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Göteborg 2027

This page of Dutch Children&#039;s Books presents a selection of children&#039;s books recently published in the Netherlands, books that have been included for their artistic and commercial success. We highly recommend the titles on this page, and would be happy to give further advice on noteworthy and interesting books for your publishing list. For more information please contact our Children&#039;s Books specialist.

Mirjam van Houten

Anton’s life is the same day in, day out. He gets up at the same time, eats the same food and does the same old job. But one day, as he waits at a bus stop, Anton sees a poster of a painting. Instead of catching his bus, he heads to the museum to see the painting up close. That’s when everything changes.A reality captured by the picture book itself, starting off in subdued, lifeless greys. But as the story unfolds, Anton’s life – and the pages of the book – fill with more and more colour. Inspired by that beautiful painting, Anton begins to create his own work of art in a colour his former self had never seen before his museum experience: bright pink! At the end of the story, that bright pink appears to leap off the pages.Anton yn it museum is a tribute to the power of imagination and art, inspiring Anton to create his own art and bring back colour into other people’s lives. In this small work of art by Mirjam van Houten, we watch his life turn from black and white into technicolour.<ul><li>A picture book full of colourful and original details</li><li>On the power of art and imagination</li><li>Fifth picture book by the Frisian writer and illustrator</li></ul>

The Frisian picture book illustrator Mirjam van Houten shows how art releases us from routine. The colours in the story are as gripping for Anton as they are for the reader.

Book

Children's books

A tribute to colour and the power of art

Asset

Assets

Ernst Bruinsma

Anton yn it museum

Some people lead a dull and boring existence. They hop on a boring bus to a boring office, do the same things each day and seem to be surrounded by things that fail to inspire even the faintest hint of wonder. Anton is one of those people – until one fateful day.

Anton at the museum

Tjibbe Veldkamp

Sanne te Loo

A group of cuddly creatures live a carefree life in their valley. But danger is lurking. Vicious monsters armed with massive claws and razor-shop teeth are coming. And what’s worse: they’re feeling peckish. Danger! “This isn’t going to be pretty. Prepare for a bloodbath. Close this book RIGHT NOW!” reads Tjibbe Veldkamp’s opening warning to the reader.What follows is an animal hunt spanning several pages, rendered even more vivid by Sanne te Loo’s illustrations. But those who dare read until the end will find out how those monsters are outwitted by those seemingly harmless little animals – who turn out to be the most ferocious creatures in the valley.An adventurous picture book that blends the best of Tjibbe Veldkamp’s language and Sanne te Loo’s artistry.<ul><li>by the award-winning and popular writer Tjibbe Veldkamp</li><li>bursting with bewitching rhyme, twists and turns</li><li>powerful, contrasting illustrations that appear to move and come alive</li><li>a thrilling read-aloud experience</li></ul>

With roll-off-your-tongue rhymes and comical role inversions, ‘Diertjes’ is a gorgeous picture book reminiscent of The Gruffalo. Sanne te Loo’s highly creative illustrations, harnessing shadow, stencils, a carefully curated palette and ever-so-sharp teeth, make for a wonderfully monstrous reading experience.

This is proof that Tjibbe Veldkamp is the best picture book author working in the Netherlands today.

Tjibbe has a fantastic feel for rhyme and rhythm, using a range of invented animal names to enhance the read-aloud experience.

Tjibbe Veldkamp masterfully switches the narrative, keeping readers guessing which group of animals are the bigger threat. Sanne te Loo’s enchanting illustrations, both inside and out, are full of life and splendour. This is sure to be your new favourite read.

A picture book full of mellifluous rhymes and comically inverted roles.

Lucienne van der Leije

Diertjes

Life for the innocent little animals living in their idyllic little valley is good – until a band of scary predators disturbs their peace. But who should be more afraid of who? Nothing is quite what it seems in Diertjes, a picture book by Tjibbe Veldkamp and Sanne te Loo.

Little Animals

Anke Kranendonk

Puck Koper

It’s a swelteringly hot day, and the park has filled with people enjoying the weather. Among them are seven firemen lying on the grass, cooling down with an ice cream. But then they get a call to put out a fire. Wheels screeching, they’re in such a rush around a bend that their fire engine flips over.  Everyone in the park looks on in horror. The firemen are helpless. What now?Luckily, little Roos is here to save the day. She saw the accident unfold, and she’s the only one who knows what to do!“When Roosje saw the fire engine take flight,she grabbed the hose and pulled with all her might.Without looking to the left or right,she rushed down Linde lane to fire-fight!”Writer Anke Kranendonk’s story was inspired by an adventure from her own life. Following a clear rhyme scheme and written in clear language, the rhythmic poetic verses are made for reading aloud. Illustrator Puck Koper uses vivid colours and lively images to draw readers further into the action and drive the story about the fearless Roos.<ul><li>Featuring lively illustrations by Zilveren Penseel winner Puck Koper</li><li>Written in an expressive and original style</li></ul>

A picture book in which girl power takes centre stage. The heroine of this book is a little girl who is a natural-born optimist. The text by Anke Kranendonk, written in flowing rhyme, fits Koper’s pencil like a glove. Together, they have made an inviting picture book of rhyme, chaos and utter joy..

Puck Koper vividly portrays the story’s feeling of chaos. She uses her keen eye for diversity and details to create lively scenes that further propel the narrative. Roos redt de brandweer is a truly uplifting story.

There’s a lot to see and tell in this gorgeously written picture book.

Uta Matten

Roos redt de brandweer

Anke Kranendonk’s adventurous, action-packed and fast-paced picture book turns things upside down when a fire brigade needs to be rescued by the bravest little girl in the park.

Rose Saves the Firefighters

Nancy Bosmans

Lisa van Winsen

Yaa, a Ghanaian girl, is very young when slave traders raid her village and kidnap her family. After being shipped off and sold, she and her mother are forced to work on a coffee plantation far away from everything she knows and loves.When Yaa’s mother braids her hair, she hides the seeds of vegetables and fruits from their homeland in each tress. One night, Yaa slips out of her bed to plant the seeds. The roots that sprout from them give Yaa new ground on which to stand.    Nancy Bosmans and Lisa van Winsen, the creators of the first Dutch picture book about the slave trade, have turned this fraught chapter of history into a story suitable for a young audience. The book’s text and illustrations work in harmony: the grey and blue hues evoke the sense of sorrow and loss of homeland and freedom, while warm, cheerful colours fill the pictures of Yaa’s fond memories of her village in Ghana.Yaa’s story isn’t just about enslavement; it’s about a sense of home and the importance of passing down stories. The resilience of young Yaa infuses the story with hope.<ul><li>Poetic and moving picture book about a fraught chapter of history</li><li>A harmony of text and image</li><li>Based on true stories</li><li>De Boebalas, the previous picture book by the creators, was listed in the Prentenboek Top 10 2025 (top ten picture books in the Netherlands)</li></ul>

An important book that absolutely deserves an award and a wide readership. It is abundantly clear why these stories must be told and passed down.

A moving story inspired by the history of enslaved peoples.

Sophie Mulder

Het meisje met de zaadjes in het haar

Het meisje met de zaadjes in het haar is a picture book for young readers about a fraught chapter of world history: the transatlantic slave trade. A book that exposes historical horrors while offering a message of hope through its use of language and illustration.

The Girl Who Planted Hope

2026 selection

Karst-Janneke Rogaar

Lucy can’t get off to sleep. She’s afraid of the dark. If only it were light! If only this night were over, she thinks to herself. Then she hears a voice coming from under her bed. “Donker’s the name,” the voice says. Donker manages to calm Lucy and take her – and teddy bear Watje – on a journey into the night, which turns out to be full of life. Journeying over the dunes, they enter the forest. Lucy, awestruck, says to Donker: “You’re everywhere.”Donker shows her how much there is to see once your eyes adjust: deer and foxes dashing here and there,long-eared hares and a whole world of new smells and sounds. The once terrifying Donker becomes Lucy’s guide in this unknown world. “You know, when you’re here, you can’t see where one thing starts and the other ends. At night, you’re both here and there.”Karst-Janneke Rogaar has written and illustrated an utterly charming picture book, offering an entertaining yet profound exploration of the dark. Turning each page, your eyes seem to become more accustomed to the darkness as you discover more and more of the night. The dark charcoal sketches reveal more and more.<ul><li>Special Mention Bologna Ragazzi Award 2026 fiction</li><li>Extraordinary charcoal illustrations</li><li>Poetic and philosophical language</li><li>Meets young minds at their level</li></ul>

You’re almost disappointed when the sun rises in this gorgeous picture book. Rogaar’s musical style makes this book a joy to behold and a joy to read aloud together. Her ability to render palpable the absence of light, something which children will know from experience, is a fantastic paradox. It is what drives this book’s endless fascination.

Rogaar’s ingenious charcoal sketches draw you into the bewitching world of the night. Rogaar’s clever use of the dynamics of poetic language and mysterious drawings brings the night to life, yet never losing a sense of its eeriness. You can almost smell the scent of the honeysuckle and hear the hooting call of the owls.

Rogaar manages to tell a story using very little colour. Her ability to personify the intangible – the dark – is as entertaining as it is moving, engrossing but never terrifying.

This wild, action-packed book is a bewitching tribute to the night.

Lucy en Donker

Lucy is scared – she can hear a voice from under her bed. When she peers down, she finds Donker, who isn’t half as frightening as she thought. You just have to get to know him. A picture book for anyone who’s ever been scared of the dark.

Lucy and Darkness

Mohana van den Kroonenberg

“Only weird people believe in gnomes,” says Dad to Kai. “Are we weird?”Kai and his parents are making their way to aunty Fee’s house in the forest. Kai is desperate not to go: he has to stay in that horrible place for six whole weeks. His parents tell him he’ll be fine. All those things he’s been reading in fairy tales – witches on brooms, gingerbread houses – aren’t real. Once Kai arrives and watches his parents drive off, all he wants is to go back home!But soon after that, Kai finds a red pointy hat in the forest. And that pointy hat can’t belong to anyone but a gnome. He’s called Peer. Kai doesn’t believe in him – despite staring him in the face. “Gnomes can sense when you don’t believe in them,” says auntie Fee.“I don’t believe in cousins or nephews,” says Peer to Kai.Kai’s parents are horrified by the odd friendship developing between their son and the gnome. Their son believes in gnomes! Has he lost his mind in that forest?Mohana van den Kroonenberg carefully builds an arc of suspense, sharing several telling descriptions of Kai, his aunty Fee and his parents. Kai’s rather haphazard arrival in the forest has strong undertones of Hansel and Gretel. You can’t help but feel you’ve landed in a very spooky fairy tale, made all the more compelling by Karst-Janneke Rogaar’s expressive illustrations.<ul><li>Peer is part of the popular Tijgerlezen series for young readers</li><li>Thrilling and amazing</li><li>The story is enhanced by fantastic illustrations</li></ul>

Fairy tales don’t exist. Neither do gnomes. But they do if you believe in them. That, in a nutshell, is Peer’s message. Captivating in its ambiguity, Peer is a fantastic introduction to the power of fiction.

Peer is a tribute to the power of imagination and friendship, enhanced by Karst-Janneke Rogaar’s fabulously rustic illustrations. You can almost hear the leaves rustling in the forest of pen and brushstrokes.

Clever and amusing story for younger readers.

Peer

For six long weeks, Kai must stay with his aunt who lives in a frightening forest. How will he cope? A chance encounter with gnome Peer marks the beginning of an unforgettable summer. An original and gripping story for young readers about an unlikely friendship and the boundary between imagination and reality.

Pear

Stern Nijland

Splash! Did you know that many seagulls suffer from diarrhoea? They eat far too many chips and other fatty foods humans leave behind. And why is Colombia home to 160 hippos? They were secretly imported by Pablo Escobar, a drug lord, to create his very own zoo... until they escaped!Humans and animals have lived side by side since records began. This book offers an in-depth exploration of that relationship. How we collaborate and co-exist. How we treat wild and domesticated animals. How we look up to them. How we use them. How similar humans and animals really are. And how animals have come to rely on humans. Mens en dier is a fully-formed animal fact book, each page as compelling as the next. Nijland invites the reader to absorb and reflect on philosophical questions – “Do you think people are taking good care of the planet?” – as well as the many facts present throughout the book. Just why do people get goosebumps? The realistic drawings make the reading experience even more enjoyable.An educational and engaging book for independent or shared reading by children aged 8 and up.<ul><li>Thoroughly engaging animal fact book</li><li>Suitable for classroom use</li><li>Features large illustrations of fascinating animals</li></ul>

A comprehensive book about the connections between people and animals. It gets you thinking about our influence on the animal kingdom as humans and provides an abundance of topics to discuss with children.

The fantastic illustrations – so natural, so full of emotion, as if they could leap off the page – immediately catch the eye. Compelling, engaging and educational.

A book you can spend hours flicking through.

Robin van der Gaag

Mens en dier – van designerhond tot haaienzwempak

People rely on animals. We cuddle our dogs, ride horses, eat eggs and drink milk. But do animals rely on us humans? Stern Nijland’s fact-filled book, complete with realistic illustrations, sets out the many ways in which people’s and animals’ lives are intertwined.

Humans & Animals

Pim Lammers

“I play a happy song, give you a pear chopped into little hearts, gently run my fingers over your back, through your hair, and suddenly think of the best reason to get out of bed and dance to those notes.Did you forget there’s such a thing as baby goats?”Most poems in this new collection by Pim Lammers are about love, about things that brighten up life, about things that comfort us. Love for that great-aunt who’s becoming forgetful, for a best male friend who’s now a girl, enjoying spending mornings with dad, and plucking up the courage to say you’re in love. There’s a silver lining to everything.Pim Lammers doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, describing them with sincerity, humour and optimism: from losing a mother to climate change and the refugee crisis. His work is characterised by a dedication to diversity, a defiance to be different and a belief that every day is worth living. Nadia Meezen’s charming illustrations add a delicate, dreamy touch to these gentle poems.<ul><li>52 poems for readers aged 8 to 11</li><li>Light-hearted, hopeful poetry about life’s big questions</li><li>Beautifully illustrated by Nadia Meezen</li></ul>

Lammer’s work erupts with joy. Without rumination nor judgement, he manages to find the ordinary in the unusual.

Lammers is unmatched in his ability to take the sting out of these sensitive, highly charged and often complex subjects and normalise them. That is where his poetic talent shines through.

Hopeful poems about the big and small joys in life

Ben je vergeten dat babygeitjes bestaan?

This collection of 52 poems is a reminder to young and older readers alike that, however tough life can be, there are so many things around us that can spark joy. And what could be more joyful than a baby goat?

Have You Forgotten that Baby Goats Exist

Marc ter Horst

Stan’s father has a case of ‘imperatyphus’: he’s fallen victim to a flood of compelling slogans and instructions. He’s lost his job because of it. Stan’s mother can’t take it anymore and moves out.Stan thinks his dad needs an ad blocker for the real world. He explores the problem as part of a school project, setting up an initiative with a classmate to bring down the number of ads on the high street and get rid of marketing lies. The initiative exceeds all expectations as it soon becomes clear that everyone is suffering from cognitive overload.Marc ter Horst exposes the amount of marketing we’re exposed to and what happens when you take everything literally. The book critiques modern marketing as much as it explores language. Dit wil je lezen! is a topical children’s book about fake news, advertising and the consequences of information overload.<ul><li>an entertaining, language-focused book full of interesting facts</li><li>informational fiction about the world of advertising, fake news and marketing strategies</li><li>Marc ter Horst demystifies a complex topic for young readers</li></ul>

Dit wil je lezen! is as entertaining as it is educational, written by an author who doesn’t patronise young readers.

Dit wil je lezen! is a playful, fast-paced book about an original and relevant topic.

Marvellously absurd story containing legions of original language.

Dit wil je lezen!

Order now! Stay back! You don’t want to miss this! Any sign Stan’s father sees, he takes literally. And it’s starting to become a problem: he can’t stop ordering products online, and he stands so far from the till at the supermarket that he never gets served. 
Something’s got to give. Stan comes up with an ingenious solution.

Must Read!

Tom Rijpert

Eleven-year-old Basha is dreading going to the summer camp her parents have signed her on to. She’s worried she won’t enjoy herself. After all, none of her friends are going. As she makes her way there, she begins to hear the first hushed rumours of a missing boy and little Tibbe spouts theory after theory about mirror years. She can only guess what’ll happen next.At the camp, no mention may be made of Pepijn Harding,  the boy who disappeared eleven years ago without leaving a trace. Did he drown after walking into the ocean, or did something more sinister happen?When Basha discovers mysterious carvings in the slats on the bunk above her, she can’t help but join Tibbe’s investigation. Helped by Agatha Christie’s time-tested methods, the pair undertake an adventurous journey full of twists and turns. “This is about believing in what could be or, failing that, explaining the seemingly unexplainable.”This masterly, nuanced story by Tom Rijpert about two misfits Tibbe and Basha is one of those books you won’t be able to put down. <ul><li>The most gripping children’s novel of 2025 – winner of the MAX Gouden Junior Vleermuis award</li><li>A nuanced book featuring utterly compelling characters</li><li>Readership 10+</li><li>A thoroughbred detective that is inspired by and honours the great Agatha Christie</li></ul>

19/91 is a fast-paced and thrilling detective with a streak of fantasy, Agatha Christie and Tonke Dragt.

Tom Rijpert’s 19/91 is a mysterious, exciting and extraordinarily ingenious story. A nuanced YA detective book unlike other works of this genre. A writer to watch.

A thrilling detective with a streak of fantasy and Agatha Christie vibes.

Sarah Claeys

19/91

Two new friends meet at a summer camp and hear a story about the boy who went missing, without a trace, eleven years ago. Without missing a beat, they agree they’re the only ones who can unravel the mystery. This page-turner follows them as they attempt to solve the puzzle.

19|91

Annet Schaap

Eleven-year-old Eliza has six brothers. Her mother died while giving birth to the youngest of the six, Krekel. One day, five of her brothers disappear. They’re said to have drowned, but Eliza isn’t convinced. She tattoos their names onto her leg and goes in search of them, joined by her only surviving sibling: her youngest brother, Krekel, who just happens to be the most fearful of the lot.Overcoming setback after setback, Eliza and Krekel continue their search until the White Cliffs at the other side of the ocean. The book charts the gruelling journey that requires all the bravery and strength of the unflappable and resourceful sister and her scaredy-cat brother.Annet Schaap has created yet another fantasy world in Krekel. Told with abundant narrative flair and beautifully illustrated, her book borrows several characters from Lampie while incorporating a brand-new protagonist and plot. Schaap’s story is enriched by the multi-perspective narrative, giving readers insight into the worlds of humans and others. This imaginative story about desire, courage, perseverance and sacrifice is loosely based on a tale by Hans Christian Andersen. A fairy tale for all ages.<ul><li>The long-awaited new release by Annet Schaap</li><li>Beautiful black-and-white illustrations</li><li>Lampie has been translated into over 30 languages</li><li>International bestseller</li><li>Winner of all major children’s book awards, including the Boon Literature Public Prize </li></ul>Rights sold: Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, French, German, Gronings, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, Slovenian, Ukrainian, World-English

Children’s books are either pleasant or exciting or moving. Schaap’s duo of voluminous read-aloud novels showcases her mastery of all three at the same time. Krekel is a phenomenal story and has to be one of 2025’s best books for kids and their parents alike.

Schaap’s talent for storytelling is bewitching. Her imagination is boundless, her style is flawless.

Mermaids, pirates and fierce fights for freedom combine in a fast-paced fairytale.

Following the multi-award-winning debut Lampie, expectations were high for Annet Schaap’s second novel. The wait has been worth it; Krekel is off the scale. Overwhelming and moving. A gem of a book.

Every reader will be enchanted by this all-ages fairy tale.

Krekel

After an eight-year break, Annet Schaap returns with her long-awaited second book set in the world of Lampie: her multi-award-winning debut from 2017 that quickly earned the title of classic. A moving and imaginative story; a fairy tale for all ages.

Cricket

Bouwien Jansen

Kat’s eccentric uncle has passed away, and she has recently moved into his old home on the outskirts of the city: The Wooden Nest. The house is a peculiar place, with rooms full of cabinets packed to the brim, wonky drawers and suits of armour and marble statues, which Kat barely manages to squeeze past. She roots around in the drawers full of Japanese fans, shark teeth and old coins.When Kat stumbles across a pebble one day, she quickly realises she’s made a very special discovery. Before long, the pebble starts to do things no ordinary, grey, boring pebble could do. Things happen that she cannot explain. Together with her newly made friends, Kat is determined to find out more about the mysterious history of the pebble beings.Kiezel is a thrilling magic-realistic story about a girl struggling at home and looking for a new family. Kat discovers a world that is much more colourful and loving than the one she had known. The Wooden Nest symbolises freedom, imagination and creativity – a truly adventurous read.<ul><li>Thrilling fantasy, compelling writing and nuanced themes</li><li>Unpredictable and wayward fiction debut</li><li>Age 10+</li><li>Magic realism writing brimming with secrets</li></ul>

Jansen has hit the bull’s-eye in this debut work of fiction. 'Kiezel' is a truly engrossing read, merging the feel of a classic with contemporary themes. Kiezel is an appealing, uplifting story that gives you the reassuring feeling that miracles really can happen.

Jansen’s debut book feels like a warm hug. A book read under the covers, by torchlight, hours after you’d promised your parents you’d really go to sleep now.

'Kiezel' is a heartwarming, comforting story whose main character is utterly endearing.

A mysterious find, a peculiar house and an endearing main character.

Amanda Castro Thijssen

Kiezel

When Kat stumbles across a seemingly ordinary pebble, she soon realises she’s found something extremely special. This discovery is about to completely change her life... exactly what she’s been waiting for.

Pebble

Jan Paul Schutten

The earth is flat, COVID-19 is a hoax, the moon landing never happened, and UFOs really do exist: our world is a merry-go-round of conspiracy theories. Schutten gathers all the available evidence – and presents all the counter-evidence – for each one, As he walks readers through each level of thinking that captivates believers, he shows how any of us could be fooled.This beautifully designed and wonderfully illustrated book gives readers the tools they need to think critically. Showing how to recognise fallacies and explaining patterns and coincidence, Schutten offers an accessible, engaging and eye-opening take on complex social topics while encouraging critical thinking. This book is nothing short of essential in the era of fake news! The writer’s open-minded approach and lively writing style make for irresistible reading.Using the checklist at the end of the book, you can check whether you’ve fallen for a conspiracy theory or whether there’s enough evidence to support a claim.<ul><li>An important book in the era of fake news.</li><li>non-fiction book by the winner of two Gouden Griffels</li><li>Features engrossing, full-page, informative illustrations by graphic novel artist Koen Aelterman</li><li>Contains a useful checklist for unravelling any conspiracy theory</li><li>Shortlisted for <a href="https://www.uitgeverijblauwgras.nl/nieuws/complot-op-longlist-ludoq">Ludoq</a>, best philosophy book for children 2025</li></ul>

Master of non-fiction Jan Paul Schutten at his most biting in this beautifully designed book, injecting plenty of humour and fascinating details into his exploration of the countless exciting ways of interpreting the world.

Complot makes for fascinating and topical reading. In a world run by fake news and algorithms, it’s becoming ever harder to tell fact from fiction. It’s never too early to start training critical thinking skills.

Schutten uses his engaging, interrogational style to decipher and debunk several well-known conspiracy theories. Complot couldn’t have come at a more urgent time.

Non-Fiction

Is it real? Or is it a conspiracy? How can you know whether it’s true?

Complot - de spannendste samenzweringstheorieën (en zijn ze waar?)

In this lively and humorous book, Jan Paul Schutten lifts the lid on the nine biggest modern conspiracy theories and examines them from all angles. After reading this, you’ll question everything you see and read.

Conspiracy

Yorick Goldewijk

“Sometimes, you wake up and immediately sense that something’s not quite right. You don’t know how you know; you just do. It’s as certain as the sunlight shining through the window.”The sounds of the war with the North have echoed through Abel’s life ever since he can remember. But this morning, he wakes to silence. After walking downstairs, he is surprised to find his mother is a deer and his dad is a dog. The same fate has befallen everyone else, it seems. There are no people left. And while Abel can still talk to his parents that morning, they become wilder and wilder as the day draws on. Noticing that all of his neighbours have turned into animals, too, Abel chooses to run away from the dangerous beasts that now consider him prey.As he attempts to locate another human, he enters a supermarket and finds a letter. But can he trust what it says? He manages to connect with Kat, a fifteen-year-old girl from the North. Bound together by the same lot, the pair of sworn enemies head to the coast in search of answers. This gruelling journey sees them not only fight against the outside world, but against each other’s preconceptions.Throughout, Yorick Goldewijk keeps the reader firmly in suspense: why have only these two souls been spared? What has happened exactly? And what does it mean to be human?“I have felt hate in every fibre in my body. Hate is something that animals DEFINITELY do not experience. But I don’t want to end on a negative note. So here’s a quick sum for you (I don’t give a damn if it doesn’t make any sense): if you deduct all hate from all love, you’ll always have something left over. Those leftovers are us. That’s what I think.”<ul><li>Amazing, original and full-of-intrigue book for readers aged 12+</li><li>Critically acclaimed by the media</li><li>Yorick Goldewijk won the Gouden Griffel award</li><li>Goldewijk’s book Movies Showing Nowhere was named The Times Children’s Book of the Year</li></ul>

Albatros is as weird and wonderful as it is merciless, asking tough yet pertinent questions about war, guilt and blame, the meaning of being human while launching a heartfelt plea for the power of gentleness.

Goldewijk’s ambitious project, showcasing his unique voice, is proof he means business. [...] Goldewijk conjures a new magic in children’s literature.

Goldewijk set the bar high with this book, but he’s truly outdone himself. He shrewdly investigates complex human emotions such as blame and hate on the one hand and forgiveness and kindness on the other. [...] A heartfelt tribute to humanity.

A dazzling tribute to the power of imagination. [...] Alienating yet utterly bewitching.

A captivating and exciting YA book. An awe-inspiring page-turner packed with emotion.

Albatros

It’s a rather odd sort of feeling, starting the day as a human while everyone around you is an animal. In Albatross, Yorick Goldewijk goes on a bold thought experiment to find out what would happen if everyone – bar just one soul – woke up as an animal.

Albatross

Janneke Schotveld

Only an idiot would try to cycle to Norway, totally alone, on a bike they’d built themselves . But student Rifka is undeterred. Her story is presented as separate, fleeting scenes throughout time, slowly revealing more and more details about why she is undertaking this particular journey. The reader learns about her parents’ rejection and the suffocating environment in which she has grown up. But we also find out more about Tabitha: her sprightly, you-only-live-once, reckless and manic depressive sister who ended her own life.Rifka struggles with feelings of guilt and mourning as she forces herself to keep on pedalling . Along the way, she faces muscle ache and terrible weather. But she also meets people who offer a welcome distraction from the huge loss she’s carrying along with all her belongings weighing down her bike.Schotveld brings the reader deep into Rifka’s intense emotions, lightening what could first appear as a heavy read. Thanks to her fluid, casual style and the fragmented narrative structure, Schotveld manages to open up this complex theme and add a good dash of humour.Based on the true story of Rifka Mels, Zusje is part of the successful Slash series of stories written about young people who have been through life-changing events.<ul><li>Moving coming-of-age story</li><li>On grief, guilt and acceptance</li><li>Based on a true story</li></ul>

Schotveld presents an intimate picture of Rifka, deftly giving the reader a deep insight into her internal struggles with rage, guilty, sorrow and confusion, how she tries with all her might to be true to herself, and how difficult it is to love your parents while fundamentally disagreeing with their worldview.

Zusje is the first YA book by Schotveld, creator of the popular Superjuffie book series. It offers a convincing and poignant portrayal of an adolescent who shakes off years spent fearing she’d go to hell and chooses a life ‘free of God and his bossy son.’ Her writing contains powerful passages about the feeling of being mangled in guilt and realising you can love your parents, even if they don’t understand you.

Touching portrait of a young woman whose desire to spread her wings reveals more of an urge to escape.

Zusje

Rifka, a student, cycles from Utrecht in the Netherlands to Kristiansand in Norway to visit a friend of Tabitha, her younger sister. But Rifka’s is more than a simple journey: she finds herself escaping a deeply religious upbringing, parents who cannot accept her queerness, and a terrible loss.

Little Sister

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Agnes Vogt

Maud Aarsen

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Dutch Children's Books

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