Singel Publishers - Querido Children's Books 2021

Spring 2021

all ages

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QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

Spring 2021 Hans and Monique Hagen & Charlotte Dematons There You Are The most beautiful of gifts for all new babies

all ages

poetry picture book

click here to preview this title

Twelve pictures with twelve poems for the first twelve months.

That first year is all about nappies, colic and cuddles. About playing in the playpen and lots and lots of sleep – or maybe not... From one moment to the next, wonder turns into despair or great happiness.

There is so much that changes in such a short time – a year full of emotions, captured in a touching book of pictures and poetry.

About I never think about nothing: ‘A sensational poetry collection.’ – de Volkskrant ‘A delightful and unique poetry picture book.’ – De Morgen ‘A stunning collection.’ – Jury report, Zilveren Griffel

Spring 2021 Pim Lammers & Marije Tolman Once Upon a Time There Was a Cow

6 years and up

early readers click here to preview this title

In search of a story about a cow

Eefje loves stories. Every night her mum reads to her from the big book of fairy tales.

But one night Eefje has had enough. She doesn’t want to hear another word about little pigs, Billy Goats Gruff or the big bad wolf.

She wants a story about a cow! But there aren’t any in her mum’s book...

Eefje decides to go looking for one. She starts by asking all the other animals in the farmyard. Do they know any stories about cows?

A cute story about a little cow with a mission, with enchanting illustrations by Marije Tolman.

• a poetry picture book about the first year of life • an ideal gift, particularly for new parents • a new collaboration between a great trio

Pim Lammers (b. 1993) won a Zilveren Griffel for his picturebook debut, Het lammetje dat een varken is, making him the youngest Griffel winner ever. Marije Tolman (b. 1976) has won numerous awards for her work, including a Gouden Penseel for De boomhut, together with her father, Ronald Tolman.

Mama

l ek k er l u ier en luier uit luier aan kakkiepoep kakkiepies luier schoon luier vies luier uit luier aan en dan weer van voor af aan luier uit luier aan kakkiepoep kakkiepies luier schoon luier vies luier uit luier aan en dan weer en dan weer en dan weer van voor af aan

‘Wil je een sprookje met drie biggen?’ vraagt mama.

‘Nee,’ zegt Eefje.

‘Wil je een sprookje met een kat die laarzen aan heeft?’

‘Nee!’ ‘Wil je een sprookje met een eendje dat een zwaan is?’

‘NEE!’ Mama slaat haar grote sprookjes­ boek dicht.

‘Dan weet ik het ook niet meer,’ zegt ze.

Mama leest elke avond sprookjes voor.

Eefje vindt ze altijd heel leuk.

Maar vanavond niet.

‘Welk sprookje wil je dan wél?’ vraagt mama.

‘Een sprookje over drie kalfjes,’ antwoordt Eefje.

‘Of over een koe die laarzen aan heeft.

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Published in October 2020 | hardback with cloth spine | 20 x 23 cm | 32 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

• for the early reader – and also great for reading aloud • a funny story packed with references to familiar fairy tales • a subtle appeal for more diversity in children’s books • a new collaboration between an award winning author and an award-winning illustrator

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Published in November 2020 | hardcover | 14 x 20 cm | 72 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

Spring 2021 Janneke Schotveld & Georgien Overwater Soapy

6 years and up

early readers

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A surprising adventure with a philosophical twist

Spring 2021 Simon van der Geest & Elly Hees Who Wants to join the Zombie-race?

7 years and up click here to preview this title

A funny adventure that races along with plenty of excitement and... zombie dinosaurs!

early readers

Ramon’s best friend, Ferrie, lives right next to a country estate where strange things have been happening lately. Someone broke in without triggering the burglar alarm, and every night the lawn is completely churned up. Is it really moles that are ruining the garden?

Ramon and Ferrie decide to spy on the garden one night – and they can’t believe what they see!

Soapy really likes football. And he definitely doesn’t like girls like Milou. She gives him wobbly legs and a tickly tummy. And blubber brains – that’s the worst.

When she turns up again after school, Soapy runs away. He hides inside the biggest washing machine in his dad’s laundrette – and he fits inside it perfectly.

But then something strange happens. The washing machine starts spinning really fast. And when Soapy climbs out of it, he sees a rat in swimming trunks and sunglasses. Where on earth has he ended up?

‘Who’s Afraid of the Football Zombies? contains not only humour and excitement, but also an appealing mix of fantasy and reality based on two subjects that appeal to many young readers: football and zombies.’ – Pluizer.be ‘A great tip for readers of around eight and up, it’s also a book that slightly older children with reading problems will enjoy. *****’ – Lezenisleuk.nl ‘Appealing, familiar, and, above all, funny.’ – NBD Biblion • imaginative, philosophical – and funny too!

• by the author of the popular Superjuffie series • a longer story for more experienced readers • with dazzling illustrations by Georgien Overwater

1 In de Langestraat op nummer 94 woont Zepie met zijn vader.

Zepie?

Wie heet er nou Zepie?

• a longer story for more experienced readers • standalone sequel to Who’s Afraid of the Football Zombies?

• 10.000 copies of book one have been sold • by a two-time winner of the Gouden Griffel (best children’s book of the year) • with expressive colour illustrations by Elly Hees

Ferrie en ik Ferrie is mijn beste vriend.

Wij twee zijn een topteam.

Als wij samen voetballen, houdt niemand ons bij.

Ik speel naar Fer, en Fer tikt terug.

Tik – tik – tik gaat het heen en weer.

Nou, die jongen met die mooie ogen en die zwarte krullen die boven de wasserette woont.

Eigenlijk heet hij Zacharias. Maar iedereen noemt hem Zepie.

Ooit was zijn oppas ermee begonnen, omdat hij altijd zo lekker rook.

En steeds meer mensen namen het over.

Zelfs zijn vader.

Tot Zepie zelf niet beter wist dan dat hij Zepie heette.

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Published in April 2021 | hardcover | 14 x 20 cm | 112 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

11-02-21 16:45

Zombie-race-bw-druk(01).indd 7

11-02-21 16:45

Published in March 2021 | hardback | 14 x 20 cm | 144 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

Spring 2021 Clarice Lispector & Gerda Dendooven The Mystery of the Thinking Rabbit Heart-warming stories about clever pets

7 years and up click here to preview this title

children’s book

Clarice Lispector’s novels and short stories are finding appreciation among a growing group of readers. In her children’s stories, she accesses her pets’ innermost thoughts. No one will ever look at a dog, a rabbit or a chicken in the same way again.

‘Lispector should be on the shelf with Kafka and Joyce.’

– Los Angeles Times

You know who I am? I’m a dog named Ulisses and my owner is Clarice. I sit around barking at Clarice and she— who understands what my barks mean—writes down what I tell her. For example, I took a trip to a yard nearby and told Clarice a nicely barked story: soon you’ll know all about it: it’s the result of observations of mine about that house.

First of all I want to introduce myself better. People say I’m very handsome and clever. It seems I really am handsome.

I’ve got brown guarana-colored fur. But more than anything else it’s my eyes that everyone admires: they’re golden. My owner didn’t want to clip my tail because she thought that goes against nature.

People say: “Ulisses looks at you just like a person.” I really like to lie on my back and get my tummy scratched.

But I’m only clever when it comes to barking out words.

I’m a little naughty, I don’t always obey, I like to do whatever I want, I pee in Clarice’s living room.

Besides that, I’m an almost-normal dog. Ah, I forgot to say I’m a magic dog: I figure everything out by smelling.

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A stunningly beautiful Japanese tale about love

10 years and up

click here to preview this title

illustrated novel

Edward van de Vendel based Het Bamboemeisje (The Bamboo Girl) on the story of the bamboo cutter, a Japanese story from the ninth century. The illustrator Mattias de Leeuw took inspiration for the book from old Japanese prints and calligraphy.

‘Do you have a snout? I bet you do, because, besides being people, we’re also animals.’ – Clarice Lispector

But I bet you don’t know who I am. Get ready for a surprise you’ll never suspect.

Edward van de Vendel & Mattias de Leeuw The Bamboo Girl

When an old bamboo cutter finds a little girl among the bamboo, he and his wife can’t believe their good luck. They take care of her as if she were their own daughter. But when Jie is old enough to marry, she doesn’t want to leave her parents. She comes up with a cunning plan: whoever wants to marry her will have to complete a task first.

One suitor after another asks for her hand in marriage, but every task proves equally impossible to perform. Until a special boy comes along – and Jie falls in love with him. How can she choose between him and her parents? And what will she do if he, too, fails to complete his impossible task?

In ‘Almost True’, the writer’s dog tells a story about the neighbour’s chickens and the rascally fig tree. In ‘The Woman Who Killed the Fish’, Lispector affectionately lists all the animals she ever had, including Lisete the monkey. The title story is about a rabbit who keeps mysteriously escaping.

ONCE UPON A TIME … Once upon a time: me!

Spring 2021

• translated by prominent Dutch author Arthur Japin and Benjamin Moser, the Pulitzer Prize winner and biographer of Clarice Lispector • with illustrations by the award-winning Gerda Dendooven

‘This team of two, De Leeuw and Van de Vendel, really works and always leads to beautiful and surprising picture books. [...] a feast for the eyes and the heart.’ – pluizuit.be

In een klein huis, aan het derde weggetje van rechts, werd de bamboesnijder wakker.

Het was vroeg in de ochtend.

Hij had viereneenhalf uur geslapen, met zijn hoofd strak in zijn kussen.

Hij stond op, rekte zich uit en door dat uitrekken had hij eventjes wat minder rimpels.

• an enchanting story for readers of 10 and up • a beautiful edition with plenty of room for illustrations • a new collaboration between an award winning author and an award-winning illustrator

Rights Sold: English (New Directions), French (Des Femmes), Spanish (to be confirmed), Catalan (to be confirmed) Translation Rights (for the text rights) Carles Masdeu – c.masdeu@agenciabalcells.com, (for the illustration rights) Luciënne van der Leije – l.van.der.leije@ singeluitgeverijen.nl

Published in November 2020 | hardcover | 17 x 24 cm | 120 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

Published in January 2021 | paperback | 15.5 x 24 cm | 256 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

Spring 2021 Guus Kuijer Ollie & Duck by Duck

10 years and up

children’s books

Spring 2021 Bibi Dumon Tak The Oak Tree Was Here

10 years and up

children’s book

Not only does Guus Kuijer write fantastic books about realistic children (and adults), he also writes beautifully about animals.

The exciting life of an oak tree on the motorway

Ollie is a touching account of the friendship between a dog and his owner.

And Ollie’s not just any old dog! He goes his own peaceful way and won’t let anyone badger him into doing silly tricks. And he’s not in the slightest bit ashamed that he can’t do everything that people expect from a dog. But the most special thing about Ollie is: he actually talks.

On the central reservation of the A58 near Ulvenhout, there’s an oak tree. It’s been standing there for 180 years and it’s probably the best-known tree in the Netherlands. It’s affectionately known as the ‘pet oak’, and it was voted Tree of the Year in 2018. This oak tree grew on a 19th-century estate surrounded by a large park. Prince Bernhard lived there for some time, as did Queen Wilhelmina.

But everything changed when the A58 was constructed. All the oak trees were felled, except for that one tree, which was allowed to stay. Now cars race past it in their thousands every day – and there’s more and more traffic all the time. So the oak has to give way to more tarmac. In this book, the tree tells his best friend, the jay who visits him every day, exactly what that means for him.

‘A glorious book, a monument to a friend who has passed away.’ – Trouw ‘The most interesting book I’ve read in my life.’ – Poet Ester Naomi Perquin Published in August 2020 | paperback | 13.5 x 21.5 | 96 pages Rights sold: Italian (Camelozampa) Rights under option: Hungarian German translation available • Two classic books about animals • By the winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2012 • Guus Kuijer was awarded the Constantijn Huygens Prize this year for his entire oeuvre • With beautiful illustrations by Thé Tjong Khing

In Duck by Duck, Kuijer portrays the ducks who live in the water behind his house. Jaap and Gerdien play the starring roles. Jaap’s in love with Gerdien, but she thinks he’s just a boring old domestic duck, while she dreams of distant travels and wild, adventurous drakes. For ducks, it’s all about love!

‘After reading Duck by Duck, I regularly feel the urge to pop out to the water to inquire about the status of the ducks’ flirtations and their eggs.’

– NRC Handelsblad

Weet je wat ik vanochtend iemand hoorde zeggen?

Het was niet voor mij bedoeld hoor, dat zou wat zijn.

Er praat nooit iemand tegen mij. Behalve één dan, een vogel, die wel eens op een van mijn takken komt zitten. Maar verder sta ik hier moederziel alleen in de middenberm van een drukke snelweg.

Ik hoorde dus iemand zeggen dat het weer hollen of stilstaan was vandaag. Het was een man. Hij zat alleen in zijn auto en hij hield een apparaatje tegen zijn oor.

De zon scheen en het raampje stond open. Zo vang ik op mooie dagen hele gesprekken op.

Het staat hier vaak stil op de weg omdat er veel verkeer is. Zo veel, dat niemand meer voor- of achteruit kan. Je wilt niet weten hoe lang die rijen met auto’s soms zijn. Af en toe rijden ze een stukje, dan stoppen ze weer. Dat noemen de mensen hollen of stilstaan. Wat hollen is weet ik niet, maar van stilstaan weet ik alles. Daarin ben ik kampioen.

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Danish and French translations available Published in Februari 2021 | paperback | 13.5 x 21.5 | 112 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

• a children’s book for the Month of Philosophy, with the theme of ‘Nature Was Here’ • a special tree is given a voice • by Bibi Dumon Tak, the winner of the Theo Thijssen Prize, who has been described as ‘the David Attenborough of children’s literature’ • with illustrations by the award-winning Marije Tolman

De eik en de gaai

Published in March 2021 | paperback | 12.5 x 20 cm | 128 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

Spring 2021 Bart Moeyaert Bare Hands & The Milky Way

10 years and up

children’s book

Spring 2021 Benny Lindelauf & Ludwig Volbeda Whole Stories for a Half Soldier

13 years and up

illustrated novel

Two highlights in the rich oeuvre of ALMA winner Bart Moeyaert

6 brothers, 6 stories, one masterpiece

On New Year’s Eve, Ward and Bernie are roaming the fields around the farm where Ward lives. Elmer the dog is walking with them.

The three of them find themselves on the property of Betjeman, a strange man with a plastic hand, where they stay just a little too long. Even before the fireworks at midnight, everything is ablaze.

Six brothers are called up to serve in the army. On their way to the front, they have to report to a border post. The brothers don’t have suitable gifts or money for crossing the border – but they do know plenty of stories. Stories about a haunted lake, about a puppeteer who will stop at nothing in his quest for success, and about a young man who’s so handsome that, out of pure jealousy, the other men from his village want to do away with him. The brothers tell story after story as if a life depends on it. As, in fact, it does.

‘Breathtaking.’ – NRC Handelsblad ‘Bare Hands is a gem.’ – De Morgen Published in April 2021 | paperback | 13.5 x 20 cm | 112 pages

• two highlights by Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award winner Bart Moeyaert • winner of awards including the Boekenleeuw, the Zilveren Griffel and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis • with a new afterword by the author (with photos) Righs sold; various countries, please contact us for more information Oskar, his brother Bossie and their friend Geesje are sitting in their clubhouse. They have a view of Melkweg, the Milky Way, a side street where nothing ever happens. They’re not exactly bored, but the summer so far hasn’t been fantastic either.

Until Bossie suggests making a bet. But his idea doesn’t turn out as expected. It results in a flaming row, followed by a deafening silence. The two brothers know that they should finally discuss what they’ve been keeping quiet about for weeks now: how’s Mum doing?

‘The Milky Way is like a good film that you really have to see.’

– NRC Handelsblad ‘Everyone should read The Milky Way. Dads, mums and their children. And preferably together.’ – De Morgen Published in October 2020 | paperback | 13.5 x 20 cm | 160 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers

The first collaboration between Lindelauf and Volbeda resulted in Hoe Tortot zijn vissenhart verloor, which won the Gouden Lijst for the best children’s book and was showered with five-star reviews.

‘Incomparably good.’ – NRC Next ‘A magnificent story, and illustrated almost even more magnificently by Ludwig Volbeda.’ – Noordhollands Dagblad ‘Lindelauf’s words cut through the soul like a chef’s knife.’

– Leeuwarder Courant

De hutten van ons dorp leken schever dan ooit tegen elkaar te staan onder de zwaarbewolkte lucht. Hier en daar wolkten de eerste rookpluimen.

Toen ik eindelijk op het dorpsplein aankwam had het dorp zich al verzameld. Onze montero menor riep de namen van alle jagers om.

Xaviers neus was inmiddels vuurrood. Hij huppelde opgewonden van zijn ene op zijn andere been, totdat Bittor hem vroeg of hij moest schijten. ‘Vierenzestig wolven,’ riep de oude jager Hij wees naar de hoorn die nu aan Xaviers riem bungelde. ‘Vierenzestig wolven gevangen in negenenveertig jaar. Doe me dat maar eens na, lammetje.’

• a new must-have book by the creators of Hoe Tortot zijn vissenhart verloor (published in English as Tortot, the Cold Fish Who Lost His World and Found His Heart) • sparkling stories by Benny Lindelauf • in the same tradition as One Hundred and One Nights and The Canterbury Tales • with spectacular illustrations by Ludwig Volbeda

Righst sold: German (Jacoby & Stuart) Rights under option: English

Meestal ging een jachthoorn over van vader op zoon, maar Bittor en zijn vrouw waren altijd kinderloos gebleven. Op zijn zestigste was hij nog steeds een van de beste jagers van de vallei. Misschien was hij niet meer zo snel, maar hij had een goeie neus voor waar de wolf zich verscholen hield. Er was nooit reden geweest om de hoorn over te dragen.

Tot afgelopen winter, toen hij plotseling jicht had gekregen, zo erg dat hij op slechte dagen nauwelijks zijn bed uit kon komen.

Weken van geruchten volgden. Er werd gezegd dat Bittor de hoorn aan de oudste van Iturbide zou geven, of nee, hij gaf hem aan de enige zoon van een jeugdvriend in Raboll. Er werd zelfs gefluisterd dat hij zijn hoorn helemaal niet zou doorgeven, maar mee wilde nemen in zijn graf. Het halve dorp was geschokt toen Bittor liet weten dat Xavier hem kreeg. Niet omdat het Xavier was. Mijn broertje was minstens zo behendig als de oudste van Iturbide en twee keer zo snel als de zoon van Bittors jeugdvriend.

‘Je hebt geen hart,’ had zijn vrouw gescholden, zo hard dat het halve dorp het woord voor woord had kunnen volgen. ‘En behalve dat: het is niet volgens de wet van het Wolvenravijn.’

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Published in October 2020 | hardcover | 15.5 x 18.7 cm | 288 pages

QUERIDO CHILDREN’S BOOKS Luciënne van der Leije, rights manager, l.van.der.leije@singeluitgeverijen.nl Weteringschans 259, 1017 xj Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.querido.nl singelpublishers