The annual Dutch Children’s Book Week (Kinderboekenweek) starts next week! From October 3rd until October 14th, children’s books will enjoy a special national spotlight, with many activities taking place across the country. This year’s theme is Hello World!
One of the events not (yet) mentioned on the Kinderboekenweek Activities page is the lecture and book signing that US children’s book author Jeff Kinney will give in Amsterdam on October 7th. Kinney is the author of the immensely popular The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, so be sure to check out the John Adams Institute website for more information on how to attend!
Unfortunately ABC is not eligible to give away the free present (kinderboekenweekgeschenk) because we don’t sell Dutch-language books. We do, however, have quite a selection of Dutch children’s books translated into English. Below you’ll find all that are currently in print and available in our stores, with their Dutch titles in parentheses.
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Max Velthuijs - Frog in Love (Kikker is verliefd), Frog in Winter (Kikker in de kou), Frog is Frog (Kikker is kikker), Frog Finds a Friend (Kikker vindt een vriendje), Frog and a Very Special Day (Kikker en een heel bijzondere dag), Frog and the Stranger (Kikker en de vreemdeling)
There is quite a selection of Frog books still in translation, as you can see here. We get the feeling they’re going out of print, though, so better come get them while we still have stock!
Dick Bruna - Miffy (Nijntje)
There are a *lot* of Miffy books in translation out there. They go in and out of print, but generally there are a few titles available.
Annie M. G. Schmidt – Jip and Janneke (Jip en Janneke), Jip and Janneke: Two Kids from Holland, Tow-Truck Pluck (Pluk van de Petteflet), and A Pond Full of Ink
A Pond Full of Ink has no Dutch edition; it is a collection of some of Annie M. G. Schmidt’s most popular poems.
Bibi Dumon Tak - Soldier Bear (Soldaat Wojtek)
Update 3/10: Bibi Dumon Tak just won the 2012 Gouden Griffel (“Golden Stylus”), the prize for Best Children’s Book of the Year, for her book Winterdieren (Winter Animals). Hopefully an English translation will follow soon!
Toon Tellegen – The Squirrel’s Birthday and Other Parties, Far Away Across the Sea, and Letters to Anyone and Everyone (Brieven aan niemand anders)
Unfortunately no original Dutch titles are listed for The Squirrel’s Birthday and Other Parties and Far Away Across the Sea. Our educated guesses for both are that they include De verjaardag van de eekhoorn and “Ik ga op reis” zei de eekhoorn.
Paul van Loon - Alfie the Werewolf (Dolfje Weerwolfje)
Six of the immensely popular Dolfje Weerwolfje series of books have been translated. They are, in order, Birthday Surprise (Dolfje Weerwolfje), Full Moon (Volle Maan), Silvertooth (Zilvertand), Wolf Wood (Weerwolvenbos), The Evil Triplets (Boze drieling), and Werewolf Secrets (Weerwolfgeheimen).
Jan Terlouw – Winter in Wartime (Oorlogswinter)
Thea Beckman - Crusade in Jeans (Kruistocht in spijkerbroek)
N.B. The Cow Who Fell Into the Canal by Phyllis Krasilovsky might or might not be originally Dutch. We *think* the author is American, although the illustrator (Peter Spier) is Dutch! Also, Hans Brinker (or, The Silver Skates) is definitely an American book, even if it takes place in the Netherlands. And finally, the Curious Clara books are written by Maike Mehlert and Ken Carroll, who are expats living in the Netherlands.
Tags: children's book week, dutch children's books translated into english, jeff kinney, kinderboeken vertaald naar het engels, kinderboekenweek
I wish books in all languages are translated into English.
I love reading books from different countries and different cultures.
Children should read these books.
Bruises by Anke de Vries is currently out of print, sadly. We can order copies through our supplier of second-hand books, though.
I limited myself in this post only to books that are readily available, which is why you won’t find it here (nor, for example, Minnie by Annie M. G. Schmidt). Thank you for the tip, though, we will keep a look-out for any future reprints!
I’m surprised that you don’t have the book by Anke de Vries, Bruises (Blauwe Plekken) in stock.It is a very popular book for young adults in Holland and the English translation won awards in the US
English books in simple language are very welcome in our Dutch children bookcrossing project. That project is the Dutch children version of the international bookcrossing project.
In group 8 of the grammerschool children get English lessons in school. They use English books for that purpose. So English bookcrossing books are very welcome.
You can download a ‘zwerfsticker’ from the site http://www.kinderzwerfboek.nl and when you register the book you get a unique code / ‘zwerfcode’ that you write on the inside of the book. After that you pass the book on.
In 2 years time some 19.000 books already.
Please join !