Reviews
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An illustrated collection of thought-provoking stories about how anger doesn’t always have to be angry, with illustrations from Marc Boutavant.
In ten thoughtful, philosophical, absurd tales by master storyteller Toon Tellegen, the forest animals—from squirrel to scarab beetle—spend their days as friends do, with birthday parties, writing letters, visiting, dancing, or sometimes all alone. Each day brings emotions that are always worth exploring, although not always easy, and each story reveals new layers through the expressive, touching and funny illustrations of Marc Boutavant.
This wry and nuanced illustrated storybook gently shows that anger, in all its shapes and sizes, is a natural, necessary and often misunderstood emotion. Written by one of the greatest Dutch authors for children, this wise and gently written collection is perfect for children wanting to explore and learn more about difficult emotions and feelings, making it an ideal book to read together with family or in the classroom, for readers aged 6-12 years.
Hardcover, 82 pages. 7.4 x 11 inches.
For readers aged 6-12 years.
Gecko Press, 2021.
★ "Wonderful whimsical warm witty and wise stories by Toon Tellegen…amazingly beautiful and atmospheric pictures by Marc Boutavant." ~ Axel Scheffler, Best Books of 2021
★ "The stories are frequently funny… and Marc Boutavant’s illustrations match the energy of the stories: multi-(dark)hued, spiky, and emotion drenched." ~ the Book Beat
★ "Aesthetically, the book is beautiful, a hardcover, thick pages, and classic design. It has rich language and meaningful imagery." ~ Reading Time, Children's Book Council of Australia
★ "It is refreshing to see a book that discusses uncomfortable emotions in a relatable and amusing manner." ~ Manhattan Book Review
★ "Philosophical and wry short stories … As layers of meaning develop through the words of each story so they do also with the expressive, touching and detail-filled illustrations of Marc Boutavant." ~ Armadillo Magazine
★ "Exceptionally thought provoking – perfect as a discussion starter between adult and child." ~ The Book Deli
★ "Ten short stories involving animals and big emotions. It’s Gecko Press so you know it’s good." ~ The Spinoff
★ "Powerful messages arise, as when, while considering what a firebelly toad’s anger might feel like, a tortoise offers: “Or it might be something heavy…. so heavy nobody can lift it." ~ Foreword Reviews
★ "The art is fabulous. Boutavant is the genius behind the early graphic novel series Ariol, and his animals all have such wonderful expressiveness." ~ Youth Services Book Review
★ "A challenging exercise in decoding strong human emotions—but worth the effort." ~ Kirkus Reviews
