Books 8 to 12 years

Enjoying art is all about interacting with what you see. Using fifty paintings from the fourteenth to the early twentieth century, Meesterlijk! – How to look at art with children shows that art is accessible to everyone, from young to old.

How heavy are clouds? Who invented the pencil? How many different knots are there? From the Fibonacci sequence to atomic structure. From the periodic table of elements to solstices and equinoxes. From the spheres of the earth to cloud classification. But also: how is an orchestra put together? Everything about screws and nails. Paintbrushes and brushes. The phases of the moon. Paper sizes. Rivers. The human skeleton... There is a book to savor on everything. Whoever starts looking and reading, will not be able to stop.

A survival guide. A travelogue. A goldmine of information! Four years ago, I was traveling with friends through a remote corner of the Amazon when we came across an old, abandoned hut. In a corner of the camp, buried under fallen palm trees, we found a metal box that had rusted shut over the years. Curious, we opened it. There we saw a number of notebooks, diaries and sketchbooks, beautifully preserved because they were wrapped in plastic bags. At that moment, we did not yet know that we had found the life's work of an unknown artist and explorer. The letter that came with the books: If you are reading this, my notes have been found. I am leaving them here safely at my camp, with a few other things that I cannot take with me. These notes contain what I have discovered in my life, and I am now sharing them with you. In them you can find everything - from how to make a shelter to how to build a raft and camp in the wild - as well as a few of my own adventures. Read everything carefully. You will need it if you ever go on a journey of discovery yourself. Be a good person, have adventures… and look after your parents

Polar bears play in the snow, tigers hunt in the jungle, fireflies twinkle in the evening sky and nightingales sing in the heart of the forest - animals are everywhere. The poems in this wonderful collection are beautifully illustrated and packed with quirky facts about animals of every colour, shape and size - from giant blue whales to hog-nosed bats as small as a toffee. With words by children's author Nicola Davies and illustrations by one of the world's best illustrators, Petr Horácek, this book celebrates the animal world in all its dazzling variety and majesty.

Is dressing up art? How do you paint feelings? How do you make an Alberto Giacometti? Can you paint a nose? Why did Jeff Koons make a huge work of art out of seventy thousand plants? The Art Book for Children explores the different ideas, meanings, roles and functions of art. Why does an artist make certain choices? Why does he work in a certain style? The creativity and imagination of children is challenged in a fun way by stimulating questions about the most beautiful examples from the history of painting, sculpture and photography. Clear, simple and very fun - The Art Book for Children is ideal for parents and teachers who want to introduce children to art for the first time, but also for everyone else who wants to look at art in a new and refreshing way. With artworks by: Albrecht Altdorfer, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Jacopo Bassano, Sandro Botticelli, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Vittore Carpaccio, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Edgar Degas, Jan van Eyck, Alberto Giacometti, Gilbert and George, Vincent van Gogh, Katsushika Hokusai, Hans Holbein the Younger, Donald Judd, Jeff Koons, Leonardo da Vinci, Simone Martini, Joan Miró, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Rembrandt van Rijn, Bridget Riley, Henri Rousseau, Cindy Sherman, JMW Turner, Diego Velázquez, Andy Warhol and Grant Wood.

Do you know what to do when a disaster strikes? At home or in your neighborhood? This is a manual for thirty-four major and minor disasters full of funny, scary and wonderful facts about all possible catastrophes. Because do you know how many bones you can break? How to perform CPR? What the biggest earthquake ever was? How to notice that a forest fire is coming? And how much blood is in your body? A splashy, cheerful book that is a pleasure to browse through and an indispensable reference work for anyone who wants to help others and make the world a better place. Part of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Red Cross.

There are animals that are fantastic at disguising themselves. Some have camouflage or can change colour, so that they do not stand out in their environment, others even pretend to be other animals or plants. Masters of Disguise is an ode to these animals. First, it is explained how a certain animal manages to disguise itself, followed by a large search plate in which you have to discover the animal in question. Twelve animals are discussed, from the polar bear to the orchid mantis and from chameleons to mimic octopuses. Twelve astonishing stories and twelve beautiful search plates.

Why do artists use elephant poop, eggshells and crushed cars in their art? Who made sculptures out of fluorescent tubes? Are two giant cheeseburgers better than one? Does Rachel Whiteread's bed look attractive? And why is there a costume hanging on a museum wall? What is Modern Art? tells you all about this and more. It's the perfect introduction to the world of modern art, featuring the work of seventy artists from around the world. This book is packed with fun facts: explore subjects such as the universe, strange materials and bizarre creatures, pick up ideas, learn about styles and techniques, and be amazed by artists' statements and the way they create their work. Short biographies of the artists provide fun facts, a glossary explains key art terms and there's a list of websites and museums where you can discover more. Whether you enjoy it at home or at school, as a child or as an adult, What is Modern Art? is a must-read. challenges you to marvel at and enjoy the most extraordinary works of art of our time.

Dive into fifteen aquatic worlds and discover the extraordinary creatures that live there. Visit the incredible, lifelike aquariums that our blue planet is rich in: from seagrass meadows to vast oceans, from deep-sea volcanoes to tropical coral reefs, from mangroves to estuaries. This beautiful book celebrates aquatic life in all its forms, from the great blue whale to the tiniest shrimp.

Do you prefer to travel by boat or balloon? What is your favourite animal, a cat or a camel? Choose per question or subject from the many images of (also very old) objects from the British Museum. With search queries and images in colour.

A fascinating book to shudder at and learn from. Who do you think can tell the story of pandemics and plagues best? Exactly! The rats, fleas, ticks and other nasty creatures that carry them! And that's what they do in this book. It's wonderful, gruesome, funny and gross - this hilariously illustrated book is as full of facts as a flu patient is of germs. From bubonic plague and leprosy to malaria and corona, you'll learn all about the three pathogens: protists, bacteria and viruses. You'll discover how they cause damage, what forms they take, what the dangers are of a world where everyone is constantly travelling - and how we as humans fight all those diseases. A fascinating book to shudder at and learn from.

16-year-old Dolf from Amstelveen signs up as a guinea pig: he will be flashed back to the Middle Ages by a matter transmitter to take a look there for one afternoon. At five o'clock that same afternoon, Dolf has to be at the agreed-upon place again to be flashed back to the twentieth century. But due to a miscalculation, he ends up in the year 1212 in a Children's Crusade and not at the knight's tournament he wanted to attend so much. And Dolf does not manage to be at the agreed-upon place on time. Does Dolf have to stay in 1212 forever?

Thirty magnificent animals need our help now more than ever before. From the Indian tiger to the New Zealand Kakapo, they’re pictured on colourful stamps from their home countries. Join us on a journey around the world to meet these beautiful endangered animals and find out how we can save them.

Imagine flying above a storm-tossed sea. You are on a perilous journey, thousands of miles from land. Rain lashes the churning water. You have not set foot on solid ground for ten years. You are a giant albatross, forever on the move, searching for food. This is just one of the incredible migration stories in this book. Animals of all shapes and sizes make epic journeys across our planet, through wild weather, avoiding hungry predators, just to survive. Imagine the treks of emperor penguins, great white sharks, herds of elephants, millions of red crabs... Written by Mike Unwin, British travel writer of the year, with illustrations by Jenni Desmond, winner of the Vlag & Wimpel and Best Illustrated Children's Book Awards from the New York Times.

A masterpiece that still enchants

'Don't think about it any more, I won't tell you anyway. That day the red swan flew. Only that day. And then your grandfather lost him. These things happen to boys, it's quite normal really. Boys lose things.'

A beautiful bound reissue of Sjoerd Kuypers enchanting masterpiece The Red Swan.

Jakob is going to help his grandfather during the autumn holidays with the renovation of his house. In the evenings, grandpa tells him exciting stories. Until one morning he has an accident: he slides off the roof and cuts his hand and leg. With a lot of pain and fever, he ends up in bed.

From an old woman, Jacob hears that his grandfather can only be cured if the red wooden swan he lost as a boy is found.

Jakob goes on a quest in the forest his grandfather told him about and ends up in a fantastic world of bloodcurdling adventure. All of grandpa's stories turn out to be true.

The Red Swan was successfully made into a film and is one of Sjoerd Kuyper's most beloved and well-known books.

They sit very quietly together, Robin and Mom and Dad. Only Robin wobbles a little now and then. They look at the stars, the silent stars in the high, high sky. And the stars look at Robin and Mom and Dad and they wink. And then... and there... yes... Robin knows for sure... there falls a star! A flash, a streak, a glowing point that rushes through the sky. 'Did you see it? Did you see it?' Robin shouts. 'Did you see the falling star?' 'I saw it,' says Mom. 'Me too,' says Dad. 'Now we can all make a wish.' Robin is glad he didn't go pee. Do you know a child who didn't grow up with stories about Robin? There's nothing better than climbing onto Mom or Dad's lap to be read to, and from that safe place to step into Robin's world. In his world, the everyday becomes super exciting - exactly as life should be for a five-year-old. In 1990 Robins zomer (Robin's Summer) was published, the first book in a long series about Robin, the most endearing toddler in the Netherlands. Robin en God (Robin and God) - the sixth book in the series - was awarded a Gouden Griffel (Golden Griffel). With O rode papaver, boem pats knal (O red poppy, boom, bang), Sjoerd Kuyper proves once again that Robin is irresistible: for over 20 years he has looked at life with eternal childlike wonder.

When Jerry, Bram, Linda and Hassan go to school one day, they don't know what they see: the walls are completely covered in racist texts. The classroom is also a mess: plants have been knocked over and drawings have been ripped off the walls and torn up. Everyone is shocked: who is behind this? With the help of parents and friends, the walls are painted and the classroom is cleaned up again, but a few weeks later it happens again. Again, there are hateful slogans on the walls, but now the aquarium has also been smashed and the rabbits have been murdered. Nobody knows who did it. However, Linda finds something... Will that help to unmask the perpetrators?

Niels is a quiet, highly gifted boy, Mr. Bergmans an old astronomer who leads a hermit's existence. When these two loners meet, a friendship develops in which they inspire each other to special insights about the cosmos and life. Until Mr. Bergmans does something wonderful, something unforgettable, something that shows that he loves Niels as if he were his own son, but also something that shakes their lives to their foundations... An ode to wonder and eternal friendship.