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)

Lithuanian (Nieko Rimto)
Macedonian (Chudna Suma)
Spanish (Argentina) (Adriana Hidalgo/Pípala)
Slovenian (Sanje)
Slovak (IKAR)

Turkish (MEAV)

Chinese (Mainland) (Jieli)

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.

VASCO THE LITTLE SOCCER-PIG

VASCO HET VOETBALVARKENTJE (VASCO THE LITTLE SOCCER-PIG)

year:

2013

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Alain Verster
age:

6+
awards:
Nominated for the Boekenpauw 2014 (Best illustrations, Belgium, for the illustrator)
rights sold:
Chinese (mainland) (Petrel Publishing House)
Portuguese (Brazil) (Pulo do Gato)
Spanish (Thule Ediciones)
Franch (Editions Versant Sud Jeunesse)

Braziliaanse cover

My second picture book with Alain Verster, and the first of a happy, warm series about Vasco (the pig) and Matteo (the boy). Matteo gets two wonderful presents for his birthday: a soccer ball and a little pig. That pig is Vasco. Matteo and Vasco do everything together: eat, snore, watch television,… Matteo’s favorite game is soccer. Vasco doesn’t know much about soccer. But that’s not so bad: Matteo simply goes looking for real soccer-opponents. And Vasco goes along. Because that’s what you do when you’re someone’s soccer-pig.


- Prooftranslation in English is available

       

THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE

HET HONDJE DAT NINO NIET HAD (THE DOG NINO DIDN'T HAVE)
year:

2013

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Anton Van Hertbruggen
age:

6+
awards:
Prix Sorcières 2015 (France)
Boekenpauw 2014 (Best illustrations, Belgium, for the illustrator)
Gulden Palet 2014 (Best illustrations, Netherlands, for the illustrator)
Besten 7 August 2015 (Germany)
Silver Medal (Best books of the year, by Society of Illustrators, USA, for the illustrations)
Deutsche Jugendliteratur Preis 2016 (Germany)
rights sold:

Franse uitgave

Chinese (mainland) (Petrel Publishing House)
Danish (Turbine)
French (Didier Jeunesse)
English (USA) (Eerdmans)
German (Coppenrath Verlag - Bohem Press)
Portuguese (Brazil) (Pulo do Gato)
Korean (Jiyangsa)
Russian (Samokat)
Ukrainian (Bobrovnikova L.A.)
Turkish (Final Kültür Sanat Yayınları)
Macedonian (Ars Lamina)
Spanish (Argentina) (Limonero)
Slovenian (Sodobnost)

Nino is the proud owner of an imaginary little dog. When he goes to the forest, the little dog he doesn’t have mimics a squirrel. When he goes to the lake, the little dog jumps fearlessly into the deep. But sometimes the little dog acts so silly, that it stands out. One day Nino doesn’t have the little dog anymore. Instead he has gotten a real little dog. This little dog doesn’t dare to climb trees. But that’s not so bad, because Nino has many imaginary animals... This is the first book of young illustrator Anton Van Hertbruggen, and immediately he won the biggest prize there is to be won in Flanders... And afterwards he repeated that trick in The Netherlands, France, USA and in Germany!

- Proof translation in English is available

SAM IN WINTER

DE RAADSELS VAN SAM (SAM IN WINTER)

year:

2012

genre:

children's book, 144 p.

Publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Philip Hopman

age:
8+
awards:
Honor Book  Paterson Prize for Young People (USA)
rights sold:
German (Carlsen)
Estonian (Päike ja Pilv)
English (USA) (Eerdmans)
French (L'école des loisirs)
Czech (Petrkov)

This second story about the beautiful dog Sam is, just as SAM SHOWED UP, based on a real dog, a real story, and real dog-owners: my brother's family in Canada. In this book the dog disappears and 9-year old Kix sets off in search of him. The book is just as dear to me as the first one. The beautiful black and white illustrations were once again made by Philip Hopman, whose pencil masters all animals and all children.

- The Dutch Translation Fund made a special on both the books about Sam - here.
- This book can be read separately, or as the follow-up book of SAM SHOWED UP.

A DOG LIKE SAM

TOEN KWAM SAM (A DOG LIKE SAM)

year:

2011

genre:

children's book, 128 p.

Publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Philip Hopman

age:

US cover

8+
awards:
Zilveren Griffel 2012 (Silver Slate Award, best books for children)
List of best books, chosen by Estonian child care (Estonia)
Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2017 (USA)
rights sold:
German (Carlsen)
French (L'école des loisirs)
Estonian (Päike ja Pilv)
English (USA) (Eerdmans)
Czech (Petrkov)
Afrikaans (Protea Boekhuis), and the other ten languages of South-Africa: Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu and African English (South African Department of Arts and Culture).

Estonian cover

This story is based on the real events that occurred when I was visiting my brother's family in Canada. This beautiful dog appeared - and it decided to stay. But it had a heartwrenching history, that urged my nephew Kix (the young main character in the book) to act, because no-one else but him could save Sam... The book is very dear to me. It got great response, together with the second volume (SAMS MYSTERIES), which belongs to this first book as a twin story. The beautiful black and white illustrations were made by Philip Hopman, whose pencil masters all animals and all children.



German cover

- The Dutch Translation Fund made a special on this book - here.
- A full professional translation in English by David Colmer is available.
- In 2012 the folllow-up to this book came out: SAMS MYSTERIES.
- The South-African Department of Arts and Culture chose this book to be translated in all eleven official languages of South-Africa and spread amongst school children in the entire country.

ONE MILLION BUTTERFLIES

EEN MILJOEN VLINDERS (ONE MILLION BUTTERFLIES)
year:

2007

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Carll Cneut
age:

6+
awards:
Zilveren Griffel 2008 (Best books for children)
Plantin-Moretusprize for the bookdesign
rights sold:
Danish (Lamberths Forlag)
German (Boje)
French (Pastel)
Italian (Adelphi)
Portuguese (Portugal) (Kual)
Portuguese (Brazil) (Cosac Naify)
Slovenian (Narava)
Spanish (Spain) (Barbara Fiore)
Norwegian (Cappelen Damm)
Chinese (Taiwan) (Reader Publishing)
Chinese (mainland) (Petrel Publishing House)
Georgian (Bakur Sulakauri)
Romanian (Signatura)
Ukrainian (Nebo Art Publishing)
South-African (Protea Boekhuis)

The big picture book I got to make with Carll Cneut! My most wide-spread book, up til this date, thanks to the great illustrations. The story: Nelius first sees them in the middle of the night: the butterflies. They fly around his head, one million of them. His parents tell him that it is time to start on his journey. Nelius follows the butterflies and meets many animals. Some of them are too young, but others are old enough to know what the butterflies mean. The butterflies guide him to the love of his life!

- A proof-translation in English is available.
- The book was also issued with a cd with the story, read by the famous Flemish actor Roel Vanderstukken.
   

LITTLE FATHER

KLEINVADER (LITTLE FATHER)
year:

2007

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Ingrid Godon
age:

6+
awards:
Vlag en Wimpel 2008 (Honorary mention Best books for children)
rights sold:
German (Carlsen)
French (Albin-Michel)
Persian (NAHL Publications)

In this second picture book with Ingrid Godon it's all about the grandson that talks about his fantastic grandfather - who isn't mere the father of his father, but also the father of the foxes and the chicken, of the forest, of the country! But when he gets sad and silent because of his memories about grandma, grandfather needs his grandson. His little-father.

- A proof translation in English is available.

HORROR GIRL

EEN GRIEZELMEISJE (HORROR GIRL)
year:

2006

genre:

picture book, 36 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Isabelle Vandenabeele
age:

8+, grown ups
rights sold:
French (Éditions du Rouergue)
Spanish (Spain) (Barbara Fiore)

Another text that I wrote to already-existing images by Isabelle Vandenabeele. It's her variation of the classical tale about Bluebeard, more suited for grown-ups maybe, or for kids that like to shiver: one day Louise realises that her life has become boring. She used to be a horror-loving girl, who dared anything and who adored bad boys, like Rotten Boy. Louise wants to do something exciting and goes to Shiver Forest. When she is attacked by a wolf, Rotten Boy rescues her. He takes her to his castle and then leaves her alone. He forbids her to open some of the doors, but of course a horror girl never obeys. This way, Louise discovers that Rotten Boy collects women heads. She can leave the castle just in time and sets a trap for Rotten Boy.

OUR THIRD BODY

ONS DERDE LICHAAM (OUR THIRD BODY)
year:

2006

genre:

young adult novel, 304 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

age:

15+
awards:
Gouden Zoen 2007 (Golden Kiss Award, best book for youth)
foreign editions:
German (Carlsen), French (Thierry Magnier)

OUR THIRD BODY is the second book about the Dutch Tycho Zeling and his Norwegian love Oliver Kjelsberg, after they had met in THE DAYS OF BLUEGRASSLOVE. But it's half a year later, and they haven't talked to eachother. Tycho moves out of his parent's place, starts a writing training and meets the flamboyant Vonda, who soon becomes his best friend. She is a singer, and together with the third person living in their student's home, dancer Moritz, they enroll in giant adventures: that of the participation (for Vonda) in the Eurovision Song Contest, but especially the needs and requirements, the faithfulness and the betrayal that all can be part of a friendship under pressure. And how about Oliver? Is Tycho still in his mind - like Oliver is in his?

- This book follows THE DAYS OF BLUEGRASSLOVE (but can be read separately) and comes with the poetry volume CHATBOX (poetry written by Tycho). In 2015 a third novel about these main characters was published (a prequel, called OLIVER).
- The song 'Our third body', part of the book, was recorded! Singer Renée van Wegberg and composer Edwin Schimscheimer teamed up. The song can be listened to below.

SUPERGUPPY GETS BABIES

SUPERGUPPIE KRIJGT KLEINTJES (SUPERGUPPY GETS BABIES)
year:

2005

genre:

poetry, 64 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Fleur van der Weel
age:

6+
rights sold:
French (Éditions Être), German (Boje)

For this second volume of Superguppy-children's poetry I again made 49 short poems, always with a quite practical, normal-day title and subject, then trying to give it a poetical or funny swing. The fantastic playful illustrations by Fleur van der Weel make all the poems coherent. 

French cover

- An earlier volume was
SUPERGUPPIE (2003),
later volumes were
DE GROETEN VAN SUPERGUPPIE (2008),
HOERA VOOR SUPERGUPPIE! (2010)
and the big collection of all the volumes (& new poems as well) SUPERGUPPIE IS ALLES (2014).
- In 2005 I made a cd with composer and producer Edwin Schimscheimer. The poems were turned into lyrics and Edwin made songs out of it, which were sung by a terrific bunch of famous Dutch artists (under the title SUPERGUPPIE ZINGT, Superguppy sings).

ANNA MARIA SOFIA AND LITTLE COR

ANNA MARIA SOFIA EN DE KLEINE COR (ANNA MARIA SOFIA AND LITTLE COR)
year:

2004

genre:

picture book, 40 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Ingrid Godon
age:

6+
awards:
Buch des Monats Mai 2006 (Germany)
rights sold:
German (Carlsen), French (Circonflexe)

My first picture book with Ingrid Godon! It's all about the little Cor who drives around the village in his go-kart, and Always picks up sweet demented old Anna Maria Sofia, and brings her to her favourite places: the schoolyard, the park and the graveyard. Each place has a memory for Anna Maria Sofia, and Cor helps her remember.

ZEA WAS HERE

ZOOTJE WAS HIER (ZEA WAS HERE)
year:

2004

genre:

first reader, 64 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Carll Cneut
age:

8+
rights sold:
French (Éditions du Rouergue), Portuguese (Brazil, SM).

Still one of my personal favourites. This was my first chance to work with the great Carll Cneut. He made wonderful colour-illustrations for my first reader (short sentences of no more than eight words) about a boy who tries to help two illegal children. Or: 'Hello, my name is Tepper. The children at school tease me about my lazy eye. I hope that you won't do that. Last summer, I found two black boys in my secret hut. They had fled their country and wanted to stay here. As they were not allowed to stay, they went into hiding. We played together all summer and became close friends. After a while, we were four: Zea the ghost had joined us. Or did we only invent her to deal with difficult situations?'       

- A partial translation in German, by Rolf Erdorf, is available.

RED RED RED RIDING HOOD

ROOD ROOD ROODKAPJE (RED RED RED RIDING HOOD)
year:

2003

genre:

picture book, 32 p.

publisher:

De Eenhoorn, Wielsbeke

illustrator:
Isabelle Vandenabeele
age:

6+
awards:
Vlag en Wimpel 2004 (Honorary mention Best books for children)
Zilveren Penseel 2004 (for the illustrations)
Plantin Moretusprize 2004 (for the bookdesign)
rights sold:
French (Édtions du Rouergue)

This variation of the Red Riding Hood fairytale was already fully illustrated by Isabelle Vandenabeele, and after that I was asked to write the text to her strong version. The fairytale now is all about learning when to say no, and fighting back when danger comes your way. Since the colour red is already emphasized in the title: expect some blood! At first I thought the book might come off as too strong, but over the years it has become a favourite of many schoolgroups that I visit - and the scary parts apparently make (some of) them laugh a lot.

SUPER GUPPY

SUPERGUPPIE (SUPER GUPPY)
year:

2003

genre:

poetry, 64 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Fleur van der Weel
age:

6+
awards:
Woutertje Pietersprijs 2004 (best children's book)
Zilveren Griffel 2004 (best books for children)
Vlag en Wimpel 2004 (for the illustrations)
Die Besten Sieben Dezember 2008 (Germany)
Buch des Monats November 2008 (Germany)
Recommended pick voor National Poetry Day 2020 (United Kingdom)
rights sold:
French (Éditions Être)
German (Boje)
English (UK) (The Emma Press)

For this first volume of children's poetry for a younger age (four more volumes would follow) I made 51 short poems, always with a quite practical, normal-day title and subject, then trying to give it a poetical or funny swing. The fantastic playful illustrations by Fleur van der Weel make all the poems coherent. This was and is my number one bestselling book in Holland, nicely helped by the prestigious Woutertje Pieterse Award.

- Follow-up volumes were
SUPERGUPPIE KRIJGT KLEINTJES (2005),
DE GROETEN VAN SUPERGUPPIE (2008),
HOERA VOOR SUPERGUPPIE! (2010)
and the big collection of all the volumes (& new poems as well) SUPERGUPPIE IS ALLES (2014).
- The Dutch Translation Fund made a special on this book, to be found here.
- In 2005 I made a cd with composer and producer Edwin Schimscheimer. The poems were turned into lyrics and Edwin made songs out of it, which were sung by a terrific bunch of famous Dutch artists (under the title SUPERGUPPIE ZINGT, Superguppy sings).

SILLY RABBIT

DOM KONIJN (SILLY RABBIT)
year:

2000

genre:

picture book, 28 p.

publisher:

Querido, Amsterdam

illustrator:
Gerda Dendooven
age:

6+
awards:
Zilveren Griffel 2001 (best book for children)
rights sold:
French (Éditions Être)

Picture book about Little Rabbit that tries to figure out what will happen to Old Rabbit after his death. He questions several animals in the forest about their idea of an afterlife. I was very happy to work with the renowned artist Gerda Dendooven.

- A proof translation in German is available.