Germany


72
Bauer, Jutta (text/illus.)
Opas Engel (Grandfather's angel)
Hamburg : Carlsen, 2001. - [46] p.
ISBN 3-551-51543-3
Grandfather - Grandson - Guardian angel
Grandfather tells his grandson about his life, not knowing that he also talks about his guardian angel: whenever he was in danger, the guardian angel was on the spot and often received a bop on the nose due to grandfather's mishaps. At the end of the book, the old man dies, leaving his angelic protector to the boy. The special appeal of this picture book lies in the tension between text and pictures. While the words only describe the surface of the old man's life, which seems fairly straightforward, the coloured pen-and-ink drawings dive to a deeper level and show the essential contribution of the angel - depicted as a light-blue airy creature - to several dicey situations. A lot of humour is evident in this book, as well as a view of reality which leaves readers room enough to think and fantasize. (4+) ¤


73
Berner, Rotraut Susanne (coll./illus.)
Apfel, Nuss und Schneeballschlacht : das große Winter-Weihnachtsbuch ; Geschichten, Lieder und Gedichte
(Apple, nut, and snowball fight : the big winter-christmas-book ; stories, songs, and poems)
Hildesheim : Gerstenberg, 2001. - 144 p.
ISBN 3-8067-4956-6
Christmas - Winter season - Song - Poetry – Stories
This is a book for the whole family to read, sing, and look at. In secular and Christian texts about Christmas and wintertime, in old and in new poems, text and illustration perfectly complement each other to fulfil their task: They make people contemplate and anticipate this special time of year. The illustrations always vary according to the selected texts and the artist's imagination: The reader will find any variation imaginable from full-page episodes to playful vignettes. The doors are open for young and old alike to enjoy themselves, play or even spin a yarn. (4+) ¤


74
Blaich, Ute (text)
Litty, Julie (illus.)
Der Stern (The star)
Gossau [et al.] : Neugebauer, 2001. - [28] p.
ISBN 3-85195-639-7
Winter - Christmas - Forest animals
It's Christmas Eve. The animals in the forest are hungry and cold because of the snow and ice, but - wasn't there some noise? The tawny owl overlooks a small mouse and instead starts telling them about the birth of Jesus and about that new thing his birth brought to the world: love. Humans are sly, violent, and hungry for power; and the animals know that. But this night a man and his little daughter bring a load of things to eat to the forest animals. And the next day? Everything will be back to normal again, of course. Yet, for the last 2000 years the star has kept shining for those who wanted to see it. Particularly appealing in this quiet picture book are the tender watercolour paintings perfectly drawn in a naturalistic style. (5+)


75
Blume, Bruno (text)
Gleich, Jacky (illus.)
Ein richtig schöner Tag (A really nice day)
Hamburg : Carlsen, 2001. - [40] p.
ISBN 3-551-51554-9
Family - Daily routine - Planning - Day trip – Obstacles
The family want to have a lovely day in their garden on the outskirts of the city. But in the morning daddy rather sleeps a little longer, baby needs yet another clean nappy, the washing machine suddenly stops working, and the chatty neighbours cause further delays. Therefore, it is almost dark when the family, a little out of breath, finally arrive at their garden. Still everybody keeps hoping that the next time they will all stick to the timetable without a problem. They are not even angry with each other although nothing went right today. Tomorrow everything will surely be different. The lively and humorous illustrations do show the parents stressed out and in a hurry; but on the other hand, they also point out that children get fun out of every situation, if only you let them. (7+) ¤


76
Boie, Kirsten (text)
Göbel, Dorothea (illus.)
Der durch den Spiegel kommt (The person who comes through the mirror)
Hamburg : Oetinger, 2001. - 236 p.
ISBN 3-7891-3145-8
Girl - Mirror - Other World - Rabbit - The Evil - Rescue – Adventure

A small, average girl - as she considers herself - is given the task of saving the Land-on-the-Other-Side from »Evil«, with her own courage as the only weapon. The first-person narrator travels into a parallel universe through a mysterious mirror and encounters several adventures that nobody at home understands, let alone believes in. It seems that the talking rabbit, her companion, has simply chosen the wrong person - instead of her, someone else should have been selected as the »Brave Fighter«. Nevertheless, she completes her task successfully. This clever mirror-tale, inspired by »Alice's Adventures in Wonderland«, does not remain on the fantasy level; it also invites readers to summon up courage for the challenges of their own daily lives. (10+)


77
Dijk, Lutz van (text)
Schlicht, Renate (illus.)
Die Geschichte der Juden (The history of the Jews)
Frankfurt [et al.] : Campus-Verl., 2001. - 206 p.
ISBN 3-593-36703-3
Jews/History
Since 1948, when Palestine was partly settled by Jews without the inhabitants' consent, each generation grows up in an atmosphere of mutual hostility towards their neighbours. Even observers from outside often lack the necessary information to fully understand the events going on. Taking »personal stories« of people from different times and countries as an example, the author tries to contribute to the understanding of recent and historical problems: In the face of present conflicts, he provides information instead of ideologies. Without too much simplification, this book offers a comprehensible overview of the Jewish history. Numerous colour illustrations liven up the difficult topic. (12+) <>


78
Dörrie, Doris (text)
Kaergel, Julia (illus.)
Wo ist Lotte? (Where is Lotte?)
Ravensburg : Ravensburger Buchverl., 2001. - [30] p.
ISBN 3-473-33967-9
Imagination – Invisibility
Lotte is forced to eat some brawn, at least a tiny little bit, even if she doesn't like it. Finally, she manages to swallow some but afterwards she definitely needs a rest on the red sofa. When she wakes up again she can hear everything her mother and aunt are saying - but she herself has turned invisible. Could that be because of the brawn? In the following days, whenever Lotte closes her eyes she „melts into" her surroundings - the lawn, the curtains, the wallpaper. The adults, however, who really don't know anything, refuse to believe her, even though they keep searching for her everywhere. Despite all this, mother and daughter do not quarrel because the mother simply plays along. And that's how it should be according to this light-hearted book and its unconventional colourful pictures which sometimes display a distorted perspective.
(5+) ¤


79
Egli, Werner J.
Blues für Lilly (Blues for Lilly)
München : Bertelsmann, 2001. - 218 p.
ISBN 3-570-12559-9
Texas - Young man - Grandparents - Segregation - Teenage love - Reunion – Death
When Brad's grandmother dies, he is by her side. It is clear to him that her last glance at him once again tells of the love of her life: J.B. Swift. The most famous Blues musician of his time, he was beaten up because of Brad's grandmother, his white girlfriend, by other whites; in the heat of the moment, Swift shot one of the attackers and had to spend the following fifty years in prison. The teenage boy follows his beloved grandmother's stories and reunites the two elderly people for a short time. In an utterly convincing narration, the author demonstrates how the extraordinary life of an old person provides the young protagonist with values that he also needs for his own life. (12+)


80
Gottschalk, Maren
Der geschärfte Blick: sieben Journalistinnen und ihre Lebensgeschichte (A keen eye: seven women journalists and their life-stories)
Weinheim : Beltz & Gelberg, 2001. - 352 p.
ISBN 3-407-80881-x
Women journalists – Biography
These are the biographies of famous female journalists of the twentieth century: two Americans, a Czech, an Italian, and three Germans, who followed their professional dream, often suffering personal loss of wealth, security, and their private life. In her description, the author, who is a journalist herself, includes information about the respective time and displays a profound knowledge of and sympathy for the women and their work. She presents these women as role models, even for beginning journalists today. Nowadays, the overwhelming abundance of ways to gather information often makes orientation difficult. Therefore, it is essential to read about important forerunners and their values and way of thinking. (16+)


Special Mention
81
Hacke, Axel (text)
Sowa, Michael (illus.)
Ein Bär namens Sonntag (A bear called Sunday)
München : Kunstmann, 2001. - 29 p.
ISBN 3-88897-281-7
Boy - Teddybear - Dream - Change of roles - Empathy – Understanding
The first-person narrator remembers: when he was a small boy he owned a quiet little teddybear he had named Sunday. They did everything together, although the teddybear just kept silently staring straight ahead - how boring. One day, the boy wanted to know for sure: he fed him milk and honey - but the bear still stared in silence, and the boy's mother put him into the washing machine. Since he didn't have his teddy with him when he went to bed, the sad boy dreamed that he, a little human boy, travelled to bear country where he became the new toy for the bear children. Nobody heard or understood him; and his new owner, a small bear, just wanted to do everything together with him; but at least for the (toy-)boy this did not work well. A biting story told in a harmless way with apparently naïve pictures, which nevertheless show the futile attempts at communication and convey the disaster of not being understood. Text, pictures, and overall design certainly make this book a favourite.(4+) ¤


82
Haucke, Gert (text)
Treskatis, Barbara (illus.)
Mein allerbester Freund (My very best friend)
Berlin : Aufbau-Verl., 2001. - [36] p.
ISBN 3-351-04018-0
Dog - Playmate - Human being - Communication
Schoko [i.e. »Chocolate«] has a family of humans (Lisa prepares his food and Paul throws sticks for him) and four very best dog-friends, each of them with an individual personality: Maxi is the smallest of them. Sometimes Schoko has to let him win a game because otherwise he wouldn't want to play anymore. Together with Tarzan, Schoko loves to tug at the ball on the rope. Karlemann, the biggest of his friends, cannot run very fast, and Püppi, the white female pitbull, is afraid of everything. She needs someone to protect her. And then there is Lena, the human puppy - but, to be honest, Schoko could easily do without her. All in all, for someone like Schoko, he leads a perfect life. Large naturalistic colour-chalk drawings and a concise text clearly prove the author's detailed knowledge of and sympathy for a dog's soul. (4+) ¤


83
Holub, Josef
Die Schmuggler von Rotzkalitz (The smugglers of Rotzkalitz)
Hamburg : Oetinger, 2001. - 148 p.
ISBN 3-7891-3707-3
Boy - Outsider - Smuggler - Holidays - Detective – Adventure
In order to cure his bronchitis, Bautz Beranek spent most of his holidays during the past few years in Rotzkalitz visiting his uncle, the head of the border guards. Unfortunately, however, he is so different from all the local children, that he doesn't have a single friend there. One day, a foreigner and his teenage son arrive at the border village - and this starts off a story of friendship, full of rapid events, with the secret and successful hunt for smugglers at its core. Bautz Beranek has a splendid time. But now this time is long past and the good old times of smuggeling are over. This amusing novel for young readers contains a lot of picaresque humour and wisdom. (8+)


84
Johansen, Hanna (text)
Gleich, Jacky (illus.)
Sei doch mal still (Please be quiet now)
München [et al.] : Hanser, 2001. - [32] p.
ISBN 3-446-19970-5
Listening - Noise - Silence
Two children discover silence and its different sounds - the fly at the window, the rain at the window pane, the bird in the tree. The boy is the noisy one while the girl urges him to be quiet and listen. Exact repetitions of their respective lines lend rhythm and structure to the text and increase the excitement that slowly but surely also catches the young boy's attention. The pictures are full of life and speed; yet, due to their earth-like colours, they still emanate a sense of calm matching the new and surprisingly quiet sounds children can experience within their immediate surroundings without major preparations or stress. (4+) ¤


85
Joop, Florentine (text/illus.)
Don Igitti und die Bellkartoffel (Don Igitti and the barking potato)
Hamburg : Ed. Riesenrad, 2001. - [30] p.
ISBN 3-933697-23-9
Man - Love - Dog - Anthropomorphism – Circus
Mr. Schulz, alias Don Igitti (i.e. »Don Yucky« - because he puts too much gel in his hair) is in love with vain Ms. Keller but his love is unrequited. He intends to win her over with the help of his small dog Holger whom he has inherited from his rich aunt Casimira. Yet, everything turns out differently: the plump dog is unaware of being a dog; he knows how to cook spaghetti and how to play with a hula-hoop. So fate takes its course: at a visit to the circus Holger becomes the star of the arena and, as a result, Don Igitti takes poodle trainer Donna Infernella for his wife instead of Ms. Keller. The large-format pictures show a cheerful mixture of realistic scenes and vivacious caricature-like absurdities. (6+)


86
Lewin, Waldtraut
Der Fluch (The curse)
[Ravensburg] : Ravensburger Buchverl., 2001. - 314 p.
(Ravensburger junge Reihe)
ISBN 3-473-35212-8
Jerusalem - Frederic II <Emperor>/1229-1230 - Crowning - Knight - Attempt at assassination - Prevention - Masquerade – Bedouin
In 1230, Frederic II, King of Sicily, is crowned German emperor in Jerusalem, the fiercely disputed holy city of Christians and Muslims. A young Frankonian knight, whose mother was Arabic, is instructed to protect the emperor from an attempted assassination. He can only carry out this order with the help of a young Bedouin's knowledge and fighting sksills. When he discovers that this Bedouin guard is in fact a woman, he is quite shocked at first. Yet soon he realizes that they are both fighting for the same side. They manage to save Frederic. The young people's love, however, will not last. This historical novel, with its topical problems, is a fascinating read. It shows people of different cultures that are entangled in a completely futile religious fight. (12+) <>


87
Moost, Nele (text)
Bücker, Jutta (illus.)
Der Mondhund (The moondog)
Stuttgart [et al.] : Thienemann, 2000. - [26] p.
ISBN 3-522-43323-8
Dog - Anthropomorphism - Friendship - Faithlessness - Loneliness - Reconciliation - Imagination - Growing up
This is one of the world's oldest stories: one with a happy end. Big Dog and Small Dog are two friends who perfectly complement each other: Big Dog can do more things than Small Dog but in return Small Dog always tells Big Dog stories about the mysterious Moondog. One day, however, a third dog appears and suddenly Small Dog feels very lonely. But now is the time for Moondog to take action. Even though his former friend indeed needs Small Dog again very soon, Moondog is there for him whenever he calls him. This is a comforting book and one that encourages the readers to recall the power of imagination. Full-page illustrations express the protagonists' inner feelings through the dogs' gestures and facial expressions and show the infinite realm of the fantasy world, without getting lost in details. (4+) ¤


88
Pressler, Mirjam
Malka Mai <proper name>
Weinheim : Beltz & Gelberg, 2001. - 324 p.
ISBN 3-407-80879-8
World War II/1943-1944 - Poland - Hungary - Persecution of the Jews - Deportation - Mother - Daughter – Search
From 1943 to 1944 Hanna Mai, a doctor, flees with her two daughters from East Poland across the Hungarian border to escape deportation by the Germans. On the way, Malka, the younger of the two girls, falls ill and has to stay behind at some well-meaning farmers'. But soon Malka's own odyssee starts. She comes into various ghettos and hospitals and develops unexpected strategies for survival. With the help of many ordinary people, her mother eventually manages to find Malka again. The girl's disturbing and unforgettable experiences form the novel's central theme. The author writes in a clear, informative, almost distant style. The positive outcome of the odyssee at least provides a happy end to all the horrors. (12+)


89
Richter, Jutta
Hinter dem Bahnhof liegt das Meer (Behind the station lies the sea)
München [et al.] : Hanser, 2001. - 92 p.
ISBN 3-446-20042-8
Homeless - Child - Guardian angel - Business sense
A shy nine-year-old boy, who has to fend for himself, befriends a homeless man. They both dream of living by the seaside. For the time being, however, they have to scrounge their basic needs. On their way, they meet a benefactor who requests some kind of payment in return for her offerings. Thus, the boy ends up selling his guardian angel - and immediately the problems start: He falls ill and loses all his optimism. But again the »good fairy« comes to his rescue and, in the end, everybody gets what they are longing for. Although conceived as a realistic story, the book also contains fairy-tale elements which soften the cruelty of fate and offer some hope. With only a few stylistic devices and a lot of sympathy for her protagonists, the author draws vivacious characters. Her upbeat humour and non-linear narration easily capture the reader's imagination. (10+)


90
Schröder-Köpf, Doris / Brodersen, Inge (ed.)
Blau, Aljoscha (illus.)
Der Kanzler wohnt im Swimmingpool oder Wie Politik gemacht wird (The Chancellor lives in the swimming pool. Or: How to make politics)
Frankfurt [et al.] : Campus-Verl., 2001. - 220 p.
ISBN 3-593-36802-1
Germany - Political System - Anthology
This highly interesting book deals with 26 different topics in short but informative chapters. The authors take children's helplessness with political expressions and their meanings into account and ask questions like: What are parliamentary allowances? What is a cabinet? What makes a person a European citizen? Readers will learn something about the characteristics of different constitutions as well as about virtual finance ministers. Famous people from film, radio, and television, from arts, sciences, and politics have put their pen to paper and created an amazing book: The easygoing texts, interspersed with witty comments and underlined with important facts, are a pleasure to read. Imaginative and unconventional full-page illustrations accompany the texts and increase the reader's delight. (10+) <>


91
Schuh, Bernd
Das visuelle Lexikon der Umwelt (The visual encyclopaedia of the environment)
Hildesheim : Gerstenberg, 2001. - 447 p.
(Gerstenbergs visuelle Enzyklopädie)
ISBN 3-8067-4500-5
Environment – Ecology
This encyclopaedia contains a rich variety of pictures and elaborate texts, written in a comprehensible style. The objective presentation of the topics, which is nevertheless differentiated and committed, enables readers to look at the information provided with a critical mind. The chapters are connected with each other through an excellent system of references and cross-references. They deal with the (development and structure of the) »Earth«, »Life« (and living space), »Food«, »Everyday Life«, and, of course, »Energy«, »Industry«, and »Traffic«, while the final chapter is entitled »Prevention and Aftercare«. Thanks to this extensive conception, this encyclopaedia will be a clear, reliable, long-lasting reference work in the area of ecology and environmental sciences. (10+)


92
Spanier, Ariane (text/illus.)
Der schlaue Kuckucksvater (Clever Father Cuckoo)
[Leipzig] : Leipziger Kinderbuchverlag, 2001. - [20] p.
ISBN 3-89603-084-1
Father - Daughter - Power - Laziness - Exploitation – Escape
Both symbolically and from a human viewpoint, cuckoos in general do not have a particularly good reputation in the animal world. In this book it is even worse than usual: A cuckoo father employs his twelve daughters as housemaids while he himself doesn't lift a finger. Suddenly, one day, all of the girls leave their home - except the most lethargic one. From now on, the father, whether he likes it or not, has to do all the work himself and, moreover, also wait on the only child left with him. This serves him right, the readers might say. This is a funny book in small format with clay-coloured pastel-paintings and angrily frowning cuckoo daughters. (4+)


93
Stiekel, Bettina (ed.)
Kinder fragen, Nobelpreisträger antworten (Children ask questions, Nobel Prize winners answer)
München : Heyne, 2001. - 198 p.
ISBN 3-453-19702-x
Life - Existence
Children have many essential questions on their minds. Famous contemporary Nobel Prize winners - who were awarded the prize in physics, chemistry, economics, literature, or medicine, as well as alternative thinking and commitment for world peace - answer them. Questions start with: Why do we have to go to school?, Why can't I live exclusively on French Fries?, Why are boys different from girls? and finally lead to the one question these people should really know how to answer: How do I win the Nobel Prize? As shown here, complicated issues can be explained to children without distorting the facts through oversimplification. The more than twenty contributions to this commendable book make a worthwhile and humorous read and provide a cheerful introduction to sciences in general. (8+)


94
Strittmatter, Erwin (text)
Ensikat, Klaus (illus.)
Der Weihnachtsmann in der Lumpenkiste (Father Christmas in the box of rags)
Berlin : Aufbau-Verl., 2001. - 31 p.
ISBN 3-351-04020-2
Christmas - Father Christmas - Village - Traditions - Trick
In former times, Knecht Ruprecht (a helper to St. Nicholas well-known and feared by German children) was quite an unruly fellow. Thus, to diminish her children's fears during Advent, the mother of this story's narrator invents the kind and diligent Father Christmas working away in the attic. The children are allowed to leave some food for him there every day. Yet, when the fellow doesn't even reject dead mice, it becomes fairly obvious that it is rather the family cat who's up in the attic. Eventually, the polite protagonist informs his mother that Father Christmas has given birth to some kittens. Klaus Ensikat shows the illogical events, the secrets and the embarrassing moments during the Advent Season. Details of a village life and its old traditions come to life in his subtle and ironical pictures. (8+)


95
Wagner, Klaudia (text)
Stoebe, Susann (illus.)
Ein Hund für Oma Malwina (A dog for Granny Malwina)
Oldenburg : Lappan, 2001. - [28] p.
ISBN 3-8303-1017-x
Old age - Loneliness - Coping - Shortsightedness - Animal home - Dog – Lion
Since Granny Malwina feels lonely, she gets herself a dog from the animal home. Because of her shortsightedness, however, she doesn't notice that she has accidentally taken a lion, who retired from the circus. True, this fellow is not dangerous anymore, but still he causes quite a riot when strolling through the town on his own. Luckily enough, Granny Malwina and a crowd of children manage to save him from being »exiled«. Listening to the text and watching the turbulent pictures, readers will easily recognise the old lady's great sense of humour and her cleverness in dealing with everything. (4+) ¤


96
Wenzel, Angela (text/select. of illus.)
Die Kunst der Illusion : ich sehe was, was du nicht siehst! (The art of illusion : I see something that you don't see)
München [et al.] : Prestel, 2001. - 29 p.
(Abenteuer Kunst)
ISBN 3-7913-2477-2
Optical illusion - Painting - Arts
The play with optical illusion has a longstanding tradition among artists: Painters and graphic artists from the seventeenth century to this day have dealt with this topic in endless variation. Whether the focus is on the two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional objects, on optical illusions created in inlays, or on central perspective and its alienation and distortion; whether the artists paint simple pictures with hidden objects to search for, or surrealist interpretations of the visible world: The observer is always encouraged to use his or her imagination to solve the puzzles and to find ways of identifying the (supposedly) portrayed objects inside the pictures. This book, which shows the joys of optical games in a historical overview, is already suitable for small children. (6+)


97
Wunderlich, Gert (text)
Herfurth, Egbert (illus.)
Von Affe bis Zebra : das andere Tieralphabet (From Ape to Zebra : the different Animal-Alphabet)
München [et al.] : Prestel, 2001. - 29 p.
ISBN 3-7913-2473-x
Animals - Typography
In this ABC-book the world of animals as well as - on a symbolic level - the human world are presented in a slightly ironic way: The monkeys are staring at the cages just as curiously and foolishly as humans at the zoo, the donkey dresses up as a schoolteacher, the greedy wolverine's cuttlery consists of a double fork and a double spoon on the same handle. On a white background clearly outlined animals, often exaggerated in a caricature-like manner, correspond to a variety of types and letters and their appearance in print. For older readers the development and characteristics of those letters and typefaces are explained in an appendix. Thus, despite its simplicity, the book offers a serious introduction to the world of reading and the great diversity of typography. (5+)

List of countries

List of languages