Children's Books on Tour - Spring 2022

"I am Mielikki, and I have been waiting for you." And before I even knew what was happening to me,...

"I am Mielikki, and I have been waiting for you." And before I even knew what was happening to me, she took me by the hand and led me into the forest. Mielikki draws her attention to the breathing of the trees, the rhythm of the water. The two of them meet friendly bears, stroke the soft fur of deer, learn to be as alert as owls, sneak up silently like wolves - until Anna wakes up in her bed. Was it really all just a dream?

Judith Drews wants everyone to be aware of the messages of the forest. Her retro illustrations in earthy colours and the short texts invite us to reflect on the wonders of nature around us.

Trainee magician Minyo and his friends are searching for the Castle of Wishes. But what does this mysterious place look...

Trainee magician Minyo and his friends are searching for the Castle of Wishes. But what does this mysterious place look like? Polar bear Propella thinks it’s an icy citadel in the sky, Mimosa the butterfly says it must be a castle made of slender vines, and the fish Gurmetti is convinced it’s a fabulous ship. But in the end they all agree that the true Castle of Wishes is where your heart is …

• A splendid large-format hidden object book packed with fairy-tale elements, and a fascinating look at the most romantic, unlikely and fantastical buildings.

Billy Bock lives and works in Berlin. She is a graduate in communications design and illustrates and designs children's books. She particularly has fun developing her own projects for the senses, from touch-and-feel books to 3D pop-up books. Every detail is important to her and she sometimes even letters titles by hand. She places particular value on humour and playful aspects.

It’s an ordinary day in the Truthful Wood, and the animals are doing what they always do: gathering food, sweeping...

It’s an ordinary day in the Truthful Wood, and the animals are doing what they always do: gathering food, sweeping their dens and fixing their garden fences. None of them notices that something unusual is going on: a strange creature has appeared at the edge of the wood, dragging a heavily loaded cart. Only Zara the squirrel sees the street rat – dressed in smart trousers and a scarf that smells of the big city – set up a stage, with a sign reading: "A new adventure every night!" Little does she know that Minna Melon is about to turn the animals’ lives upside down with her fantastical stories.

• Inspires readers to broaden their horizons and challenge prejudice

• Key message: you can achieve anything – all you have to do is join in and use your imagination

• An ingenious and lyrical story by bestselling author Sven Gerhardt

• With brightly coloured illustrations by up-and-coming artist Mareike Ammersken

Sven Gerhardt, born in 1977, would very much have liked to have been a scoundrel himself, but then decided to make a living by honest means. After several years in advertising, he now works as a graphic designer and writer. He finds there is nothing better than a well designed children's book with amusing illustrations and a super story. His wife and three children – who incidentally have no similarity with the Haystack Scoundrels – see it the same way.

After completing her training in social pedagogy and working as a nursery school teacher, Mareike Ammersken, born in 1992, decided to study illustration at HAW Hamburg. Book illustration has always been particularly close to her heart. Her atmospheric illustrations are inspired by long walks with her dog and the many encounters with a wide variety of people from her everyday professional life.

What would lilies of the valley be without ants? What would the forest be without jaybirds? And what would bees...

What would lilies of the valley be without ants? What would the forest be without jaybirds? And what would bees be without pollen?

This book invites kids on a journey through our native habitats, season by season. It shows how flora and fauna live in harmony and why one species cannot live without the other. Animals and plants live in a cosmos that is in balance. This book shows kids why this balance is so very important and why we must spare no effort to protect it. A non-fiction book for kids about a respectful coexistence with nature—and at the same time, a declaration of love to the diversity of our planet.

• An illustrated guide to the symbiotic relationship between humans, animals and plants, with countless loving details in the elaborate illustrations by internationally renowned illustrator Steffen Walentowitz.

• Four information bubbles on each double page illustrate the cycle of mutual support between plants and animals.

Steffen Walentowitz is a passionate painter and illustrator. He has illustrated natural history books since 1986. His paintings have been exhibited in Canada, England, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands and the USA.

Ilka Sokolowski initially worked as a literary editor of children’s non-fiction books after completing her studies, then as a contributing editor for the Spielen & Lernen magazine. She has published countless books on nature and environmental topics.

Nova and Henry have a special talent: they can talk to cats. But not only that! They are Felidix, cat...

Nova and Henry have a special talent: they can talk to cats. But not only that! They are Felidix, cat guardians, and they must stop a fur-raising crime: Penelope the Siamese has cat-napped the rightful cat queen of England and is holding her captive. Now she just has to get rid of all the midnight cats – the queen’s bodyguards – and the cat crown will be hers! For Nova and Henry, an adventure begins that takes them all over London.

• Vol. 2: Autumn 2022

• Vol. 3: Spring 2023

Many have lost their lives after entering the Nightshade Forest. But Finn has no other option....

Many have lost their lives after entering the Nightshade Forest. But Finn has no other option.

Since his sister Hannah disappeared in the Nightshade Forest, Finn has followed the rule never to enter the forest after sunset. Any path you have cleared will be overgrown again within hours. More importantly, the Moonwalker, a figure shrouded in legend, lurks there at night. However, when Finn discovers a trail that could lead him to Hannah, he throws all caution to the wind – and follows it. In the heart of the Nightshade Forest, Finn makes a discovery that is much bigger than the secret surrounding his sister’s disappearance …

Kathrin Tordasi was born near Stuttgart and grew up with books by Astrid Lindgren, Michael Ende and Kenneth Grahame. Nowadays she lives in Berlin and likes writing in cafés and spending free time either by the sea or on her green urban jungle balcony.

An honest, brave and witty picture book about saying goodbye, death, and what happens afterwards. Grandma is sick, even if...

An honest, brave and witty picture book about saying goodbye, death, and what happens afterwards. Grandma is sick, even if she says she’s fit as a fiddle. But Grandma doesn’t want to talk about death: Leonor is still too small. And yet she understands far more than they all think.

Experience physics — (almost) using nothing but paper....

Experience physics — (almost) using nothing but paper.

Physics is easier than you think! You won't need much more than the paper templates from this book to perform countless different physics experiments. A paper rocket explains the principle of aerodynamics, a dragon whirligig shows how warm air flows upwards, and a walking robot dog makes gravity visible. Information boxes containing further fascinating facts invite you to explore the phenomena behind the experiments. Small experiments – big Aha! moments

• A successful combination of Marc Schumann's expertise in physics and Nicola Berger's playful and easy-to-follow instructions, all complemented by Peter Zickermann's striking illustrations.

• Winner of the German Youth Non-fiction Book Prize 2021 in the STEM category.

Marc Schumann studied physics. When he was offered the opportunity to write this book, he didn't have to think twice because, as a child, nothing could have been more exciting for him than a book that shows and explains the laws of physics through simple experiments and exciting craft projects.

Nicola Berger is a writer and editor. It brought her great joy to write a book that teaches children how to enjoy physics and how to experience the laws of physics every day.

Peter Zickermann lives and works in Bielefeld. After his studies in visual communication and working in various agencies, he has been self-employed since 1998, specializing in illustration, typography and book design.

Cooperative learning promotes cognitive and social learning in classrooms and leads to better learning outcomes. This PraxisProfi demonstrates various methods...

Cooperative learning promotes cognitive and social learning in classrooms and leads to better learning outcomes. This PraxisProfi demonstrates various methods that help teachers to effectively organise collaborative work phases. The methods presented are based on the basic elements and levels of cooperative learning developed by Norm Green.

Suri’s mother reckons there are worse things in life than living in a castle. But Suri and her brothers Bjarne...

Suri’s mother reckons there are worse things in life than living in a castle. But Suri and her brothers Bjarne and Erik disagree. The castle is located in the dull flatlands, and managed by their mother’s boyfriend, who’ll be living there with them. The fact that he has a daughter doesn’t make things any easier, because Amy’s pretty special. She can barely contain her excitement at the prospect of being part of a blended family – but it looks like her wish might not come true …

• Bestselling author Monika Feth’s story about being different – told from the perspective of Amy, a girl with Down’s syndrome, and her stepsister Suri.

• A life-affirming, perceptive and touching novel about living with Down’s syndrome, blended families and friendship.

• Bestselling author Feth enchants us with her subtle observations, her vivid and evocative style, and her realistic characters.

Ruby Fairygale's first adventure – lovingly and excitingly told, with many atmospheric illustrations....

Ruby Fairygale's first adventure – lovingly and excitingly told, with many atmospheric illustrations.

Eight-year-old Ruby Fairygale lives on a small island near the west coast of Ireland. After school, she helps her grandmother, who works as a veterinarian. But the two of them have a big secret: they know that the island is home not only to animals but also to magical mythical creatures that need their help. Summer vacation at last! Now Ruby can spend the whole day helping her grandma. Not only do they take care of animals, but also fairies, goblins and other mythical creatures! It's not easy to keep this secret – especially from Briana, the most unfriendly girl in Ruby's class. When her father's fishing nets are destroyed, Briana suspects a pack of seals and is determined to drive them away. But Ruby suspects that something else is behind this. Something completely magical ... And sure enough: a little mermaid has become entangled in the fishing net! Can Ruby still stop Bri without revealing her secret?

Kira Gembri was born in Vienna in 1990, the second oldest of five children. She remained faithful to this beautiful city even after completing her studies in Comparative Literature.

She shares her love of books with her little daughter, who is a firm believer in fairy tales. By the way, there are no mythical creatures living with her – but there is a cat who was definitely a goblin in his former life.

"Kira Gembri tells an entirely innocent story about two teenagers who are both trapped in their loneliness, which is teeming with mythical creatures."

Mathias Ziegler, Wiener Zeitung

"A beautiful story for children about how difficult it is to accept others without prejudice."

Judith Hemmen, Westfälische Rundschau

"A very imaginative, magical story of friendship that keeps you enthralled until the end."

Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag

Selected for "Shoot the Book" in Cannes (2021)

Maths grades don't count in the School of Talents, and (fortunately!) there's nothing resembling normal classes. Here, all students possess...

Maths grades don't count in the School of Talents, and (fortunately!) there's nothing resembling normal classes. Here, all students possess special capabilities: some are shape-shifters, some understand what animals say, and others can command water. Chaos is inevitable ...

Every volume contains riddles to solve and dark secrets to discover.

Silke Schellhammer grew up in a large family in which many stories were told. They weren't necessarily true, but they were always good. Her amazement at how real and fictional events can coexist, and at the idea that reality is ultimately a question of perception, was what prompted her to start writing.

Simona M. Ceccarelli has a talent for opening doors into other worlds on a sheet of paper. Before she started studying art and illustrating children's media, she was a scientist. She lives in a world every bit as colourful as the one in the School of Talents: she speaks four languages and there are three nationalities in her family.

Making sport a child's game! - Promotes mobility and helps against lack of exercise...

Making sport a child's game! - Promotes mobility and helps against lack of exercise

Let's bring movement into the children's room! Do we want to stalk like a tiger, waddle like a duck or stride like a crane? Imitating animals is great fun! At the same time, we're also doing something for our minds and bodies. And afterwards we feel really good and relaxed! These 16 movement exercises promise to promote attention and language development in a playful way, while at the same time preventing a lack of movement and increasing our own well-being.

Hanjo Fritzsche works as a personal trainer and health coach in Munich. With his "Stand Up&Move!" concept he brings movement into companies and has been making people fitter and happier with his "boot camp workouts" for over 10 years. Through his teacher training studies (sports/English) and his past time as a youth basketball coach, he has a special connection to children. Hanjo loves broccoli, the Isar river and unicorns.

"A bit of picture book, a bit of non-fiction and a bit of fitness primer: "Jump like a kangaroo!" combines it all."

Abendzeitung München

"Fitness secrets for the children's room – Step-by-step instructions and animating pictures spark the joy of gymnastics and incidentally promote physical and mental development. Fritzsche (...) also has a special connection to children."

Münstersche Zeitung

The cosy café in the centre of Edinburgh, and her sister - Amelia tells herself every day that this is...

The cosy café in the centre of Edinburgh, and her sister - Amelia tells herself every day that this is all she needs to live a happy life. Until one day, who should walk into the café but bestselling author Jasper Haven. Amelia soon realises that, underneath his cool facade, there is more to Jasper. At last, on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands, the sparks flying between them can no longer be denied. And then Jasper's past comes to light ...

Vol. 2: Autumn 2022

Britta Teckentrup's homage to ravens and crows. In this unique book, she tells us all about these special birds in...

Britta Teckentrup's homage to ravens and crows. In this unique book, she tells us all about these special birds in words and pictures.

Raven and Crows was an environmental book tip, it was one of THE BEST 7 Books for Young Readers and on the Spiegel non-fiction bestseller list.

"Britta Teckentrup's picture books and non-fiction books are characterised by their very own, unmistakable visual language [...]. Thus, she succeeds in creating luminous pictures with figures of astonishing expressiveness and atmospheric, poetic images rarely found in non-fiction books. [...] An impressive book about ravens and crows [...], and if we engage with it, we learn a great deal about this bird family and have come to know corvids of all kinds in over 60 beautiful pictures."

Elisabeth Menzel, Süddeutsche Zeitung

Every parent is familiar with this exchange: "You have to go to bed now!" "Yes, wait, in a minute ..."...

Every parent is familiar with this exchange: "You have to go to bed now!" "Yes, wait, in a minute ..." It is already getting dark and the big hedgehog and the little hedgehog are on their way home. Actually ... the big hedgehog has to wait for the little hedgehog all the time, because there is so much to see: the sunset, the rising moon and stars and of course the many other animals preparing for the night. And in the end, the little hedgehog falls asleep happily on the way and – how could it be otherwise – is carried home by the big hedgehog ...

Britta Teckentrup is the author and illustrator of numerous narrative picture books as well as non-fiction picture books and has won many awards.

A heart-warming story about true friendship and the joy of accepting yourself as you are....

A heart-warming story about true friendship and the joy of accepting yourself as you are.

The little hedgehog is sad. The other animals are constantly being petted: the dogs, the cats, the hares and the horses. He's the only one that no one strokes. But one day he meets a clever field mouse who shows him that we're all lovable just as we are. And that sometimes it's a wonderful thing to be wild and free.

Andrej Kurkow, born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1961, has lived in Kiev, Ukraine, since childhood. He studied foreign languages, was a newspaper editor and a cameraman and wrote numerous screenplays. His books have been published in 38 languages.

Tania Goryushina, born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1978, is a Ukrainian artist based in Stockholm. She is a publisher, teacher, and illustrator who develops children's books. In 2009, she won a place at the Academy of Fine Art in Umea, Sweden.

Mars is the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. Even in ancient times, it sparked people's imagination. In the...

Mars is the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. Even in ancient times, it sparked people's imagination. In the meantime, many space probes and rovers have explored Mars and uncovered some of its secrets. In the near future, humans are also expected to travel to the Red Planet.

Clear texts, exciting interviews and stunning pictures show how Mars was formed and how a Martian colony could supply itself with water, food and oxygen. A fascinating topic - comprehensibly and vividly explained!

WAS IST WAS, the famous fact book series for readers aged 8+, presents knowledge in brief, informative texts and with first-class photographs. Excellent infographics explain complex issues and funny extras deepen the knowledge.

Home – from the world of a child to big social issues....

Home – from the world of a child to big social issues.

At Grandma's house you can eat on the sofa, at your best friend's everyone plays in the kitchen and your cousin has two bedrooms, one at each parent’s place. Every child knows that homes can be very different. What defines them are familiar smells and sounds, familiar language or small rituals.

Kristina Scharmacher-Schreiber studied German Studies in Münster and Bergamo. She has been a freelance writer and translator since 2016, has published several non-fiction books for children and loves the diversity of the topics she deals with during the process.

Lena Hesse is a trained print media designer and studied illustration and photography in Münster and Valencia. In 2012, she found a home in Berlin and works there as a freelance illustrator and author for children's book publishers. When she can't think of anything, she goes swimming.

The marmot is scared and, when he asks the other animals, finds out that they are also scared from time...

The marmot is scared and, when he asks the other animals, finds out that they are also scared from time to time. They tell the marmot how they deal with fear and drive it away.

"When I'm Scared" continues the popular hands-on picture book series and features an afterword by a developmental psychologist that is helpful for all parents.

Nanna Neßhöver, born in 1981, is a teacher and knows a lot about kids. Apart from her students in school, she has two sons of her own, who teach her a lot about what affects kids.

Eleanor Sommer prefers to illustrate children’s books. In 2015 she won the Carl Book Award for the most courageous cover.