Children's Books on Tour - Spring 2022

“Oh, what a book! It seems quite innocuous, but look out: since it’s been here, strange things have happened at...

“Oh, what a book! It seems quite innocuous, but look out: since it’s been here, strange things have happened at school. Somehow it haunts you. At least that’s what we teachers think. So don’t set it free …”

Don’t listen to him! I’m supercool, secretly help children with their lessons, get up to all sorts of nonsense, and there’s virtually nothing I can’t do. For example, I can shoot dotted i’s into teacher’s noses, play football during break, and do more tricks than monkeys in a zoo.

Learning to read is easy peasy.

This book is interactive, hyperactive, and very gifted! As the main character and the hero, it tells its own very funny stories, and makes you hungry – to learn to read.

Katja Frixe has always strolled through life paying careful attention never to miss the chance of a story. She worked for some time as an editor of children’s books before eventually making a career for herself as an author. When she first met “the Book” near Braunschweig in 2019, she decided to write its stories down. Since then, the two have been inseparable.

The Book: In 2019 it began to haunt the head of the author. It pestered her so much that in the end she wrote its stories down. After that,it travelled all over Germany. First, it was put through its paces in Würzburg, then it moved to Rostock to get itself professionally illustrated, and after that the finishing touches were applied in Speyer. It ended up in Zwickau, getting itself printed, and since then it has been waiting with much excitement to have lots of fun with lots of children.

Tine Schulz: even as a child she loved painting faces all over the house, despite the frowning faces of her parents. It was obvious that this would have to be her future profession. And so she studied communications design, and now works as a freelance illustrator. When “the Book” first went on holiday to Rostock, on the Baltic coast, the two took an instant liking to each other and since then they have spent a lot of time together.

In the jungle kingdom of Elámon, shapeshifters are worshipped like deities. One of them is the young jaguar shapeshifter Kitana,...

In the jungle kingdom of Elámon, shapeshifters are worshipped like deities. One of them is the young jaguar shapeshifter Kitana, who lives a carefree life with her family in the temple. Until the day when the high priest hatches a plot that destroys Kitana’s idyllic world and forces her to seek help from the darkest depths of the jungle. Driven further and further into a corner, Kitana asks for help from a pack of panther shapeshifters who live in a remote area of the jungle and are very suspicious of jaguars as well as humans. When she meets the wild and unpredictable panther boy Ecco, everything changes for Kitana. Katja Brandis, born in 1970, studied American Studies, English Studies and German Studies. She went on to work as a journalist. She has been writing since her childhood and has published numerous novels for young readers. She lives near Munich with her husband, their son and three cats. As a child, Claudia Carls kept announcing that when she grew up, she wanted to be either a writer or an artist, alternating between these two professions until she could solve this conflict by deciding to study book illustration. After her graduation she realized this plan at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, specializing in illustrating and communication design. A certified designer, she lives and works in Hamburg, illustrating picture books, children’s and teen books, non-fiction books and posters.

"A wonderful protagonist, an enchanting world." Staubinger Tagblatt

"An unbelievably exciting fantasy story that shines through both plot strands." Münchner Merkur

"An absorbing fantasy novel. A real page-turner." Eselsohr

"Katja Brandis’s novel is packed full of fantastic ideas as well as realistically portrayed characters and is gripping from the first page to the last. It is a pleasing side effect that the book also argues against tyranny and for democracy." BÜCHERmagazin

"Successful, original fantasy novel for young people, that is impossible to put down." BÜCHERmagazin

"Magnificent." BÜCHERmagazin

“A beastly thrilling read – not just for fans of Harry Potter and the Warrior Cats!“ Stiftung Lesen

“Superb read.“ kilifü

"I have devoured these books!“ Eva, 14, MDR Sachsen – Das Sachsenradio  

Lani knows what it’s like not to belong anywhere, because with her acute sense of justice, she keeps offending everybody....

Lani knows what it’s like not to belong anywhere, because with her acute sense of justice, she keeps offending everybody. Whispering Water is her last hope. On this colourful island, outsiders find a place where at last they are allowed to be who they really are. But all of this comes at a price: no secret must ever leave the island – otherwise, this idyll will end. When Lani arrives, mysterious things begin to happen: the omnipresent water that protects the island suddenly flows backwards. The school’s secret is in danger! Might this somehow be connected to Lani – and will she be allowed to stay on Whispering Water?

Irmgard Kramer was born in 1969, began her career as a teacher, and then became a freelance writer. Through her children’s books, she has become known to a broad reading public, and has enchanted young and old readers alike with books full of adventure and humour. Irmgard Kramer lives in Vienna and in the Bregenzerwald, and her head is always full of bright and colourful stories.

Florentine Prechtel alias Betina Gotzen-Beek, was born in 1965 in Mönchengladbach, and right from early childhood knew that her one and only desire was to paint. After studying graphic design and painting, she went on to illustrate children’s books. She loves to experiment with new techniques. Florentine lives with her family in Freiburg.

Surprise: Mummy is pregnant and the whole family shares in the excitement. It’s good that she can explain everything so...

Surprise: Mummy is pregnant and the whole family shares in the excitement. It’s good that she can explain everything so clearly: how does a new human being emerge from an egg cell and a sperm cell? How does the baby get into the stomach? And how does it come out into the world? This book handles one of the basic subjects of life in a sensitive and straightforward way. More than just sex education, it’s an adventure crammed with knowledge!

Matthias von Bornstädt, author of "My Body is a Superhero," is a medical doctor who lives in Berlin and has published well-known children’s books. Additionally, he writes audio plays and film scripts. On his YouTube channel, he explains medical knowledge in a child-friendly way.

Timo Grubing, born in Bochum in 1981, returned to the town of his birth after studying design in Münster. He now lives and works there as a freelance illustrator for children’s and YA books, schoolbooks and family games.