zaterdag 27 augustus 2016

THERE IT IS - A NEW BOOK WITH FLOOR DE GOEDE

I have enjoyed working with illustrator Floor de Goede already for many years. We made a series of comic poems together (and working on a third volume) and also a series of children's books about Sofie who is the biggest fan of penguins you could find.
But now a whole new book came out: IK BEN BIJ DE DINOSAURUSSEN GEWEEST (I was with the dinosaurs). It's a picture book about a boy that finds his favourite book: one about dinosaurs. But what happens when his family is a bit less interested?

The book came out at publishing house Querido, in Amsterdam, and the rights can be viewed here.
There are beautiful wide spreads full of dinosaurs - some examples go below (click to enlarge).

I am pretty proud of this new book by Floor.
Hopefully many kids (5 years old and up) will enjoy this colourful hommage to the world of imagination.

   

zondag 7 augustus 2016

NEW BOOK IN GERMANY

This month a new youth book of mine came out in German. Publishing house Carlsen Verlag issued KREBSMEISTERSCHAFT FÜR ANFÄNGER, the German thranslation (by the great translator Rolf Erdorf), which is based on the true life story of Roy Looman (now 21, in the story he is fifteen years old). The original title, published by Querido in Amsterdam is HET KANKERKAMPIOENSCHAP VOOR JUNIOREN.

Roy told me his life story in over fourty sessions. He got cancer when he was 15 years old, at a time where he was mainly playing soccer with his friends, working in a supermarket, going to school, having fun, trying to kiss as many girls as he could. The impact it had on his life and on his mind is in the book - and the story is told in a very direct, strong way. It moves from heartfelt to extremely funny (Roy has a great sense of humour), from the start of the disease to the end, and even after that - and we get to know everything, including pretty private episodes. It's amazing what Roy dared to tell, but it's part of his mission: make people aware of what cancer can do to a young mind, in a negative ánd in a positive way. I'm very proud that Roy let me use his voice for this swinging, fast-paced, but yet elaborate novel. It's certainly not a sad book, and this is proven by the first line: 'This must be the sickest game I have ever played. But I can't stand losing, so let me tell you upfront: I'm not going to die.'
 
This book is promoted by the Dutch Literary Fund, so foreign publishers could apply for translation and production grants here.

maandag 1 augustus 2016

VLOG FROM ESTONIA

I love bookbloggers and bookvloggers. I think they are important. And maybe I love them even more when they are from Estonia. I don't know what 'MannuMiner' tells us about my Sam-books, but it must be nice, since the title of her vlog is 'Minu lemmikud raamatud?' which translates as 'My favorite books?'

The Sam-books, TOEN KWAM SAM (SAM SHOWED UP) and DE RAADSELS VAN SAM (SAMS MYSTERIES) were richly illustrated by Philip Hopman, first issued by Querido in Holland, and published by Päike ja Pilv in Estonia, translated by Kerti Tergem.

And now listen to what MannuMiner says: