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Back in April for my birthday my friend Cath in the Netherlands sent me a wonderful book called Letters to Anyone and Everyone by Toon Tellegen. She told me that I will want to rush through these little stories because they are so delightful but that I was to resist, to read only one of two at a time so that I can thoroughly enjoy them. I am glad she warned me because I wanted to gobble them down after the very first story when The Squirrel wrote a letter to The Ant on a winter’s day that went like this:
Dear Ant,
Ant Ant Ant
Ant Ant Ant
Ant Ant Ant.
Dear Ant
Ant Ant Ant
Ant.
Dear Ant.
Dear Ant.
Ant.
The Squirrel
Squirrel dresses the letter up in a hat and coat because it is chilly out, tells the letter where to go, and the letter makes its way to Ant’s house. What happens at Ant’s house? I’m not telling. But I will say it is most enchanting. The whole book is enchanting from the elephant who likes to climb trees to the bear who writes letters asking everyone to make him a cake for their birthdays. And the book is illustrated throughout with the charming art of Jessica Ahlberg.
I had never heard of Toon Tellegen before. He is a much loved writer for children and adults in The Netherlands. He has been translated into 19 languages. Born in 1941, he didn’t write his first children’s book until 1984. He has a long list of awards to his name. Even though he also writes poetry and prose for adults, it appears that only his children’s books have been translated into English. I take that back, a poetry collection, Raptors (Raafvogels) was translated in 2011 though the book was published in Dutch in 2006. Something to get my hands on?
Even if I don’t find a copy of the poetry book, I will definitely be on the lookout for his children’s books. And from now on, whenever I need to give a gift to a child (or an adult who is a child at heart) Tellegen will be at the top of my list of book choices.
Right, so, it seems that as soon as my self-imposed ban on reading any books other than those from my shelve is ended, I must go in search of Toon Tellegen. Absolutely right up my alley, wouldn’t you say?
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Emily, heh, sorry about that! Well, no not really š Yes, I think you would really love this book. It is sweet and quirky and if you don’t find yourself grinning from ear to ear while reading it, then there is something seriously wrong with you!
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This looks delightful indeed, i will check if our children library has any!
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Smithereens, oh yes! I hope you can find it. I bet you and your kids will love it.
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Can’t help but smile reading squirrel’s letter! Thanks for a new author and unique genre suggestion.
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jenclair, I know, right? The whole book made me smile while reading it because I just couldn’t help it.
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In Dutch ant is ‘mier’, The letter The Squirrel wrote would therefore go like : Mier, Mier, Mier etc. It has become a successful joke between us, every once in a while and without any particular reason one of us bursts out in: Mier, Mier, Mier …
silly folk those Dutch.
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Cath, oh that is wonderful! I love the silly Dutch š
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That sounds so wonderful! I am going to order myself a copy of this since you KNOW I adore epistolary stories.
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Melwyk, oh yes, you will definitely love this!
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Adding my voice to the chorus of “Wow, I must read this”!
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biblioglobal, oh do. You are almost guaranteed to love it.
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Sounds utterly charming–all the more so since it has to do with letter writing! Unfortunately neither of my libraries has any of his work, but I will keep an eye out for it–hadn’t thought of reading some children’s lit for my Dutch travels!
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Danielle, oh it is charming I think you would love it. Oh yes, and it would fit nicely into your Dutch reading though the stories don’t take place in any definable Dutch location.
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It is criminal how few children’s books are translated. We miss so much that is good in the world of children’s literature. This has gone straight onto the must have at all costs list. Apart from anything else The Bears are desperate to know whether or not the bear in the book gets his birthday cakes. If so, they’re reckoning on picking up some tips from him.
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Alex, it really is too bad as you say. These stories are on par with Pooh in my opinion. I think the Bears will love them, though they might get ideas about asking for cake š
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Still catching up. I was fascinated by the name Ahlberg. I thought I know children’s book writers/illustrators with that name, but I thought one was Alan and I didn’t recognise Jessica as being the other. So, I went hunting and discovered that Allan (2 LL Allan!) and Janet were her parents. They did one of my favourite books when my children were young, Each peach pear plum. On that heritage alone I’d be intrigued to check out this book. Sounds delightful.
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