Matze 6 Grbavcic, Jirí 14 Kerleroux, Pauline 51 Bexington, Carys 29 Dubé, Pierrette 43 Guituzi 9 Khanian, Djamshid 81 Bigdelou, Ghazaleh 7 Dubjl, Matiyas 6 Güntner, Verena 55 Kharms, Daniil 13 Bjkdulu, Eazala 7 Dubray, Anne-Hélène 44 Khider, Abbas 56 Bilan, Jasbinder 30 Duda, Christian 54 H Khourchid, Jekar 7 Bjørg, Annette 16 Duprat, Guillaume 47 Habinger, Esperanza 93 Kim, Hee-kyung 73 Blankenaar, Dale 31 Durant, Alan 31 Haddadi, Hoda 80 Kim, Sang-Keun 74

Kim, Sung-Mi 74 Maillard, Kevin Noble 36 Nogués, Alex 98 Ressouni-Demigneux, Karim 50 Komadina, Tanja 91 Malo, Audrey 43 Novak, Nikoleta 89 Rex, Adam 37 Konstantinov,- Vitali 57 Malyk, Halyna 105 Nugent, Cynthia 26 Reynolds, Jason 37 Kon que 10 Malý, Radek 14 Rezková, Milada 15 Kot'átko, Petr 14 Marcussen, Mette 17 O Riva Palacio Obón, Martha 95 Kot'átková, Eva 14 Markopoulos, Kostas 62 Odriozola, Elena 99 Robberecht, Thierry 43 Kreller, Susan 57 Markopulos, Kostas 62 O‘Hara, Lauren 30 Rodari, Gianni 67 Królak, Agata 82 Marsh, Selina Tusitala 33 Olijko, Hrasja 105 Rodkey, Geoff 38 Kudo, Naoko 70 Martinez Arroyo, Carola 92 Oliyko, Hrasya 105 Roher, Michael 52 Kuhl, Anke 58 Martinez-Neal, Juana 36 Ombustvedt, Åse 80 Romanovskaja, Larisa 88 Kuyper, Sjoerd 20 Martinova, Kristjne 75 Orlovský, Sarah Michaela 52 Romanovskaya, Larisa 88 Kuzmanovib, Boris 89 Mary, Donatien 46 Oskarsson, Marie 102 Romero, Ana 96 Kvist, Hanne 16 Matsunari, Mariko 71 Oziewicz, Tina 83 Ruby, Laura 38 Kvitka, Lina 105 Mattei-Cazalis, Izumi 48 Rusinek, Joanna 83 Metzenthen, David 24 P Ryrych, Katarzyna 83 L Mheidly, Nabiha 6 Palumbo, Giuseppe 66 Laffitte, Valentine 42 Mladenovib, Dragana 89 Papa, May Tobias 41 S Lai, Remy 34 Mohammadi, Nardjes 82 Papatheodoulou, Antonis 61 Sakowicz, Anna 84 Lannebo, Charlotta 101 Molen, Janny van der 51 Papatheodulu, Antonds 61 Sánchez Gómez, Eva 32 Lawson, JonArno 35 Möltgen, Ulrike 60 Pappa, Rodoula 62 Sandara: Win. Htun 78 Lee, An 73 Mortier, Tine 19 Pappa, Rodula 62 Satake, Miho 71 Li, Donghua 10 Mpaslam, Ddmdtrds 61 Parreiras, Ninfa 86 Schuff, Nicolás 93 Liefting, Steef 22 Mpulumpasds, Petros 63 Peña, Zeke 36 Schützsack, Lara 59 Lindenbaum, Pija 101 Muhammadj, Narkis 82 Perrin, Jean-Éric 49 Schwalbe, Linda 60 Linden, Martijn van der 21 Muižniece, Sanita 76 Pessoa, Ana 87 Sebastián, Sole 93 Lindström, Eva 102 Murphy, Mairead 24 Photiadds, Philippos 62 Sekkur, Sólin 95 Lin, Shain 12 Mutuberria, Maite 97 Photiadis, Philippos 62 Semenic, Simona 91 Lin, Yixian 12 Pomerlo, Camille 44 Sevilla, Marta 96 Linn, Hsu 78 N Ponomarëv, Nikolaj 88 Shashi, Kanak 32 Linn, Tin Mar 78 Nadeau, Christine 44 Ponomaryov, Nikolai 88 Shindo, Etsuko 71 Liu, Jing 9 Nanni, Gabriele 67 Puerta Leisse, Gustavo 99 Siemens, Sandra 94 Liu, Xugong 10 Naqvi, Aon Raza 79 Sisto, Celso 86 Loman, Sam 18 Nashiya, Arie 70 Q Skinkeape 80 Loo, Sanne te 19 Nazareno, Isa 41 Quintero, Isabel 36 Smith, Heather 26 Luciani, Rebeca 28 Negro, Mauricio 85 Quinteros, Ángeles 94 Smith, Pip 24 Lukoff, Kyle 35 Neuendorf, Sarah 58 Soderguit, Alfredo 100 Lumimari 41 Neves, André 86 R Sokolov, Cvetka 91 Lundberg, Sara 103 Nguy8n, ThR Ng0c Bích 78 Raghunath, Jeeva 102 Šrámek, Jan 15 Nielsen, Carsten René 17 Ragnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir 63 Stamatiadd, Ntaniela 61 M Nielsen, Christopher 28 Raymond, Alyssa 39 Stamatiadi, Daniela 61 Mahjdlj,Nabjha 6 Nikolova, Radostina 8 Reboursin, Javier 93 Stará, Ester 15 Mahmoud, Emtithal 39 Nikolovska, Katerina 77 Régis Jr., Guy 49 Stassi, Fabio 68 Maijala, Marika 42 Nilsson Thore, Maria 101 Remmerts de Vries, Daan 21 Štefanovicová, Klára 90

Stoev, Slavi 8 W Støkken Dahl, Ellen 79 Wada, Rachel 26 Strady, Sophie 50 Watanabe, Issa 99 Straßer, Susanne 59 Watson, Judy 25 Stridsberg, Sara 103 Watts, Frances 25 Westera, Bette 22 T Weve, Sylvia 22 Tammik, Marju 40 Wheatle, Alex 31 Tekin, Latife 104 Wichmann, Kamilla 16 Tekin, Mehmet 104 Williams, Alicia 39 Thomas, Rebecca 27 Winsnes, Magnhild 79 Tihi-Stepanib, Jasminka 13 Wint Tun, Sandra 78 Timgren, Katja 103 Wirlinger, Hannes 60 Tin Ma Lin 78 Wu mao 12 Tomiyasu, Yoko 71 Wylie, Beau 24 Truttero, Veronica 68 Truʼoʼng, My Dung 78 Y Tsilinikos, Ddmdtrds 63 Young, Pauline 27 Tsilinikos, Dimitris 63 Yu, Dawu 11 Tsuruta, Yoko 72 Z U Zahr-ad-Djn, Hassan 6 Üçbasaran, Deniz 104 Zahreddine, Hassan 6 Urbánková, Marie 15 Zając, Malgosia 90 Zamora, Javier 39 V Zanabria, Raúl 96 Vaiksoo, Jaanus 40 Zarambaite, Igne 76 Vallik, Aidi 41 Zepf, Máire 64 Vargas, Ángeles 94 Zhang, Chao 12 Various authors 23, 27, 41, 85 Zhang, Youyu 12 Various artists 27, 45 Zhou, Yifen 12 Vecchione, Patrice 39 Zyle, Kotryna 77 Vedsø, Mette 17 Veldre, Zane 75 Vendel, Edward van de 21 Vernib, Vendi 13 Verster, Alain 19 Viana, Gonçalo 87 Vilela, Fernando 84 Vlková, Veronika 15

A Boat 9 Community 8, 17, 26 Dragon 70, 91 Acceptance 8, 32, 70 Body 79 Competition 26 Drama 69 Accident 65 Bonny, Anne 22 Compliment 53 Dream 48 Activities book 41 Book 50, 62 Compulsive control 97 Dyslexia 70 Actor 66 Book trade 50 Coping with fear 32 Dystopia 95 Adaptation 29, 46, 47 Botany 68 Coping with grief 26, 29, 34, 64, Adoption 70, 89 Brain 93 71, 81, 92, 97 E Adventure 12, 20, 68, 72, 75, 91 Brass band 69 Coping with trauma 94 Earthworm 102 African-American family 39 Bronze age 19 Courage 16, 34 Eccentricity 8, 75 Alienation 55 Bulimia 70 Course of life 88 Ecology 42, 84, 104 Alien 38 Bull 86 Cowboy 67 Ecopolitics 44 Alzheimer’s Disease 84 Bullying 19, 33, 39, 66, 76 Craft 11 Elevator 92 Ancient Greece 20 Bus 10 Creativity 58 Emancipation 96 Anger 31 Crime 23 Emotion 6, 47, 99 Animal extinction 14 C Cultural heritage 27 Empathy 51 Ant 62 Çambel, Halet 104 Cunning 7, 31, 53, 54, 90 Endangered animals 21 Anthology 13, 23, 27, 33, 39, Canada 27 Curiosity 24 Environmental awareness 14, 42, 48 77, 85 Captivity 42 Cyberbullying 97 Environmental protection 62, 84 Antiracism 37 Car 59 Czechoslovakia 90 Envy 97 Anxiety disorder 17 Caribbean 22 Escape 24, 43 Archaeology 104 Carroll, Lewis / Alice’s Adventures D Escapism 41 Ariadne 20 in Wonderland 29 Dahl, Roald / The Witches 46 Ethics 77 Art history 50 Cat 18, 71 Dancing 25 Everyday life 38, 101, 102 Atlas 14 Celebration 94 Dante Alighieri / Exile 49 Autism 29 Child care 75 Divina Commedia 66 Expedition 60, 72 Autobiography 33 Childhood memories 11 Darkness 83 Experiment 88 Aviation 28 Children’s rights 41 Daughter 12, 23, 28, 36, 40, 41, Experimental theatre 72 Chinatown 11 63, 103 B Christmas 29 Death 29, 60, 63, 71, 81, 92, F Basketball 67 City 25, 49, 52, 91 99, 102 Fable 7, 43, 53, 54 Beauty 82 City district 76 Depression 41, 103 Fairy tale 48, 72, 77, 85, 95 Beauty standard 28, 39 Civilisation 55 Diary 20, 87 Familial conflict 98 Bedtime story 74 Climate change 42 Difference 82, 100 Family 7, 23, 26, 32, 40, 54, 58, Belonging 31, 35, 55, 57 Clothing 61, 64 Differentness 8 59, 63, 75, 76, 93, 98, 101 Berlin 59 Club activities 69 Dignity 86 Fantasy fiction 9, 12, 20 Bewitchment 46 Cobra movement 22 Disability 54, 65 Fantasy world 14 Bilingual book 41, 51 Colour 6, 18, 87 Discovery 50 Farewell 47 Biography 45, 60, 66, 104 Comic 46, 76, 90 Dispute 8 Farm 30 Biological mother 89 Coming of age 7, 12, 13, 53, Diversity 18, 25, 70, 73, 82 Fashion 64 Biracial family 33 55, 66, 87, 90 Divorce 41 Father 36, 56, 62, 80, 91, 103 Bird 25, 48, 81 Coming to terms with the past 76 Dog 42, 52, 55, 59, 62, 76, Fear 48, 80 Blindness 75 Communication 16, 34, 61, 74, 97, 102 Fellini, Federico 66 Board book 59 88, 92, 95 Domestic violence 22 Fencing 104

Filmmaking 66 H Indigenous people 27, 85 Market 61 First love 13, 53, 88 Hair 28, 33 Individuality 96 Martial arts 12 Fisher 85 Haiti 49 Insomnia 74 Meaning of life 98 Fishing 9 Harbour 47 Interrogation 37 Melancholy 41 Flying 7 Hatred 8, 46 Intertextuality 29 Memory 49, 56, 94 Folkcraft 71 Health hazard 44 Intrigue 8 Metafiction 91 Folklore 94 Hiding place 83 Introversion 61 Metamorphosis 48 Folk tale 86 Historiography 27 Introvert 25 Metropolis 84, 95 Food 36 History 18, 27, 36, 37, 57 Island 63 Mexican community 36 Foreignness 57, 100 Histoty 18th century 22 Isolation 61 Migration 39, 43, 99 Forest 55 History 19th century 51, 60 Isolation 95 Mi’kmaq 27 Fossil 98 History 1914-2010 44 Mining 44, 104 Foster home 31 History 1916-2014 104 J Misfortune 26 Fox 21, 24, 59 History 1920-1993 66 Jealousy 29, 60 Modernity 9 Freedom 42, 51, 86, 96, 100 History 1941-1946 38 Journey 10, 30, 47 Monster 47, 90 Friendship 12, 16, 30, 34, 40, History 1947-1973 69 Joy of living 35, 61 Moon 46 52, 59, 60, 67, 69, 74, 98 History 1949-2007 12 Moon landing 28 Frustration 56 History 1950-2016 45 K Moore, Clement Clarke / Twas the Fukushima 69 History 1960s 11, 26, 67 Kidnapping 67 night before Christmas 29 Funeral 102 History 1969-2019 28 Killing 77 Morning 78 Future 105 History 1970-2020 49 King 24 Mother 9, 12, 23, 28, 29, 40, History 1970s 34 Ku Klux Klan 67 63, 65, 81, 92 G History 1989 90 Motorcycle ride 36 Game 52, 101, 105 History 1990s 56 L Mourning 102 Gaming 66 History 2011 26, 69 Language 57 Moving house 98 Gang 65 History of Earth 98 Legend 47 Multicultural society 79 Garbage 86 Home 14, 39, 57 Leonardo da Vinci 50 Multiple chemical sensitivity 70 Garbage collector 86 Homesickness 57 Leukaemia 10 Murder 64 Gender 70 Homosexuality 91, 103 LGBTQIA+ 23 Music 49 Gender equality 96 Hostility 31 Loneliness 16, 19, 34, 35, 52 Mystery 30, 60 Gender role 22, 60, 96, 97 Hotel 30 Loss 53, 81 Myth 47, 81, 85, 95 Generosity 31 Humanity 77, 83 Loss of father 49, 65 Mythology 20, 77, 104 Geography 11, 105 Humans 38, 105 Love 20, 22, 23, 31, 64, 77, Geology 98 Hunger 31 97, 103 N Ghost 38 Love of animals 51, 62 Naivety 54 Gold 104 I Lviv 83 Native Americans 36 Granddaughter 84 Identity 9, 18, 35, 39, 73, 76 Lying 54 Nature 55, 68, 83, 104 Grandmother 84 Imaginary friend 16 Neighbour 74 Grandparents 58 Imagination 10, 16, 23, 25, 32, M Neighbourhood 8, 92 Graphic novel 27 58, 68, 87, 101, 103 Madanggeuk 72 Nephew 68 Greeting 74 Immigrant 71 Magic 95 New beginning 57 Growing up 9, 54 Immigration 34, 38, 44, 68 Manipulation 8 New Zealand 48 Gullibility 8 Indecision 24 Map 91 Night 24, 46, 74

Nocturnal animals 83 Pop-up book 15, 50 Running away 42 Spring 71 Non-fiction 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, Post-traumatic stress disorder 23 Rural life 8, 9, 52, 54, 78 Star 74 22, 37, 44, 49, 50, 57, 62, Poverty 30, 31, 56, 78, 86 Stereotype 21, 96 65, 68, 79, 93, 94, 98, 99 Power outage 83 S Storytelling 6, 30, 58, 85, 87 Nonsense literature 13, 17 Power plant 83 Saga 95 Stranger 31 Nuclear accident 69 Prague 15 School 10, 69 Strawberry 68 Prejudice 21, 30, 35, 38 Science 18 String 6 O Pressure to perform 17 Science fiction 38, 88, 105 Student protest 90 Ogre 71, 72 Psychiatric clinic 103 Scolding 56 Submission 97 Old age 16, 19 Puberty 79 Search for identity 89 Suburb 24 Online grooming 64 Public transport 15 Sea travel 105 Suburban train 95 Origin myth 48 Public welfare 24 Secret 23, 40, 63, 91 Suicide attempt 103 Orphanage 38 Publisher 50 Self-acceptance 28, 39 Summer 53 Outsider 54, 55, 60 Pun 89 Self-assertion 61, 101 Summer holiday 20, 26 Self-awareness 73 Summer job 34 P Q Self-confidence 17, 25, 33, 101 Synaesthesia 6 Painting 22 Question 32 Self-discovery 98 Paper engineering 47 Self-empowerment 81 T Parable 81 R Self-esteem 18, 55, 82 Team spirit 78 Parental absence 13 Rabbit 24 Self-image 9, 73, 82, 96 Technology 18 Parents 41, 75 Race relations 37 Sexual abuse 94 Theft 46 Passenger 59 Racism 31, 33, 37, 39, 65, 67, 68 Sexuality 79 Theseus 20 Peer group 10 Rage 40 Shoe store 40 Thinking 82 Persiflage 43 Rain 84 Short story 13, 23, 33, 95 Thread 6 Pet 62 Rap 49 Shuten doji / Adaptation 72 Ticket 10 Pfeiffer, Ida 60 Reading 20, 25, 32, 56, 89 Siblings 13, 29, 35, 38, 58, 101 Time 14, 47 Philosophy 82 Refugee 39, 43, 71, 99 Silhouette 47 Time travel 88 Piano 67 Rejection 100 Singing 7 Tolerance 93 Picture book 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, Renaissance 50 Single father 63 Torture 56 15, 16, 18, 21, 24, 25, 26, Revenge 7, 65 Skiing 78 Toy 46 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, Revisionism 27 Skin colour 39 Trade 11 37, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, Rhythm 73 Social disparity 86 Tradition 36, 94 53, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, Riddle 89 Socialism 51 Training 70 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, Riga 76 Solidarity 43, 48, 78, 100 Transgender 32, 35 73, 74, 78, 82, 83, 84, 86, Right-wing extremism 65 Son 56, 62, 65, 75, 91 Travel 55 87, 89, 90, 92, 95, 96, 98, Rivalry 10 Song 61 Trick 24 99, 100, 101, 102, 105 River 85 Soul 6 Trip 46 Pioneer 60 Road novel 55 Sound 73 Trust 34, 61, 64 Pirate 22, 105 Robber 52 Spaceship 28 Truth 23, 81 Play 72 Rodrigues, Amália 61 Space travel 105 Tsunami 26, 69 Playbook 72 Role expectations 56, 96 Spirit 9 Tyranny 86 Poetry 13, 17, 21, 27, 33, 39, Role model 45 Spirit animal 30 Tyrant 46 73, 80, 89, 100 Runaway 34 Sport 104

U Recommended reading age level Uncle 68, 93 (Indexed by catalogue number) Underground train 15 Uprising 45 2+ years: 20, 37, 108 11+ years: 70, 131, 174, 198

V 3+ years: 10, 39, 45, 69, 106, 12+ years: 16, 24, 29, 57, 64, 112, 118, 136, 138, 154, 75, 109, 116, 123, 148, Vegetable 72 194, 200 150, 151, 160, 165, 166, Vehicle 15 169, 180, 196 Venality 54 4+ years: 8, 11, 21, 23, 26, 38, Verse novel 64 40, 42, 48, 51, 55, 60, 61, 13+ years: 121, 127, 128, 130 Villain 37 62, 63, 74, 95, 101, 113, Violence 38, 45, 80 115, 137, 155, 164, 170, 14+ years: 3, 34, 35, 36, 52, Visual arts 22 182, 189, 190, 192, 193 66, 67, 87, 96, 98, 99, Vital energy 63 100, 102, 104, 117, 119, 5+ years: 15, 31, 43, 50, 54, 142, 143, 149, 152, 168, W 73, 86, 111, 124, 125,129, 178, 184 Waiting 47 132, 133, 144, 145, 173 Waking up 78 15+ years: 44, 163 War 12, 56, 69 6+ years: 4, 12, 14, 22, 53, 59, 72, 83, 90, 93, 110, 114, 16+ years: 79, 88 Water 84 120, 141, 153, 188, 195 Wild West 67 Winter 19 7+ years: 2, 6, 71, 76, 82, 85, Wisdom 81 126, 134, 158, 162 Wishful thinking 56 Witch 46, 96 8+ years: 1, 5, 17, 19, 32, 33, Wordless book 95, 99 41, 46, 56, 81, 84, 91, 94, Wordplay 89 97, 135, 140, 156, 159, Work 101 161, 175, 177, 179, 181, World War II (1939-1945) 83 187, 191 Writing 32 Wuxia novel 12 9+ years: 7, 18, 27, 58, 78, 122, 167, 171, 176, 183, X 185, 197 Xenophobia 43 10+ years: 9, 13, 25, 28, 30, Y 47, 49, 65, 68, 77, 80, 89, Yellow River 11 92, 103, 105, 107, 139, Youth culture 49 146, 147, 157, 172, 186, 199 Z Zebra 64

112 The White Ravens 2020 © Stiftung Internationale Jugendbibliothek 2020 | The White Ravens The White Ravens White he Rav T en s A Selection of International Children‘s and Youth Literature

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