Stepha Quitterer, Claudia Weikert

Pepe and the Octopus - Escape from the Waste Mafia

Pepe und der Oktopus auf der Flucht vor der Müllmafia
Let's Escape The Waste Mafia!

An eleven-year-old boy and an octopus are on the run from the waste mafia. Men in magpie-blue suits, brutal profiteers, want to get rid of the octopus, which the sea animals have sent out to convince people to stop dumping their plastic waste into nature and to ban plastic altogether.
A wild, constantly surprising and funny chase halfway around the world, a thrilling road trip, realistic environmental thriller and a story of an extraordinary friendship.

Linguistically witty, fast-paced, original and told with a modern sensibility – the new story by Stepha Quitterer is a must-have for all young fans of James Bond and Indiana Jones!

Werner Holzwarth, Dorota Wünsch

Supercrawler

Die Superkrabbler
Just out of curiosity, Trunky the Weevil inspects an abandoned picnic area. He finds a small card with a picture of an animal with a trunk, just like him! The card says that this animal can weigh 7000 kilograms and grow up to 4 metres high. Amazing! His friend Nosey, the rhinoceros beetle, is very impressed and excited when they find another card, this one showing a rhinoceros. And there is also a picture of an animal with antlers, just like the ones their stag beetle friend Little Hubert has. The three of them can hardly believe what strong animals they will be when they grow up. Their heroic fantasies are interrupted when a call for help brings them back to the forest floor. That’s when they realize that they are great as little crawlers, and they’re the best of friends.

Lena Zeise

How the Cat Came to Us

Wie die Katze zu uns kam
Of Cats and Men.

Egyptian deity or shipboard mouse catcher, heroine of fairy tales and myths or beloved pet: it is impossible to imagine our lives without cats! For many thousands of years, they have had a place in our homes, yards and hearts. We accompany the cat on its foray through world events - from the hearths of our Stone Age ancestors to its celebrity appearance in millions of YouTube clicks .
This book gives a fascinating account of the many ways those velvet paws came to us - and have stayed until today! Innovative comic strips complement the informative text and animate the stories of these whiskered protagonists in an entertaining way.

  • neu
Rotraut Susanne Berner: Geschichten aus Wimmlingen
Rotraut Susanne Berner

Wimmlinger Storybook

Geschichten aus Wimmlingen
This anthology brings together six popular stories from Wimmlingen in a new format: Ina is out and about in all weathers, Niko takes a sightseeing flight through Wimmlingen, Manfred has a blessing in disguise and meets Elke, Susanne has adventures with her many hats, thanks to Struppi there is always something going on at Peter's and Oskar looks after a gosling.
The rhymed texts are easy to read aloud, are soon spoken along with and thus promote language acquisition.
  • neu
Rotraut Susanne Berner: Zu Hause in Wimmlingen
Rotraut Susanne Berner

At Home in Wimmlingen

Zu Hause in Wimmlingen
Experience a Day in the Wimmlinger Home!

This kind of house has lots of stories to tell. Rotraut Susanne Berner invites us in and introduces us to the people and animals who live there. We can not only take a close look inside, like a doll’s house, but walk through the rooms, see things from a new perspective and get reacquainted with old friends. Rhyming text by the artist makes this book fun to read for the whole family. A perfect introduction to Rotraut Susanne Berner’s Wimmel world, and a must for those who already call Wimmlingen home.

Sold to Belgium/The Netherlands and Russia

Kathrin Wolf, Isabel Kreitz

In an Old House in Berlin

In einem alten Haus in Berlin
In 1871 the Schwartz family, keeper of a pharmacy, proudly moves into their new house – a house that will showcase German history and everyday life in Berlin for the next 150 years. We follow the family through five generations and witness with them the days of Empire and World Wars, and the building, then the fall, of the Wall. And throughout, we see the constant activity of its children: Karl and Martha, Ursula and Peter, and Laura and Ben. We look on as the events of the wider world shape their own lives.

Detailed pictures teeming with activity and informative captions make history easier to grasp, and bring Berlin to life!
  • neu
Bärbel Oftring, Jana Walczyk: Ich bau dir ein Haus, kleiner Igel
Bärbel Oftring, Jana Walczyk

I build you a House, little Hedgehog!

Ich bau dir ein Haus, kleiner Igel
A hedgehog roams through Hannah and Paul's garden! How exciting! The children want to know more about the little spiny animal and its way of life: What does it like to eat? Are they allowed to feed it? What does it do in autumn and winter? And when are the baby hedgehogs born? In this richly illustrated picture book, young and old readers can learn all about this endangered native wild animal.

The flaps reveal exciting information about the hedgehog and how you can protect it. With the step-by-step instructions at the end of the book, readers can build a house to shelter a hedgehog all year round.
Claudia H.M. Hangen, Alessa Dostal: Der kleine Wal und das Meer
Claudia H.M. Hangen, Alessa Dostal

The Life of a Porpoise in the North Sea

Der kleine Wal und das Meer
A baby porpoise opens his eyes to see the light of day!
What will he experience in his first years of life? In this atmospheric non-fiction picture book, we watch as the small harbor porpoise takes his first breath. We come along as he explores the mysterious underwater world, encounters sea urchins, shipwrecks, and squid, and hunts herring (yikes - be careful of the Orca!).
As the little whale grows up, he goes on his first long journey north to Norway before returning to his homeland, and then even starts a family of his own in the maritime area off of the island Sylt.

This unusual picture book with its large-scale illustrations introduces us to these special and, sadly, endangered marine animals. We learn a lot about their habitat, mating.
Johannes Herwig

Half Lion

Halber Löwe
Rough in the Sound of the Street, Full of Heart Underneath

The last year of school begins for Sascha. Hanging out in the condemned house and increasingly dangerous tests of courage with his buddies: Is this what the rest of his life looks like? And then something happens. Something that shatters everything that used to be and calls into question everything that can still be. To duck away any further - impossible.
Rough in the sound of the street, full of heart underneath: in his new novel, Johannes Herwig tells of a friendship that seems to be above everything, and of the difficulty of taking responsibility. For those you care about - and for yourself.

Rotraut Susanne Berner

Birthday in Wimmlingen

Geburtstag in Wimmlingen
A Child's Birthday in Wimmlingen

Today Linus turns five years old, and he's thrilled about the birthday party he'll celebrate with his five friends. In the yard, the table is set, the guests all bring cool presents, and everyone's enjoying the celebration until . . . the sun disappears behind thick gray clouds. Luckily, Linus' father Oliver put up a tent last night, so the party can continue. Anyone who looks closely can see that not just the children are celebrating - there are some animal creatures enjoying the party too!

An ideal birthday gift - illustrated and told in witty rhymes by Rotraut Susanne Berner.
Antje Damm

What's Happening There?

Was passiert denn da?
Look and Tell: Of Doggie Bones, Pea Monsters, and Plaster Fish

A dog in a basket, a vacuum cleaner and a cat, and a boy who peeks through a keyhole…
guess what happens next! Then turn the page and get ready for a surprise.
Two pictures tell a short story - sometimes they’re drawn, sometimes they’re photographs, sometimes they’re collages. They invite the reader to look carefully, find the meaning, then tell the story. They’ll make you look, amaze you, make you laugh, and make you guess!
Kirsten Traynor, Carim Nahaboo

Leaving Home

Der große Schwarm
A Field Trip with the Bees!

Henrietta is a scout, a so-called field bee. Though she spent her youth inside the hive working, now she has a big responsibility outside - she has to find a new home for the bee colony! The colony has grown too large for the many worker bees to survive. And so Henrietta leaves home with a huge swarm --thousands of her sisters. But where will the bees find a new home?

Dive into the fascinating world of bees and join them on their journey! Bee expert Kirsten Traynor knows lots of amazing stories about a largely unknown part of these fascinating insects' lives. Accompanied by wonderful illustrations, these stories bring the bee colony to life.
Judith Homoki, Martin Haake

At the Sea!

Am Meer
A Gripping Journey of Discovery at the Coasts of the World

Where is the land where pepper grows? Why is there ebb and flow? Who landed before Columbus in America? And why do we love a holiday at the seashore? Welcome to a trip around the oceans of the Earth, from the Wattenmeer mud flats to Waikiki, from Brighton to the Barrier Reef, from the time the first fish brought life to the land to the coastal metropolises of today.
This sumptuously illustrated book draws us into the world of coasts Richly detailed large format illustrations show critical developments of human life at the seashore, at different eras and in different regions of the Earth Alternating with these are meticulous maps of the oceans with current facts, meaningful events, and important personalities.

Rights sold to Bulgaria, Spain, USA (English world rights), France and Hungary

Henrike Wilson

Felix and His Monster

Felix und sein Monster
Monster Alert!

Felix would be content with life, and with himself, if he just weren't so afraid! He often has this feeling that something scary is lurking ahead. He gets spooked easily and then he worries about what the other kids will think of him. Then one day he gets into a terrible rage about this fear he can't shake. He takes it out in wild scribbling on a piece of paper. What's left is a monster! A super-cool monster!

Henrike Wilson writes with great sensitivity about finding the courage to face one's fears. A book about courage and friendship - and a very special monster!
Daniela Kulot

In the Night

In der Nacht
What’s Awake at Night? Not Just Cats!

What does the cat do at night? She sits on the roof and watches. What does an owl do at night? And the ship in the harbour? There’s so much to discover at night! Many animals are active, but there are workers out too You could just sit by the window, and watch, and almost forget about bedtime!

A picture book to look at again and again until it’s time for bed
Thomas Müller

Hamster, Stork and Swallowtail

Hamster, Storch und Schwalbenschwanz
Discover the Varied Biosphere of Countryside and Fields!

An intact cultivated landscape is like a colourful mosaic: meadows, pastures, fields, tree groves and hedges. Crossed by pathways, waterways and rows of blossoms, it’s a rich environment for plants and animals. And it’s good for humans, too!
This large format, splendidly illustrated book is dedicated to the animals that make their homes here, and displays them in all their diversity. A few animals owe their names to this biosphere! But more than just field mice and meadowlarks can be found; countless birds and mammals are native to this environment. We learn about the most important and most interesting ones, and with a little luck, we’ll recognize them on our next visit to the pasture.
Award-winning illustrator Thomas Müller renders the lively environment of countryside and fields in every detailed brushstroke.
Silke Vry, Claudia Lieb

The Dinosaur at the Rock. The Adventures of the First Bone Hunters.

Der Dinosaurier im Fels
Who discovered Tyrannosaurus rex?

A twelve-year old girl stands alone on the rough cliffs of southern England and taps rhythmically with a hammer against the rock; two renowned scientists compete for a discovery in a »fight to the bones«; one day, a young adventurer peeks into the empty eye sockets of a Tyrannosaurus rex... this book tells the suspenseful stories of the first fossil hunters. At a time when most people still believed that the Earth was just a few thousand years old, and few imagined that giant prehistoric lizards once ruled the planet, these hardy pioneering researchers were literally prying dinosaur bones out of the rock – and proving just the opposite to a skeptical world.
With many illustrations, fossil and research profiles, and appendices.
Cornelia Franz, Petra Baan

Wild Land

Wildesland
Alone in the Wilderness

Matthis has been roaming the summer forests of Norway with his dog Tara for days. He collects berries, catches fish, makes fires or swims in one of the many lakes. If it weren't for the thoughts of the fight with his parents, the words he had shouted after them, the accident... If only he wasn't always so unrestrained! Out of nowhere, a mysterious girl suddenly appears in the forest who knows how to fry earthworms. Jule speaks little, except when she tells stories about trolls. And she always disappears just as suddenly as she appeared... An adventurous summer story about loud and quiet feelings and life in nature.
Sabine Lohf

Winter is Lovely!

Der Winter ist schön!
Winter Time is Time to Create!
Winter is the best time of year to create and play! Whether an ice princess, a cork reindeer, or a pine cone angel: starting with simple materials like these you can make great gifts for Christmas or St. Nicholas. Nature provides lots of material for making things - did you know that you can make many things with snow besides a snowman? And if it's really cold, so much the better. Take frozen coloured water, and one, two, three: you've got giant ice marbles. Give it a try!

This inviting book with its child-friendly and colorful ideas for indoor and outdoor projects will lead to hours of song, play and crafting.Winter was never so fun!
Ute Krause

Are They Coming Too?

Feiern die auch mit?
Christmas Chaos in a Cheerful Blended Family - What a Gift!
December is the loveliest month in the year - and certainly the most stressful, at least when planning gifts for everyone in a 41-person blended family. Even when that particular problem is solved (thanks to a lucky inspiration), there are lots of challenges to meet before all the Christmas trees, holiday meals and presents have reached their final destinations. But no matter how much hustle and bustle goes into the preparations, by the time of the snowball fight - complete with stale dumplings from Christmas dinner - everyone -- robbers, princesses and dragon children alike - is filled with the Christmas spirit. This is an action-packed, jolly Christmas tale with enchanting highlights for everyone -- not just blended families.
Volker Mehnert, Claudia Lieb

Magical Places

Magische Orte
On the Trail of Myths and Secrets - A Journey to the Magical Places on Earth
There are places in the world that have their own special magic. A peak like Mount Everest, surrounded by myths and secrets. Or lonely Easter Island, with its stone giants - a mystery even today. Then there is legendary Atlantis: no one knows if it really existed. A crevice in Iceland, the meeting place of two continents full of unimaginable power. These are some sites, places and even cities that have their own "magic", or at least leave a magical impression on humans, even if it's pure fantasy!

This book leads us on a world tour of 18 magical sites. It's no ordinary journey, but a wild, daring trip never undertaken before!

Acclaimed artist Claudia Lieb's evocative illustrations bring the magic of these special places to life!

Contents:
Atlantis - An Ancient Myth of Humankind
Thingvellir - The Parliament in the Continental Divide
Stonehenge - The Dance of the Giants
Lorelei - The Charming Maiden of the Rhine
Delphi - Sacred Oracle at the Hub of the Universe
Timbuktu - The Mirage at the Edge of the Desert?
Brandberg Mountain - Art Museum under the Sky
Tutankhamun's Grave - Buried for 3,000 Years in Desert Sands
Jerusalem - Birthplace of Three World Religions
Mount Everest - The Roof of the Earth
Mount Tai Shan - The Stairway to Heaven
Fujiyama - The Most Beautiful Mountain on Earth?
Uluru - The Memorial in Sandstone
Easter Island - The Home of the Stony Giants
Macchu Picchu - Ghost City in the Mountain Peaks
Palenque - Sunken in the Ancient Jungle
Mesa Verde - Life on the Precipice
The Milky Way -- Magical Flickerings from the Starry Sky
Mehrdad Zaeri, Werner Holzwarth

Winter of the Squirrel

Der Winter des Eichhörnchens
The Happiness of Not Finding!
Squirrel is young, and life is beautiful! Gathering nuts, burying them, and having a good winter - no problem at all!

Then, squirrel grows old. Gathering nuts and burying them takes a lot of energy. Finding the nuts again is an even bigger problem - especially when one forgets what one was looking for! It's enough to make a squirrel tired, a little sad, even angry!

Then, everything starts to make sense again.

Mehrdad Zaeri's magical illustrations invoke the inner life of a squirrel. A positive parable of life in this picture book story written by Werner Holzwarth.
Christiane Schwabbaur, Henrike Wilson

Happy Penguins

Pinguin im Glück
Joy is Contagious!

It's the scene at the Pole: a penguin standing. Here comes another, wearing a scarf. Then another, with a cap. They stand together that way as the winter wind blows. Then comes another, passing all the others by. One that follows its beak and clearly has a goal in mind. That runs and does a cannonball splash into the blue water, just for fun! Have you ever heard of such a thing? Luckily, joy is contagious, and pretty soon all the penguins are romping around in the water, splashing and snorting. We'd love to join them.
It's hard to imagine a funnier, more focused depiction of a transformation from gloom into pure joy and happiness. Warning: it's contagious!
Julie Völk

Rainy Dragon Days

Drachenregentage
How a Cozy Rainy Day Led To an Exciting Trip to Dragonland

Actually, Toni and the dog wanted to spend the rainy day on the sofa - with pillows and cocoa and books. Then the doorbell rang and in walked Fred, an elegant dragon and a great friend, carrying an umbrella. Fred needed to pee, but Toni's loo was much too small for a dragon. What to do? Toni and the dog offer suggestions, but none of them seem right for a dragon with style. After all, who has ever seen a dragon peeing against a tree? No one! Fred has to deal with it, because it's becoming urgent. So he sweeps up his friends and sets them on his back for a flight to Dragonland, where there are magnificent floating pagodas . . .

Julie Völk's atmospheric picture worlds are not just an homage to cozy rainy days. The artist manages to tell a witty dragon adventure story while addressing a need that we all, not just dragons, sometimes have when we need to find a private place to go.

Sold to New Zealand (English World Rights)

Ute Krause

When Will They Ever Leave?

Wann gehen die wieder?
The Life of a Blended Family - Original, Fresh, and Full of Confidence

During a moonlit night a family of robbers, each carrying a little red suitcase, trots through the woods. Why is that? Well, the robber children are sometimes with their papa and sometimes with their mama. The children have two homes, which accounts for the suitcases. They have two birthday parties, two sets of rules, and two toothbrushes. But they're not at all eager to make friends with Papa's new girlfriend and all of her prince and princess children. The robber children succeed in chasing away the entire princess household, but then they realize it's not going to solve their problem. They take an altogether different approach, with the result that this jolly and optimistic blended family story has a brilliant ending.

Rights sold to Russia, Hungary, Korea, The Netherlands, Spain (with Catalan)

Ilka Sokolowski, Janine Czichy

Wild Life on the Meadow

Wildes Leben auf der Wiese
The Meadow is Alive - And How!

Have you ever seen a meadow up close? Then you know that it's full of things that creep, crawl, and buzz! But meadows are home not only to insects and spiders, but also birds, mammals and reptiles. Do you know, for example, where a harvest mouse builds its nest, or how long marmots sleep?

This non-fiction book for children shows us very special meadows like the Alm and the fascinating Feuchtwiese. We learn about meadow orchards, alpine meadows, pastures, swamps, wildflower meadows and wildflower strips. Every meadow is home to its own special plants and animals. Short descriptions and lifelike drawings brings us closer to the varied life of the meadow. And several viewing tips help us identify one hidden animal or another!

And for someone who wants to grow their own meadow, there are tips for laying one out - even a small wildflower meadow on the balcony!
Stefanie Bölke, Markus Lefrançois

Anna, Lukas and the Pickpocket

Haltet den Dieb!
»Don’t go to the fair! And watch out for pickpockets!« That is the warning that master tailor Antonius Lautensack gives to his children Lukas and Anna. They’re on their way to the cloth merchant Brandis to pick up some new velvet, and they’re carrying a sack of coins to pay for it. But the moment they catch sight of the fire-breather and the onlookers in the bustling marketplace, they forget all about
their father’s advice. As they push their way through the crowd, Lukas gets bumped and jostled this way and that,and when they finally arrive at the cloth merchant’s shop, the coin purse is gone! Now it’s up to the market master to help!

With richly colorful illustrations and a glossary of terms. Developed in collaboration with the Museum of the City of Hildesheim, Germany. Historical advisor: Dr. Stefan Bölke, Curator of Art and Regional History of the City Museum, Roemer-Pelizaeus Museum Hildesheim.
Bärbel Oftring, Jana Walczyk: Schau mal, eine Schnecke!
Bärbel Oftring, Jana Walczyk

Look, A Snail!

Schau mal, eine Schnecke!
Hey, a snail shell! Children love discovering snails, those little climbing acrobats who carry their own houses on their back. In this book, we follow a land snail on its slow journey through the garden: what does it eat? How do little snail babies grow up? And what’s all that slime for?
Among the fold-out pages is lots more exciting and fascinating information about the land snail and its relatives.
We learn what a snail king is and why snails can creep upside-down and even over razorblades without getting hurt.

• With many fold-out pages
• Comes with a snail explorer’s journal
• A lovingly illustrated nonfiction picture book about a seemingly inconspicuous animal with astounding abilities
Cornelia Franz

Swing High

Swing High
Swing Dancing on the Volcano

Hamburg, Summer 1939. As the Second World War looms ever closer, Henri and his friends spend a seemingly carefree summer together. They meet at the swimming pool or in the park, and someone always brings a gramophone along - and then things really heat up! Jazz music enchants the "Swingbuddies" with their relaxed "joie de vivre". But this music is a thorn in the Nazis' side.

It's a dangerous dance on a volcano. One evening when Henri and his girlfriend encounter a Gestapo patrol, they find themselves caught up in a matter of life and death . . .

This book, based on true stories of the Hamburg Swing Dance youth from 1939 to 1941, tells the suspenseful story of an uprising in the middle of World War II. The "Swings" were brave, uncompromising and full of life!
Rotraut Susanne Berner: Monika und Mingus
Rotraut Susanne Berner

Monika and Mingus

Monika und Mingus
Who doesn't know them, the orange tabby cat Monika and the black tomcat Mingus with the white paws? The two of them experience numerous adventures in all seasons in their little town of Wimmlingen and are the masters of skilfully hiding on the wimmel pages. Rotraut Susanne Berner tells their love story here in cheerful verse that even little listeners are sure to soon enjoy speaking along with.

Rights sold to Korea, China, Russia and Poland

Vitali Konstantinov

All the Money in the World

Alles Geld der Welt
A world without money is hard to imagine. Every nation has its own currency. And our everyday lives, whether we’re at home, shopping or enjoying leisure time -- are marked by daily exchanges of money.

But what is money really? Coins, bills, something stored in the bank? What about something complicated, like cryptocurrencies? Money is a huge subject. Who invented it, and when and why? What was trade like before money? And why is money divided up so unequally?

Ever since money has existed, there have been arguments about what it is. A means to an end, or an end in itself? A thing, or an idea? A blessing or a curse? There has been every possible explanation.

And yet, money remains a puzzle.

With the help of this entertaining but informative graphic nonfiction book, at last we can begin to understand this puzzle and perhaps even become skilled money managers!

Rights sold to Belgium/The Netherlands, France, China (simplified Chinese Characters), Russia, Spain, Taiwan (Complex Chinese Characters), Japan and Italy

Frank Schwieger, Anne Bernhardi

Julia in Ancient Rome

Julia im Alten Rom
A suspenseful paper chase through the Eternal City

In the year 64 CE, eleven-year-old Julia is on a mission. In the metropolis of Rome, which is home to millions, she must locate Daniel Maltinus, the one doctor who can save her severely ill father. What follows is a race against time that takes Julia from her home in exclusive Esquilino to the senators at the Roman Forum, to the Subura, the poor people's quarter, and then to the Emperor's Palace. With Julia leading the way, we learn about the lives of the ancient Romans, the history of their immense Empire, and the famous landmarks of the ancient city: the temples, theaters and baths, the Circus Maximus and the Gladiator School. We even meet Emperor Nero himself!
Jens Sparschuh, Julia Dürr

Julia and Her Little Great-Grandfather August

Julia und ihr kleiner Urgroßvater
Why Great-Grandfather August Wears Blue and White Socks and Can Dance Like a Champion

When Julia arrives in Gross Neuendorf, August is waiting for her at the bus stop. Joyfully he tosses his hat into the air. "We'll do something special every day!" he says happily. Julia likes to sit on the bench in August's workshop watching him as he works. August tells her about earlier times - like when he was a ferryman on the river. Sometimes Tim comes to visit. Then they all go fishing. When August gets tired, Julia sits on his bed and tucks him in. Back in school, Julia's thoughts often return to August. One afternoon in October Julia and her mother return to Gross Neuendorf. Lying on the hat rack is a cross with a bow . . .

A lovely story about the things that bind together the very young and the very old.
Daniela Kulot: Bald bist du gesund, kleine Katze!
Daniela Kulot

Soon You'll be Well Again, Little Cat!

Bald bist du gesund, kleine Katze!
I'm Here for You!
The cat is sick,
Lies weak on the bed,
Her toes hurt,
And so does her head . . .

Everyone gets sick sometimes, whether they're small or grown up. What we need then, above all, is a little bit of comforting - from someone who'll hug us, love us, warm us up and take us in their arms.

A book for reading together, to give as a get-well gift, as heart-warming as a hug
Silke Lambeck, Barbara Jung

My Friend Otto, the Blue Wonder, and I

Mein Freund Otto, das Blaue Wunder und ich
Our Summer is Not Swimming!

At eight in the morning, the air is already warm and sweet-smelling. Matti is finally allowed to go barefoot, and it's clear that summer is here! There's nothing better than going to the pool! But, as Matti and Otto stand before the entrance, the Blue Wonder is closed. There's no money to renovate it. Where do they go now? The pool is the answer to every, yes every question in the summertime! Otto and Matti decide they've got to do something! In the end, the swimming pool belongs to everyone, especially the children.
A summertime story with an urban setting about adults who give up too easily and kids that take charge. It's about endless summer days at the most beautiful swimming pool in the city and about how together, things go easier, even if once in a while someone has to break the rules.
Stefanie Jeschke: Die Erdmännchen sind los!
Stefanie Jeschke

Meerkats on the Loose!

Die Erdmännchen sind los!
Who'll find the meerkats in this busy zoo?

Attention! Ten meerkats have escaped, and now they're making a leisurely tour of the zoo! To follow them you'll need nimble feet and eagle eyes. These clever characters are very curious, and they want to have fun. While some of them are busy admiring the stylish haircuts of other zoo animals, others are playing pick-up sticks with a porcupine or frolicking with the penguins. The action shifts from one continent to another in this zoo. You're guaranteed not to spot them the first time, so before you know it, the tour starts all over again. It's a never-ending creature comedy!

A separate page reveals which animals the meerkats visit.
Maja Nielsen, Sophie Schmid

Maria Sibylla Merian

Maria Sibylla Merian
The Famous Naturalist - Profiled for Children

In 1699 Maria Sibylla Merian travels to the tropical rainforest in Surinam. Accompanied only by her daughter Dorothea, she commences her great ambition: observing and drawing insects in every stage of their development. For years, Sibylla has been fascinated by the way caterpillars transform into gorgeous butterflies. This book recounts the childhood of the famous artist and naturalist; of her courageous journeys into ancient forests, and of the origin of her stunning books that even today have no equal.

Simple text boxes contain facts and background details appropriate for young readers. Lively illustrations stimulate our interest in the magical world of insects and the life of an unusual, self-confident woman.
Ute Krause

Nora and the Great Bear

Nora und der Große Bär
Nora longs to go with the hunters to find the legendary Great Bear that everyone in the village has been talking about. She dreams of becoming the best bear hunter of all. Some say she’s too small – no way!, says Nora. Then, the Great Bear appears – and all at once, everything seems different. What started out as a bear hunt ends as an unforgettable encounter!

“So what was the Great Bear like?”
“As big and old as the forest”, said Nora, “and just as beautiful.”

First published in 1989, “Nora and the Great Bear” quickly became a classic picture book. Now author/illustrator Ute Krause has created completely new illustrations to accompany the text, and once again she invites us into the magical winter forest.
Julie Völk

A Time When Wishing Still Helped

Zur Zeit, wo das Wünschen noch geholfen hat
Grimm's Fairy Tales as seen by artist Julie Völk - A Magical Masterpiece

This selection of stories unites familiar and beloved tales with a few others that deserve to be discovered anew. Julie Völk guides us through enchanted waterways, through thick forests and breathtaking mountain landscapes; she shows us magical gardens and pauses while we marvel at secret cottages and mighty palaces.

There are strange creatures to discover, along with clever girls and boys; witches playing tricks, and yes, even the Devil is at work. Just as the tales themselves enter our dreams, make us shiver and sometimes cause us to laugh out loud, the illustrations cast their own spell. In numerous vignettes and colorful larger scenes, Julie Völk presents the stories anew in her own unique style. She references the familiar while calling our attention to new details. This treasury of stories becomes, in the best sense, a gift to all - children will discover countless details, and in the red-and-white vignettes they will "read" the stories on their own; more seasoned readers will be surprised by new perspectives. The pictures, like the stories, allow us to travel back in time, but they remain modern and fresh. The unique environment created by these intimate, yet powerful pictures will enchant young and old alike.
Lilli Thal

Creature of Stone, Creature of Gold

Tier aus Stein, Tier aus Gold
One Must Turn to Stone, One Must Turn to Gold, But the Third Will Be Sighted Blind

Of Gods and Humans, Creatures and Demons

What's hidden in the wilderness behind the temple? That's what Ion, Kedros and Smirkos are determined to find out. Coming upon a strange glow, they have no idea that they have violated the sacred grove of a goddess, and that their innocent children's game sets in motion a curse that will place them in great danger five years hence. Lilli Thal's fantasy-adventure novel is exciting and full of dark secrets in its setting of gods and humans, creatures and demons. For readers seeking immersion into distant worlds and times and for those who love Greek mythology.
Sabine Lohf

Hurray! Autumn is Here!

Hurra, der Herbst ist da!
It's autumn at last! Time to be creative!

The leaves are falling, the birds are flying south, we're jumping in puddles or flying kites: no other time of year is so colourful or offers so many lovely handicraft materials, like chestnuts and pine cones. This book shows what we can craft with all the treasures fall has to offer. We can make witches' cottages out of pumpkins, weave princesses out of wheat stalks, stitch hearts made of rose hips, press leaves, paint rain pictures, sew felted mushrooms, fold paper pinwheels, turn milk containers into lanterns, and play shadow games.

Even the darkest autumn afternoon is an occasion for family fun with the help of the creative, child-friendly craft ideas, games and songs in this book. Hurray, autumn is here!
Einar Turkowski

The Moon Flower

Die Mondblume
In an old stone house on an island, there lives a man. Every day he traces the meandering paths, steep steps and hidden corners of his garden. One evening, in his favorite place in the garden he discovers a new plant. The man is eager to know what kind of plant it is, but he can’t find the plant in any of his gardening books. He nurtures and cares for the plant, and it begins to grow and sprout leaves, then one day it produces a huge bud. The man waits patiently for the bud to open.

He keeps the plant company at tea-time, and even puts on a play for it. But the bud stays closed – until the night of the full moon . . .

Einar Turkowski’s delicate penciled masterpieces reveal even the tiniest detail. Even though the pictures are in black and white, they are rich with nuance and they suggest a richly poetic world that transports and amazes the reader.
 

Rights sold to Italy, Taiwan, China, South Africa, Sweden, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Belarus and Turkey

Stephan Martin Meyer, Thilo Krapp

In 80 days from Peking to Paris

In 80 Tagen von Peking nach Paris
Where There's a Car, There's a Road!

A Formidable Challenge: Yet to be proven is whether a driver, supplied with a car, can do anything and can drive anywhere. We therefore pose the question: This summer, will there be someone daring enough to drive a car all the way from Peking to Paris?

If a man can do it, then of course a girl can do it! So Julia and her uncle Charles decide to take up the challenge posed by the Paris newspaper Le Matin on January 31, 1907: they'll drive their Spyker in the long-distance Peking-Paris Rally.

In competition with four other teams they'll drive through China, Mongolia and Siberia, through deserts, swamps and over mountain passes. Julia and Charles always find a way through any obstacle, even if they have to drive on railroad tracks! Their toughest opponent is Prince Borghese in his Itala. But never mind: the Spyker team will never give up!

This book, based on true events, takes the reader along for the ride on a rally that still has no equal.

With fascinating details about the first cars and about the peoples and places enroute at the time of the actual long-distance rally.
Rotraut Susanne Berner: Armin, der Buchhändler
Rotraut Susanne Berner

Armin the bookseller

Armin, der Buchhändler
Everyone knows Armin. He is the bookseller in Wimmlingen. There are lots of great books to buy from him. One day Petra tells him that at night the characters from the books come to life. Yes, and what happens when Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio and many other children's book heroes have a midnight party in Armin's shop is shown in this rhymed story by Rotraut Susanne Berner.
Cornelia Boese, Dorota Wünsch

Where's Theatrine ?

Wo ist Theatrine?
Theatrine is standing on a package that's been delivered to the Grand Opera House. That's where they perform ballet, opera and plays. While looking for the elusive Theatrine we can see what's behind the curtain! There are studios, wardrobes, the cafeteria, the orchestra pit, the choir loft and lots more! But where is Theatrine hiding? And what's hidden in that mysterious package?

In cheerful rhymes and pictures that capture the happy chaos, children are introduced to the secret world behind the wings of a performing arts theatre. Let the curtain rise!
Lena Zeise

Balto and Togo - The Run to Nome

Balto & Togo
Alaska, 1925. In the dead of winter, an epidemic has taken hold in the small city of Nome. Isolated as it is by snow and ice, the only way the city can obtain much-needed medication is by dogsled.
For 650 miles dog drivers and their teams of sled dogs, depending completely on each other, fight heavy snow and ice storms in a race against time. The “Serum Run to Nome”, as this real event became known, captured the world’s attention well beyond the Alaskan border.

Lena Zeise’s retelling and illustrations of this true story of wilderness survival makes a breathtaking tale of companionship, courage and the unique bond between the dog drivers and their teams.
Silke Lambeck, Karsten Teich

What Does Tomcat Do While I'm Asleep?

Was macht der Kater, wenn ich schlafe?
What does our tomcat do while I’m asleep? That’s what Fritze asks one morning when her tomcat Mika comes home unusually late. Everyone she asks has a different explanation: Mika’s out taking a walk, says Grandpa. Papa says Mika sings in the tomcat choir. Mama says he’s out visiting. And Timmy, the babysitter, maintains that Mika is somewhere spying. Really?, thinks Fritze. None of them are cats – how do they know? What would Mika tell us? And then, Mika tells us his own story .
 
A book for reading and reading aloud. For the whole family, and for anyone who loves cats.
 
Judith Burger

Ringo, Me and The Completely Clueless Summer

Ringo, ich und ein komplett ahnungsloser Sommer
Outside, the world zooms by. Asta sits in the train, anticipating what promises to be the best summer ever. Because in Geschrey, the most remote place in the world, the days are longer, the rain is gentler, and time passes slower than anywhere else - and it's also where Ringo lives. Asta and her best friend will swim in the lake, hang out, eat ice cream, and act silly. Not to mention act in a play: this summer for the first time, Asta will have a small role in the summer theater run by Asta's parents.

But instead, everything turns out wrong. All of a sudden Ringo is the star of the play and Asta is left high and dry. Will their friendship survive?

A summer story full of poetry and lightness. And the history of a great friendship.
Volker Mehnert, Tim Köhler

Magellan - Or Great Moments in Ocean Exploration

Magellan
In 1519 a fleet of five ships with 265 men aboard sets out from Spain’s Atlantic coast to find a western route to the legendary Spice Islands. Their commander is Portugal’s Magellan, a brilliant seaman and a determined explorer.

On September 6, 1522 a single, worm-eaten ship is the only vessel to return. On board are 18 ragged sailors, more dead than alive. Magellan is not
among them . . .

Three years had consumed the voyage that began as an expedition and became a trip that no human had accomplished before – a circumnavigation of the globe.

This book tells the story of Magellan’s astonishing achievement in a gripping narrative and evocative illustrations
Thilo Krapp: Émile in Berlin
Thilo Krapp

Émile in Berlin - Hunting for Mice in the Department store

Émile in Berlin
When Émile and his mother make a wintertime visit to Berlin, of course they have to do some Christmas shopping at the famous department store, Wertheim. Even at home in Paris everyone knows about Wertheim. There’s so much to discover here -- huge shop windows, massive chandeliers, and even a real escalator! Émile is still finding his way around the festively decorated store and is passing through the pet department when there’s a minor accident: he bumps into a terrarium, freeing the small creature inside. What happens next is a wild chase around porcelain dishes, expensive vases and fine carpets. Will Émile and Marie the salesgirl ever find manage to catch the mouse?

This splendidly illustrated book places the reader in the golden age of the department store. It evokes the grandeur of the famous Wertheim department store – at one time Europe’s largest – almost bringing it back to life.