
Picture book author Marije Tolman (L) and Gift authors Terry Denton and Andy Griffiths (R)
The Children’s Book Week Gift will be written next year by Australians Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, known for the series The crazy tree house. It is the first time in the 68-year history of the Children’s Book Week that a foreign author and illustrator provide the gift.
The week will be held from October 5 to 16 and is themed Gi-ga-green. “Nature is all around us”, organizer CPNB tells children. “There is so much to discover and do outside. Go on an adventure!”
Writer Griffiths and draftsman Denton published their first book in the Treehouseseries in 2011 and the counter is now at ten volumes. The books are a huge success worldwide. In the Netherlands, the books, translated by Edward van de Vendel, have been awarded the Prize of the Dutch Children’s Jury several times. There are 1.3 million copies of the various The crazy tree housebooks sold.
According to CPNB director Aendekerk, everything will be pulled out for the next edition of the Children’s Book Week. “With their humorous books, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton have helped so many children discover the joy of reading, so we are honored that they are writing the Children’s Book Week Gift.”
Picture book
The Picture Book of the Children’s Book Week will be made by Marije Tolman next year, the CPNB has further announced. Tolman also once made a book about a tree house, entitled the tree house (2010). In 2019 she received a Silver Brush for the picture book fox.
The gift can be obtained free of charge in bookstores during the Children’s Book Week, with a purchase of at least 12.50 euros in children’s books. Tolman’s picture book will then be for sale at a discounted price.