De kinderen van het Achtste Woud
Author: Els Pelgrom
Illustrator: Peter van Straaten
New cover: Martijn van der LInden
Original language: Dutch
Translated into English: not
Published: October 2022
Publisher: Luijtingh-Sijthoff
ISBN13: 9789024598786
Price: € 17.99 (HC)
Age: 11 - 12 years old and up
Today we read an older book (1977) with the older monsters. It was written by the exceptional Dutch writer Els Pelgrom and it is called De kindern van het Achtste Woud (The Children of the Eighth Forest). Not only did she receive a gold stylus for The Children of the Achtse Woud, she also received two more, plus two silver styluses, and in 1994 she was also awarded the Theo Thijssen Prize in Amsterdam. She is the only Dutch author who has received 3 golden styluses.
Peter van Straaten's sober line drawings fit perfectly in this book, sober and beautiful in black/white. They reflect the atmosphere of that time very well.
The story of the Children of the Eighth Forest is semi-autobiographical. It tells what the children experienced during the Second World War. When German soldiers occupied Arnhem and the entire population of that city had to leave their homes. Something Els Pelgrom experienced herself as a child. It is not easy to read, because life was hard in those times. It is difficult to imagine such times, when you're a kid in the Netherlands today. A magnificent book!
3+ beautiful shining stars for De kinderen van het Achtste Woud, from the young listeners and their readers!