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Ekornets Fødselsdag Og Andre Fortellinger (1995)

by Toon Tellegen(Favorite Author)

4.07 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Cappelen Damm

review 1: A friend of mine recommended this book as one of Toon’s outstanding little books, which, in this case, I read in an excellent translation.(My Dutch just isn’t that great).There are nine stories in the book with the first one filling almost sixty pages while the others are just a few pages long each.Toon wrote children’s books for almost 25 years, most of them play in an animal world and some of his main characters are the squirrel and the ant.Toon Tellegen and Jessica Ahlberg are a perfect match for this lovely little book in which the squirrel is preparing for his birthday party.Publisher’s Weekly stated that the book feels like an old friend and I must say, I completely agree.Even though I did not read this book as a child, it felt as if I had; or at least should... more have.The animals in the stories have human characteristics: they eat cake, celebrate birthdays, dress up, dance for fun and give away birthday presents.Slightly surrealistic, yet very easily imaginable.The language is simple enough and only introduces a few more difficult words such as renovation, but the melody of the writing is even still beautiful in the translation. I read that some people argue that the book is not suitable for young children (stories too surreal or too long and the illustrations too small for children), but I think the surrealism is just fine for children (it will get or keep them thinking and help them be creative) and the small illustrations sometimes take away from the details (but not if you get real close and look harder!). As to the length of the first story: it could be broken up or simply not read right before bedtime when kids generally tend to fall asleep within the first couple of sentences (and trust me, that happens to adults too! I speak from experience!).Jessica’s illustrations are also beautiful, albeit possibly a little small to really appreciate the details.Although Toon wrote this book as a children’s book, it really does make sense for adults too. It cheers you up and makes a beautiful stocking filler, throw-in, house-warming gift (maybe for a birthday party?), or present simply just so. It cost me somewhere around £8 and I think it’s definitely a keeper, until I come across that one birthday party where it will make the perfect gift.
review 2: The last thing Squirrel wants is a boring birthday, so he invites every furry, winged and finned creature he knows to his party, and they all RSVP, even Whale! The friends dance and snack and schmooze until glowworm is too sleepy to glow, and hippo starts to yawn. But never fear readers, the fun isn't over because this beginning chapter book is filled with festivals--a housewarming for snail, and a costume party with snakes disguised as mice, and elephants clad as butterflies! less

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