New book!

This week Daddy is a polar bear (Dutch title: Papa is een ijsbeer) was published at De Eenhoorn. It's my first collaboration with the wonderful Saskia Halfmouw, and I'm pretty proud of it. Thank you to her, and thanks also to Dries Desseyn, the designer.

Daddy is a polar bear started out 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 little brother, who one day starts repeating this sentence: 'Daddy is a polar bear'. The girl wonders: why does he do that, what does it mean? But then she watches a documentary about polar bears... 

Daddy is a polar bear is a tender, light and warm story about being the children in a divorce situation. For children from 8 year old and up. 64 pages, full colour. 

Vasco will travel to Spain

Alain Verster and I made two picture books about the sweetest pig in the wolrd: Vasco, who loves to play football just as much as his best friend, the boy Matteo.
Those books were: Vasco the soccer pig and Vasco and the green monster. Both books were originally published by De Eenhoorn in Belgium.

The first book was already sold to China and Brazil and now the Barcelona-based company of Thule Ediciones bought the Spanish rights. Thank you very much - and we are looking forward to the Spanish edition!

Three more translations

It's always mail that writers love to read: those in which the rights manager of your publishing company tells us that there will be another foreign edition of one of your books.
At the end of December illustrator Anton Van Hertbruggen and me heard that there will be a Slovenian edition of our book The dog that Nino didn't have (Het hondje dat Nino niet had, originally issued by De Eenhoorn). It will be published by Sodobnost. Thanks so much, we're happy!

The book that Marije Tolman and me made, Little Fox, found several publishers in Germany (4) and France (3) interested. After the book already was being sold to Russia, we are now happy to announce that the French edition will be published by Albin Michel and the German by Gerstenberg. We are so looking forward to seeing these new editions, thanks, publishers, and thanks Luciënne van der Leije, Querido's foreign rights manager, for this cheerful news!

NINO in Argentina

THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE just came out in Argentina. This Spanish edition was translated by Micaela Van Muylem and published by Limonero. It was Anton van Hertbruggens debut, and an acclaimed one: he got awards in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the United States!

The book was originally published in Belgium by De Eenhoorn and now has editions in German, French, English (USA), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Ukrainian, Macedonian, Turkish, Danish, Korean and Simplified Chinese. Spanish is the 13th edition.

More about this book and the remaining rights & where to send your requests for grants/rights: here.

NINO in Turkey

The Turkish version of THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE has recently been published. It was issued by Final Kültür Sanat Yayınları under the title: OLMAYAN BIR KÖPEGIN HIKAYESI. Nursen Kaya is the translator.

This book is Anton Van Hertbruggens beautiful first picture book, published by De Eenhoorn. Anton received awards for this book in Belgium, The Netherlands, USA, France and Germany.

The book also came out in English (Eerdmans, USA),
Chinese (Petrel),
Danish (Turbine),
French (Didier Jeunesse),
German (Bohem),
Korean (Jiyangsa),
Russian (Samokat),Ukrainian (Bobrovnikova),
Portuguese (Pulo do Gato, Brazil),
Macedonian (Ars Lamina)
and Spanish (Limonero, Argentina)

More about this title (and about the remaining rights & where to send your request for grants/rights): here.

NINO to TURKEY and MACEDONIA

Very agreable news: translation rights for THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE (HET HONDJE DAT NINO NIET HAD) were sold to Turkey. The book will be published by Final Kültür Sanat Yayınları. But at the same time rights were sold to Macedonia: to the publishing house of Ars Lamina. Fantastic!

Originally the book was published in Belgium, by De Eenhoorn. It won a number of awards: the Children's Literature Award in Germany, the Prix Sorcières in France, the Boekenpauw in belgium, the Gulden Palet in The Netherlands and a Silver Medal in the United States. And it was only Antons first children's book...

The book was also sold to China, Brazil, USA, France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Denmark and South-Korea.

NEW PICTURE BOOK WITH ALAIN VERSTER!

Alain Verster is the wonderful artist that I got to work with twice: in THE DOVE THAT COULDN'T DIVE and VASCO THE LITTLE SOCCER PIG. Books that traveled over the globe, with editions in Germany, Norway, Brazil, Denmark and China.

And now our third book is out! VASCO AND THE GREEN MONSTER was published by De Eenhoorn and tells the story of a sweet pig that is crazy about 'his' Matteo - the little boy at the farm. But then he hears Matteo is getting a new present, and the present is called John. Vasco's envy grows and grows: is this John a monster? A green monster?

Alain Verster and I are planning more books, but for now it's all about our colourful Vasco. Rights can be negeciated here, by the way.

New picture book announced

A new book about Vasco the Soccer Pig will find its way out into the world. In a few months this new picture book with the great and awesome Alain Verster will be published (by De Eenhoorn in Belgium). It's gonna be VASCO AND THE GREEN MONSTER and contains the story of how Vasco one day hoped to play soccer with his human mate Matteo (because they do so every day), but suddenly Matteo says he will be getting a new 'present' to play with - and this present is called John.
Vasco's head fills itself with jealousy and fear - will he be replaced by John, the Green Monster?

In 2011 Alain Verster debuted with my story THE DOVE THAT COULDN'T DIVE. The book was sold to six countries and received four awards. Our second collaboration was the 2013 VASCO THE LITTLE SOCCER PIG, which is also available in Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese and was nominated for the Boekenpauw, the highest Flemish illustration prize. VASCO AND THE GREEN MONSTER, which is to be read separately, is our third book together.

PREMIERE IN BERLIN

Friday afternoon, the 4th of November: that's the date for the premiere of  LENA UND DAS GEHEIMNIS DER BLAUEN HIRSCHE, a children's musical play in the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. It's music theatre, performed by a puppeteer, a singer and two musicians.
The play was written by Annechien Koerselman, and Händels music is being used, as well as new compositions by Sebastian Hanusa.

The play is based on the German version of my book DERTIEN RENNENDE HERTJES (THIRTEEN RUNNING DEER). I made this book with illustrator Mattias De Leeuw and it was published by De Eenhoorn in Flanders, Belgium. The German version was translated by Rolf Erdorf and issued by Gerstenberg.

Interested in going? Look at this website for information: the Deutsche Oper.

NEW BOOK OUT!

There it is - the newest picture book that I got to write the text for. It's the stunning debut of Suzan T'Hooft: HET IS RAAK! which translates as BULLSEYE!
It's about those two shy bears - who are in love, but they don't dare to admit that. They have groups of friends around them that try to make them get closer to each other, but that plan doesn't turn out too good.
BULLSEYE! is a visually overwhelming picturebook, a true grand entrance in the children's books world by a very promising illustrator.
It was published by De Eenhoorn and rights can be seen here. 

NOMINATED FOR THE HCA

Ooh - this just happened: I will be nominated for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award. This (quote) is 'the highest international recognition given to an author and an illustrator of children's books. Every other year IBBY presents the Andersen Award to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. The Author's Award has been given since 1956 and the Illustrator's Award since 1966. The Award consists of a gold medal and a diploma, presented at a festive ceremony during the biennial IBBY Congress.'

Each year almost 30 authors and 30 illustrators are nominated. The last years saw Dutch author Ted van Lieshout and Marit Törnqvist shortlisted!.
For 2018 the Dutch IBBY (International Board on Books for Young people) also chose fantastic illustrator Thé Tjong-Khing as a nominee.
I'm very thankful for this nomination, and honoured. It's a delight! Thanks to the Dutch IBBY-section, and to my wonderful publishing houses Querido and De Eenhoorn.

NINO NOMINATED

Delightful news: the German version of the picturebook that illustrator Anton Van Hertbruggen and I made, THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE, is nominated for the German Literature Award.

This Award nominates six books in every category: picture book, children's book, books for youth and non-fiction. The nominations were announced at the Leipzig Book Fair and the winners will be announced in October, at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

DER HUND DEN NINO NICHT HATTE (original title: HET HONDJE DAT NINO NIET HAD) was published by Bohem Press, in Germany, and translated by Rolf Erdorf. The book was originally published by De Eenhoorn, that also sells the rights. Rights were sold for the English, the French, the Chinese, the Brazilian Portuguese, the Korean and the Danish versions.  

The book and the illustrator already got awards in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the United States. Last year LENA UND DAS GEHEIMNIS DER BLAUEN HIRSCHE, (THIRTEEN RUNNING DEER) by Mattias De Leeuw and me (also translated by Rolf Erdorf) was nominated for the German Literature Award. More about the nominees of this year can be read here.

KOREAN NEWS, TWICE

A little while ago the Korean translation of THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE was published in South-Korea, at the publishing house of Jiyangsa. This book, made by illustrator Anton Van Hertbruggen and me, was already issued in German, Chinese, Danish, French and American English. The Brazilian version will follow soon.
Originally the book was published by De Eenhoorn. It got several awards, including the 'Gulden Palet' (Netherlands), the 'Boekenpauw' (Belgium), the 'Prix Sorcières' (France) and the Silver Medal of the Society of Illustrators (USA).
Rights can be viewed here.

But more Korean books are coming. The publishing house of Lime co. bought the Korean rights of THIRTEEN RUNNING DEER, the book that Mattias De Leeuw and I made. This will be out in the fall of 2016 and after the German, Chinese (mainland) and Chinese (Taiwan) it will be the fourth international version. Recently the book was nominated for the German Literature Award.
Rights can be checked at De Eenhoorn, here.

PRINCE HAYO ALREADY SOLD TO GERMANY

The book is not out yet - it will be soon, in March. But by now (February) the rights are already sold to Germany. To the publishing house of Gerstenberg. I'm talking about THE COUNTING BOOK OF PRINCE HAYO THE HAPPY - a big and colourful picturebook ánd a counting book, all in one. Made by the dazzling Mattias De Leeuw (pictures), the text is by me.

We worked together on two books before: THIRTEEN RUNNING DEER, that was sold to Germany, China, Taiwan and South-Korea, and received a nomination for the German Literature Award 2015.
We also made a poetry-picture book about happy sounds: MY HAPPY BOOK OF SOUNDS.

As for PRINCE HAYO: for the coming bookfair of Bologna this book is available at both the original publisher (De Eenhoorn) and the Flemish Literature Fund.

You can take a look at a few pages of the book here.

THE DEER TO TAIWAN

THIRTEEN RUNNING DEER (DERTIEN RENNENDE HERTJES), the book Mattias De Leeuw and I made for the Belgum company De Eenhoorn, was recently sold to Taiwan. Thus, it will be translated in what is called complex Chinese by Minya Lin. The Taiwanese publishing house will be Taiwan Interminds Publishing Inc.
The book came out in Germany (got a nomination for the German Literature Award 2015) and was also sold to China (mainland). 
More info on the rights can be found here.

PREVIEW SHORT MOVIE

The short movie that is based on my picture book ABOUT THE BOY WHO ATE AN OAKWOOD CHAIR has been shot. Now the editing starts. The movie (written and directed by Pieter Goethals for Creative Genes) will probably be released in the spring of 2016. Below you can take a look at a short 'making of', with English subtitles.

NINO IN KOREAN

THE DOG THAT NINO DIDN'T HAVE (HET HONDJE DAT NINO NIET HAD), the picture book that Anton Van Hertbruggen made (the text was mine), will soon be out in yet another language: Korean. The publishing house of Jiyangsa will publish it within a few weeks.

The book was already sold to Denmark, Germany, China, Brazil and the United States, where Publisher's Weekly last week chose it in their annual list of 'Best Books of the Year'.

The orginal publisher was De Eenhoorn, in Belgium.  

PICTUREBOOK TURNS INTO SHORT MOVIE

Some years ago I published a picture book, at publishing company De Eenhoorn, called VAN DE JONGEN DIE EEN EIKENHOUTEN STOELTJE AT - ABOUT THE BOY WHO ATE AN OAKWOOD CHAIR. The pictures were made by the well known, great artist Gerda Dendooven.

Actor Gauthier Castille gets wooden hands

Filmmaker Pieter Goethals has always been interested in turning this book into a short movie, and... now he does. Today, October 31st, 2015, the shooting of the movie began. Creative Genes is the producer and Pieter himself both wrote the script (which is based on the original story, but has a whole new twist) and will be directing. The movie is to be followed at their Facebookpage. It will probably be out in the first months of 2016.

For the translation rights to the picture book: check this page.

NEW BOOK OUT

For years I've been adoring 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. Which is out now!

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.

Thanks to publishing house De Eenhoorn and designer Dries Desseyn. A proof translation in English is available, and this is the foreign rights page of De Eenhoorn.

AUDIOBOOK-LONGLIST

Anne Moll is the voice on my first audiobook, the one that was made by Audiolino of the German translation (by Rolf Erdorf) of my book THIRTEEN RUNNING DEER (DERTIEN RENNENDE HERTJES), under the German title LENA UND DAS GEHEIMNIS DER BLAUEN HIRSCHE. The paper version was released last year by Gerstenberg and the wonderful pictures are by Mattias De Leeuw.
Now the audiobook is put on the longlist for the German 'Kinderhörbuchpreis' (Audiobook-award), the BEO 2015. The complete longlist can be found here.
The shortlist will be published in September and the winner will be announced in November. Nice news!