review

This is a quietly wonderful little book by a prize-winning children’s author, beautifully put together, with gorgeous, archetypal illustrations. Readers will be reminded of Saint-Exupéry’s Little Prince, perhaps of Toon Tellegen’s Dutch animal stories, and even a little of the Moomin books.

A little girl – 1m 40 to be precise – is alone in the world and needs some help. She is on her way to the first story when she meets an English-speaking parrot. She is worried that the parrot is going to follow her into the story, but instead the parrot perches on the railing of a bridge, with its head facing away from her. Would the story have been truer, better or nicer without the parrot?, we are invited to ponder. But there is no time, because the first story has already begun.

In the first story, which explicitly echoes The Little Prince, the little girl is alone in the round world, and in need of help. She meets a wolf, who asks her where she is going. Everywhere, says the girl. The wolf coughs: Everywhere is easy to find and easy to miss. They go in search of the strong bull, who may be able to provide some help. The bull can’t help, and suggests that she consult the big woman. The woman says everybody needs help, but she hasn’t any help herself. A storm approaches. They all ponder the danger they possibly face, but the storm moves on and the sun comes back out. The little girl dries her clothes on the bull’s horns. The woman suggests they meet again in a month, on the mountain. The bull says he’ll be back tomorrow anyway. ‘Here ends the first story.’

And so they go on, the four of them (and sometimes the parrot), ruminating and quietly helping one another. There is a subtle sense of the little girl growing up, and of the woman moving from being an archetype to a real human being. The book has a circular repetitive quality, allowing the reader to gain some insight into the world each time they pass by. Meaning sometimes seems to be entirely absent, but is sometimes there in the idea that looking is more important than finding, and always present in the sense that being together is better than being alone. This is a wise book for children and adults of all ages.

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rights information

Translation rights sold to:
France, Taiwan, Hong-Kong, Macao

Translation rights available from:
Verlagshaus Jacoby & Stuart GmbH
Straßburger Str. 11
10405 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)30-47 37 47 920
Email: ina.feist@jacobystuart.de
Contact: Ina Feist 
www.jacobystuart.de 

Jacoby & Stuart was founded in March 2008. Jacoby & Stuart’s list consists of ambitious children’s books, non-fiction for adults, coffeetable books, as well as inventive and exquisite cookbooks. All books are illustrated by brilliant artists, contain texts penned by well-known authors, and are carefully designed and produced. The symbiosis of highly informed texts and excellent design and quality is a trademark of Jacoby & Stuart’s books.

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