DADDY IS A POLAR BEAR

PAPA IS EEN IJSBEER (DADDY IS A POLAR BEAR) 
year:

2021

genre:

children's book, graphic novel, 64 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Saskia Halfmouw
age:

9+

Daddy is a polar bear started as a short story, but Saskia Halfmouw made it into a richly illustrated little graphic novel, which also makes it an easy read. The story is about an older sister and her 4-year old brother, who one day starts repeating this sentence: 'Daddy is a polar bear'. Why does he do that? What does it mean? But then the girl sees a documentary about polar bears... A tender, light and warm story about being the children in a divorce situation.  

THE BAMBOO GIRL

HET BAMBOEMEISJE (THE BAMBOO GIRL)
year:
2021

genre:

children's book, graphic novel, 260 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Mattias De Leeuw
age:

9+

Mattias De Leeuw and I based this story on the oldest folk tale form Japan (The Bamboo Cutter), but we made a very free interpretation. A mysterious girl is born between the bamboo an old couple is living off. She grows up to be the most beautiful young woman and soon she attracts all kinds of suitors, including princes and noblemen. But she has eyes for nobody. Why is that? What is her secret? Mattias created a wonderful and rich graphic novel out, with full colour images on each and everyone of the 260 pages.  

GLOW

GLOEI (GLOW)

year:

2020

genre:

non-fiction, poetry, 480 p.

publisher:

Querido
illustrator:
Floor de Goede

age:

14+ and adults

For this big book I interviewd twenty one young people (between 15 and 23 years old). They frankly talked about that what glows in their lives: love, anger ambition. Being extremely diverse, they all have one thing in common: their sexuality or their gender differs from the majority. To every interview I wrote a poem, and Floor de Goede drew a portrait of each interviewee, At the end of the book there;s a chapter that tells what happend after the interviews. The beautiful book design is by Roald Triebels.

This book also marks the start of a whole new series with queer characters: Querido's imprint Querido Glow.

THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST (with Jelmer Soes and Dave Boomkens)

HET EUROVISIE SONGFESTIVAL (THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST, together with Jelmer Soes and Dave Boomkens)
year:
2020 
genre:

non-fiction, 240 p.

publisher:

Querido
illustrator:
several (photographs)

age:

9+ and adults

2020 marks the year that I got to be one of the founders of  www.eurostory.nl, an online magazine that combines literature, stories and the Eurovision Song Contest. Apart from that, the Netherlands won the contest in 2019, with Duncan Laurence, which means the festival will be held in Rotterdam - my home town (although now the festival got postponed by a year because of covid-19).

From these facts a question rose: to write an encyclopedia-like book about the Eurovision Song Contest. I wrote this together with my Eurostory-colleagues Jelmer Soes and Dave Boomkens: a quite voluminous book in which all years, all songs and all stories found their place.
For every edition (the festival celebrates 65 years!) there's a piece about the winner, about the Dutch contestant, about the 'funniest lyrical line' that was sung that year, there's a list with all names and points, and there are extra stories that were worth being told. Besides that there are many beautiful pictures, some of them were never printed before. And there's a preface by our Eurovision commentator Cornald Maas!

The book is suited for both adults and children, and was beautifully designed by Roald Triebels.

MISS UNICORN

MISS EENHOORN (MISS UNICORN)
year:
2019

genre:

children's book, 80 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Floor de Goede
age:

6+


Miss Eenhoorn is a first reading book. The sentences are short, there are plenty of full colour illustrations (on every page) and not too much text. It's the story of 5 'kids' (small horses) who want to take part in the Miss Unicorn Election, but they are not allowed for various reasons (one because she is a zebra, two because they are boys, and two because they are way too small). But with the help of the mother of the main character (the zebra girl) they start protesting... and end up at the election anyway. A unicorn story about chances for everyone, joyful and diverse. 

A special on this book by the Dutch Literature Fund, aimed at possible translations, is to be found here. 
And here you'll find a 1-minute clip about this book.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU TRIP OVER A HIPPO

WAT JE MOET DOEN ALS JE OVER EEN NIJLPAARD STRUIKELT (WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU TRIP OVER A HIPPO)
year:
2019 
genre:

poetry, 64 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Martijn van der Linden
age:

9+
awards:
Silver Slate 2020
Silver Pencil 2020
White Raven 2020
Golden Poetry Medal 2020
Honorary mention Big Poetry Award 2020
The poem 'What to do when you worry about a friendship' was awarded with a Poetry Star 2020

These 25-poems go under the title of What to do when you trip over a hippo and they also have a second title: Poems that are of use ('Gedichten waar je wat aan hebt'). The title of every poem starts with 'What to do when...'  and several 'questions' are being 'answered': What to do when you don't know what to draw? What to do when you are waiting for a train? What to do when you don't like your name? 
Martijn van der Linden, my brilliant campanion for our Vote for the okapi-book, now delivers 25 large and stunning illustrations in full colour. And I must say, it's one of those books that I'm kinda sad about because it's ready and published - it was such a joy making it! 
Thanks also to Steef Liefting, who did the book design. 

A special on this book by the Dutch Literature Fund, aimed at possible translations, is to be found here. 
There are also some poems translated into English by David Colmer. Ask for them at my mail: e.vendel@chello.nl.    
And here you'll find a 1-minute clip about this book.

LITTLE FOX

VOSJE (LITTLE FOX)
year:
2018

genre:

children's book, 80 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Marije Tolman
age:

6+
awards:
Silver Pencil 2019 (for the illustrations)
Silver Slate 2019 (for the text)
Nominatie Boekenleeuw 2019 (Belgium)
White Raven 2019
Kröte des Monats Februar 2020 (Austria)
Die Besten 7 von März 2020 (Germany)

Nomination Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2021 (Germany)
rights sold:
Russian (KompasGuide)
German (Gerstenberg)
French (Albin Michel)
Italian (Il Castoro)
English (USA) (Levine Querido)
Iran (Read My World)
Macedonian (Chudna Suma)
Spanish (Argentina) (Adriana Hidalgo/Pípala)
Slovenian (Sanje)
Slovak (IKAR)


A fox, not more than a few months old, plays and plays in his natural surroundings - but when it jumps of a bunker it falls flat on the ground. From this unconscious state a dream begins. In this dream he relives his whole life - but oh, what is the little boy doing in the book? Is he on his way to save the little fox? 
This book is illuminated by the magical illustrations of Marije Tolman. She used mixed techniques to create a whole new world - in which Little Fox is carried and loved. Her work is a writer's dream.  

 A special on this book by the Dutch Literature Fund, aimed at possible translations, is to be found here.

THE LOVELY VILLAGE OF LOVELYSUN

HET MOOIE DORPJE MOOIEZON (THE LOVELY VILLAGE OF LOVELYSUN) 
year:

2018

genre:

picture book, 48 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Suzan T'Hooft
age:

4+

My second picture book with Suzan T'Hooft leads us to a lovely village. Everything in Lovelysun is all right: all the inhabitants help each other wherever they can. Until, one day, Anteater starts asking difficult questions... A colourful book about being together and about those that keep our society together in a different way than others...

SOFIE AND THE ELEPHANTS

SOFIE EN DE OLIFANTEN (SOFIE AND THE ELEPHANTS)
year:
2018

genre:

childrens book, with comic- and non-fiction-elements, 144 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Floor de Goede (illustrations and comics)
Ype+Willem (photo-comics)
age:

8+

In this sixth book about Sofie we again combine several elements (text, illustrations on every page, comics, photo-comics, short non-fiction pieces and extra's at the end of the book). Sofies parents are abroad for work, so Sofie stays at her grandparent's house. But they have another guest as well: a grumpy old zookeeper who doesn't know what to do with himself, after his retirement. But then he starts telling the story about two baby elephants. Sofie and her best friends Timmie and Billie are mesmerized. And there is even a surprise at the end. A big surprise...

- The other volumes are called:
SOFIE EN DE PINGUÏNS (2010)
SOFIE EN HET VLIEGENDE JONGETJE (2012)
SOFIE EN HET IJSBEERTJE (2013)
SOFIE EN DE DOLFIJNEN (2014)
SOFIE EN HET GEHEIME PAARD (2015).

THE BOY THAT SKATED WITH THE ANIMALS

DE JONGEN DIE MET DE DIEREN SCHAATSTE (THE BOY THAT SKATED WITH THE ANIMALS)
year:
2018

genre:

childrens book, 48 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Sanne te Loo
age:

6+

I have been friends with ex-speedskater Beorn Nijenhuis for years. And his athlete story is perfect for a children's book: growing up as a Canadian kid, skating in winter at his family's own lake, to being one of the speedskaters starting for The Netherlands at the Olympics in Torino, Italy. Sanne te Loo made Beorns story into a wonderfully warmhearted document and Maarten Deckers did the book design. The book has little text, is based on Beorns life story and answers questions like: is the future athlete already part of the 8-year old boy, and vice versa?

VASCO AND THE GREEN MONSTER

VASCO EN HET GROENE MONSTER (VASCO AND THE GREEN MONSTER)

year:

2017

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Alain Verster
age:

4+

My third picture book with Alain Verster. Vasco is a pig that loves his owner: the young Matteo. Every day Vasco awaits Matteo, eager to play with him when he comes home from school. But this day Matteo says his father will bring him a gift. A gift called John. Vasco is so, so, so disappointed: will this John replace him? The other animals on the farm think it's outrageous: being replaced like thát. John becomes a monster in Vasco's head, a green monster. Until... A joyful, light story about friendship and jealousy. 

Previous books I got to make with Alain Verster: VASCO THE LITTLE SOCCER PIG and THE DOVE THAT COULDN'T DIVE.

- Prooftranslation in English is available.

THE BIG AND FORBIDDEN ATTIC

DE GROTE VERBODEN ZOLDER (THE BIG AND FORBIDDEN ATTIC)
year:
2017

genre:

children's book, 200 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

age:

10+

Eddy is almost ten. He lives alone with his parents. One day a mysterious girl walks into his life: she's gonna stay for a few weeks, Eddy isn't told why (some problems with her family?). The girl is beautiful but very silent. Until, one night, she comes knocking at Eddy's bedroom door. She takes him to the entrance of the Big Forbidden Attic. And... as soon as she starts talking, Eddy sees what she is telling him... wonderous creatures, thrilling stories. These nights will change his life. But... no one believed they really happened. Maybe you do? 

A TRAIN FULL OF ZOMBIES

DE ZOMBIETREIN (A TRAIN FULL OF ZOMBIES)
year:
2017

genre:

poetry, 48 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Floor de Goede
age:

8+
awards:
Zilveren Griffel (Silver Slate) 2018
Nominated for the Golden Poetry Medal, 2018
The poem 'De zee is een schilder' was awarded with a Poetry Star 2018

This is the third volume of 'comic poems': it's not an ordinary book of poetry, it's not a comic, but I wrote 22 poems and Floor made two-page-comics out of them.

- A first book full of 'comic-poetry' came out in 2008 and was called GRANDPA SHOWS HIS TOES. This book was awarded with the 'Zilveren Griffel', the Silver Slate, the offical 'best books of the year'. The second volume was made two years later and got an honoray mention for that same prize, and was awarded with the 'best comic book for youth': DRAGONS WITH PLUGS (2010).

WE ARE TIGERS!

WIJ ZIJN TIJGERS! (WE ARE TIGERS!) 
year:
2016

genre:

picture book, 40 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrators:
Ingrid & Dieter Schubert
age:

4+
rights sold:
German (Fischer Sauerländer)
Danish (Turbine)

This picture book is my second with wellknown and renowned artists Ingrid & Dieter Schubert. It's about three small animals boasting about being big and tough: 'Inside we are tigers! No, we are supertigers!' But then a real tiger comes along...

- A full English translation is available, as well as a pdf.

BULL'S EYE!

HET IS RAAK! (BULL'S EYE!) 
year:

2016

genre:

picture book, 60 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Suzan 'T Hooft
age:

4+


This is my first book with Suzan 'T Hooft, and it's also her first book. She created a fantasticly funny, colourful and friendly universe, for this book about two bears who seem to be made for eachother - they just haven't found figured it out themselves yet. All of their friends try to convince them that love is no competition. But maybe it is - and then: what would be the best first move?

I WAS WITH THE DINOSAURS

IK BEN BIJ DE DINOSAURUSSEN GEWEEST (I WAS WITH THE DINOSAURS) 
year:

2016

genre:

picture book, 40 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Floor de Goede 

age:

5+
awards:
Vlag en Wimpel 2017 (Honorary mention Best books for children)
rights sold: 
Danish (Turbine Forlag)

A young boy knows which book he wants to have: the one with the dinosaurs. As soon as he start reading he is in their world. He discovers well-known but also lesser known dinosaurs. But then dinner is ready. And then his family members don't seem to believe he has visited the dinosaur's world. Until...
This stunning picture book by Floor de Goede (we made the SOFIE-series together and three volumes of comic poems) shows what imagination can do. Kids will lose themselves in wide, colourful spreads of dinosaurs, and they also will have been with the dinosaurs, while reading this book.    

THE COUNTING BOOK OF PRINCE HAYO THE HAPPY

HET TELBOEK VAN PRINS HAYO DE GELUKKIGE (THE COUNTING BOOK OF PRINCE HAYO THE HAPPY) 
year:

2016

genre:

children's book, 48 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Mattias De Leeuw
age:

6+
awards:
Die besten 7 April 2017 (Germany)
White Raven 2017
rights sold: 
German (Gerstenberg)
Korean (Picture Book Gongjackso)

After working together on DERTIEN RENNENDE HERTJES and MIJN FIJNE GELUIDENBOEKJE Mattias and I wanted to make a new, big book. Here it is. It's about Prince Hayo. We follow him from his birth to his 10th anniversary - in a wide spread we see the celebrations for each of his birthdays, and especially we learn about the presents he gets. At the same time we see him growing up, but it seems something is missing. Until he becomes 10...
Each chapter is named after the number of Hayo's birthday (one, two three et cetera) and in the big and colourful illustrations we can count lots of things. Although there is a story, this is also a book to practise early mathematics.

- Prooftranslation in English is available

SOFIE AND THE SECRET HORSE

SOFIE EN HET GEHEIME PAARD (SOFIE AND THE SECRET HORSE)
year:

2015

genre:

childrens book, with comic- and non-fiction-elements, 144 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Floor de Goede (illustrations and comics)
Ype+Willem (photo-comics)
age:

8+

LITTLE CALF, LITTLE FOAL

KALFJE, VEULENTJE (LITTLE CALF, LITTLE FOAL)

year:

2015

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Marleen Felius
age:

4+

For years already I adore the work of artist Marleen Felius. Her work - main topic: cows and cattle - is known and valued all over the world. Her 'Cattle breeds encyclopedia' (text and images by Marleen) is a magnificent work of art and knowledge. 
Finally we found a chance and the time to work together.  The result of this is the sweet and lifelike LITTLE CALF, LITTLE FOAL.
This book has a very, very simple text, which talks about the first hours and days of a newborn calf and those of a newborn foal. The pictures show it all: the first drinking, the standing-up, the first time they see the meadow. It's almost non-fictional (because, when Marleen Felius is involved, you know that everything is true to life and no mistakes are made!), but still a small story.

- Prooftranslation in English is available

CHEER-UP BIRD

OPVROLIJKVOGELTJE (CHEER-UP BIRD)

year:

2015

genre:

picture book, 40 p.

publisher:

Lemniscaat, Rotterdam

illustrators:
Ingrid & Dieter Schubert
age:

4+
rights sold:
English (USA) (Lemniscaat)
Chinese (Mainland) (Tomorrow)
German (Fischer Sauerländer)

This picture book is my first with wellknown and renowned artists Ingrid & Dieter Schubert. This collabration was one I have always dreamed off - and now the book is here. It's about a cheer-up bird who takes care of all the amimals' bad moods, by shedding light and bringing hope to everyone. But: what happens at the end of the day when she is exhausted and tired herself? 

- A full English translation is available, as well as a pdf.