this my third article in this series dedicated to children’s book week, you can read my earlier posts here and here. this time i want to focuse on the new children’s books that were rewarded at the best designed books election in the Netherlands.

roodkapje was een toffe meid

this book is a further introduction to seven known fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, the title actually reads Little Red Riding Hood was a fly girl. the fairy tales are all rewritten to a rap beat. the jury of the best designed books election was divided, but the book made it because of the ‘apparent pleasure that this book in all its parts breathes’ and because of the cleverly incorporated cd that you can find in the front cover.

book Roodkapje was een toffe meid
artist Marjet Huiberts, Wendy Panders, Benaïssa Linger  
designer Wendy Panders  
printing and binding Leo Paper, Hong Kong (CN)  
publisher Gottmer Uitgevers Groep, Haarlem
isbn 9789025746841 
price 17,95 euro 
pages 48 pages, hardcover, 256 x 238 x 12 mm  
text dutch  
edition 5.000

ik leer je liedjes van verlangen en aan je apenstaartje hangen

this book called ‘i teach you songs of longing and hang your monkey tail’ – it does actually rhyme in dutch, is a collection of myths of La Fontaine. the 47 spreads show just as many animals in alphabetical order. the wordy poems from Bette Westera have perfect relation with the beautiful illustrations from Sylvia Weve. it is written in a way that both children and adults will enjoy.

book Ik leer je liedjes van verlangen en aan je apenstaartje hangen  
author Bette Westera, Sylvia Weve  
designer Bockting Ontwerpers
printing and binding Interpress, Boedapest (H) 
publisher Gottmer Uitgevers Groep, Haarlem
isbn 9789025747411 
price €19,95
pages 100 pages, hardcover, 210 x 330 x 17 mm
text dutch  
edition 5.000
font Prokyon Condensed

vervoersdingen / amsterdamse dingen

vervoersdingen / amsterdamse dingen (transport things / amsterdam things) are two new books in a things-series by publisher Gottmer. according to the jury it’s ‘a toddler-proof cardboard booklet with thirty-three square images and preferably not more than one word underneath’. so what’s special about it right? on occasion there’s a surprise detail. these little books aren’t reading books but look books, ‘they allow children to look at language on the basis of the images … very open and interactive.’

all images belong to Stichting Best Verzorgde Boeken

book Vervoersdingen / Amsterdamse dingen 
authors Matthijs Immink, Nathalie Faber 
designer me studio 
printing and binding Leo Paper, Hong Kong (CN) 
publisher Gottmer Uitgevers Groep, Haarlem 
isbn 9789025747565/9789025747558 
price 8,95 euro 
pages 34 pages, cardboard booklet with round corners, 151 x 152 x 27 mm 
text dutch 
edition 3.000 
font Softmachine