SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: A HAPPY PLACE
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.brittateckentrup.com/
CITY: Berlin
STATE:
COUNTRY: Germany
NATIONALITY: German
LAST VOLUME: SATA 365
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1969, in Hamburg, Germany; married Ian Stenhouse (an artist); children: Vincent.
EDUCATION:Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design, B.A. (with honors), 1992; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1996.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator and author. Artist-in-residence at Cité International des Arts, Paris, France, 1994; guest artist in Madrid, Spain, 2015. Exhibitions: Work exhibited at galleries, including Parkhaus Gallerie, Berlin, Germany, 1996; The Tannery, London, England, 1998; James Freeman Gallery, London, 2003-10; Burg Wissem Bilderbuchmuseum, 2013, 2014, 2015; Bologna Book Fair, 2016, 2023; and elsewhere in Europe, including Portugal and France.
AWARDS:Dale Rowney Award; World Book Day selection, 2005, for Bumposaurus by Penny McKinlay; Best Children’s Books selection, Bank Street College of Education, 2008, for How Big Is the World?; Smithsonian magazine Best Books selection, 2010, for Little Wolf’s Song; Choices selection, Cooperative Children’s Book Council, 2013, for both Animal 123 and Animal Spots and Stripes, and 2014, for Run Home, Little Mouse; Best Children’s Books selection, Bank Street College of Education, 2013, for Animal 123; Junior Design Award for innovative picture book and Independent Book Seller Award nomination, both, 2015, both for Tree; Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis nomination and Bologna Ragazzi Nonfiction Award special mention, both 2016, both for Alle Wetter; Purple Island Award, Nami Concours 2017, for Worauf wartest du?; Ragazzi Award Special Mention, Bologna Book Awards, 2018, for The Egg; Deutsche Akademie für Kinder-und Jugendliterature honor, 2018, for Der Kleine Spross; National Poetry Day Recommended selection (U.K.), 2020, for Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright; numerous international awards.
WRITINGS
Work represented in anthologies, including Wer Tanzt Schon gern Allein?, Peter, 2020. Author’s work has been translated into numerous languages, including Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Flemish, French, Frisian, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Welsh.
SIDELIGHTS
Although her jobs have included teaching and creating art for television programming, Britta Teckentrup is well known for illustrating and writing original stories for young children. Teckentrup’s many picture books include the self-illustrated Big Smelly Bear, Oskar Can … , How Big Is the World?, Mr. Lion Dresses Up!, and The Seedling That Didn’t Want to Grow as well as colorful interactive concept books such as Animal 1 2 3 and Find the Triangle. Reviewing How Big Is the World? in School Library Journal, Judith Constantinides compared Teckentrup’s highly stylized collage illustrations to the artwork of Eric Carle and Leo Lionni, and Pamela Paul cited the “bold visuals and playful arrangements” in her New York Times Book Review appraisal of Animal 1 2 3. Translated into numerous languages, her picture books are enjoyed by children throughout the world.
As a child growing up in Germany, Teckentrup became interested in the connection between story and art. Spending much of her time reading, she also began illustrating many of her favorite stories, and this hobby led to her adult career. Eventually moving to London, England, she perfected her illustration technique at St. Martin’s College of Art & Design and fine art at the Royal College of Art. Teckentrup remained in the United Kingdom for seventeen years before returning home to her native Germany, and she and her family now live in Berlin. Noting that she has “always been drawn to collage,” Teckentrup explained to blogger Deborah Kalb that her “collages used to be all hand-made but are now a mix of printed, textured papers which I scan in to create the artwork digitally.”
Described by a Kirkus Reviews contributor as a “crowd-pleaser” that is “perfect for sharing with young children,” Tecktrup’s self-illustrated Big Smelly Bear is an engaging story-time tale. Here children are introduced to a bear that sees no need to wash or brush his fur until Big Fluffy Bear catches his eye and the grouchy, unkempt creature decides to mend his ways. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly called Big Smelly Bear “one handsome book,” and in School Library Journal, Linda Zeilstra Sawyer recommended Teckentrup’s story as one “sure to make a splash” with younger children who also might be bath-averse.
Another curmudgeonly creature stars in Grumpy Cat, and here shyness causes a striped brown cat to avoid other cats’ overtures of friendship. He ultimately gains a friend when a lost kitten encounters him during a thunderstorm and follows the curmudgeonly kitty everywhere. While Ilene Cooper praised the “appealing” feline characters and “warm and satisfactory” conclusion in Grumpy Cat, she cited as a “high point” Teckentrup’s “graphically inspired, textured,” and large-format art. The author/illustrator “creates remarkably expressive characters,” wrote School Library Journal contributor Kara Schaff Dean, making Grumpy Cat “a winningly attractive book that will have broad appeal.”
In Little Wolf’s Song a young wolf cub is discouraged to find that his howl is hardly heard amid his pack’s nightly cacophony. In fact, it is more like a squeak, although his parents insist that it will change over time. Their prediction is proved to be correct when Little Wolf wanders away from his cozy den and becomes lost in the moonlit forest. Crafted with collages of hand-made papers, Teckentrup’s characteristic graphic-style illustrations pair with a story serving as “an eloquent reminder for late bloomers,” according to a Publishers Weekly contributor. A Kirkus Review contributor cited the “beautifully composed” illustrations as well as the “heartwarming” story in Little Wolf’s Song, “which is told with crisp economy.” Judging the work to be a good story-hour selection, Carolyn Phelan concluded in Booklist that “this pleasing picture book is sure to inspire a chorus of happy howling.”
Teckentrup shares a gentle bedtime tale in her self-illustrated Before I Wake Up … , in which a young child has an adventure-filled dream, traveling throughout the world in a hot-air balloon together with his beloved toy lion. Citing Teckentrup’s “dreamy, sparse text” in Before I Wake Up … , a Kirkus Reviews critic added that mixed-media images “in a gentle, subdued palette propel the story from the dark of night until dawn. … drawing readers into the child’s dream.” The author/illustrator’s “sweetly naive cutout forms … do most of the storytelling,” asserted a Publishers Weekly critic. “In them, night isn’t something to fear or endure; it’s a kingdom of wonders.”
Teckentrup gives young readers a shifting view of what the skies have to offer in her 150-page self-illustrated volume Look at the Weather, which is divided into chapters on sunshine, rainstorms, wintry precipitation, and extreme weather. The prose encourages children to appreciate the aesthetics of nature, in the patterns and textures of clouds, for instance; what certain sights, like a halo around the moon, signify; and how they can actively enjoy the different types of weather. In School Library Journal, Carole Phillips praised the book’s “short lyrical prose” and illustrations that “evocatively convey the incredible variations and sheer power of weather.” Horn Book contributor Danielle J. Ford also admired the book’s “moody, textured images,” noting that they “play with the relationships among art, nature, and light” and “encourage both … observation and appreciation for the endless varieties of weather.” In Booklist, Kay Weisman called Look at the Weather “a perfect introduction for readers just beginning to notice the world around them.”
The seasonal cycle plays a pivotal role in Teckentrup’s picture book The Seedling That Didn’t Want to Grow, which shares “an entertaining, thoughtful, and moving tale about being unique,” according to a Children’s Bookwatch contributor. Paired with pastel-toned images, her story here follows a flower seedling that grows more slowly than its companions; with the help of bugs and birds, it ultimately finds the perfect place to flourish. Citing the “lilting text” here, a Kirkus Reviews writer recommended The Seedling That Didn’t Want to Grow as “a gentle love letter to late bloomers” as well as a story “emphasizing the beauty of biodiversity.” The author/illustrator weaves a similar theme throughout her picture book Kindness Grows, in which her “spectacular” art shares the value of growing toward kindness, according to a Kirkus Reviews critic.
Teckentrup conveys a strong sense of community in several of her picture books, among them Under the Same Sky, We Are Together, and My Little Book of Questions. In the first, animals from around the world are linked by cutouts and sections of verse, one page to the next. With its earth-toned artwork depicting everything from owls to lions to penguins to rabbits to dolphins to flamingos and many others, Under the Same Sky shares a message of unity that “extends to the human community, even if no people are depicted,” as Yelena Voysey noted in School Library Journal. In We Are Together, a growing gathering of children of all races are soon joined by animals as they raise their voice in song. Praising the “depth and complexity” of the illustrations here, a Kirkus Reviews critic cited Teckentrup’s picture book as “a nifty presentation of the well-worn but evergreen message of human connectedness.” The questions posed by children are the same around the globe: this is the message of My Little Book of Questions, which also showcased the author/illustrator’s intricate multimedia art. “The variety of questions” posed over the book’s many pages “ensures that a wide swath of reflective readers will find something to ponder,” asserted a Kirkus Reviews writer.
Designed to inspire children with a love of nature, Teckentrups’ self-illustrated Where’s the Baby? engages lap-sit audiences in a game of finding the baby animals hiding among others of their kind. A Kirkus Reviews writer observed that “the repetitive, orderly, arrangements of the animals on the pages makes finding the baby on each one satisfyingly challenging,” which is sure to inspire “eager readers” to enjoy the “search-and-find interactivity.” Her many interactive picture books, such as Fish Everywhere and Sea: A World beneath the Waves, also inspire audience participation. In its colorful presentation detailing the anatomy, evolution, and habits of fish of all sorts, Fish Everywhere “encourages browsing rather than strictly orderly, page-by-page perusal,” according to a Kirkus Reviews writer, and Elissa Cooper noted in School Library Journal that “questions acting as guessing games are sprinkled throughout.” A peek-through book, Sea also inspires children with interest about fish and other ocean-dwelling creatures by creating opportunities for story-hour hide-and-seek games. Citing its “spectacular” full-color illustrations, Marzena Currie praised Sea in a School Librarian review, noting that its “incredible array of colours” capture “the beauty of the underwater world.”
While many of Teckentrup’s picture books focus on animals, some of these are fanciful and affect human traits. In the board book Mr. Lion Dresses Up! readers watch as a dapper lion plans for an upcoming party and receives costuming advice from his friend Monkey. While recommending this self-illustrated work as “a sweet look at becoming comfortable with ourselves,” a Kirkus Reviews critic added that Monkey’s “zany” suggestions will “have toddlers howling.” [open new]Mr. Lion’s New Hair! gets underway when the leaves and twigs tangled in Mr. Lion’s mane prompt Monkey to proclaim he needs a new do. The monkey breaks out in giggles as the lion tries out peppy pigtails, styled tresses, a beehive, a couple of dye jobs, and some accessories. A Kirkus Reviews writer observed that “deeply mottled and layered illustrations show Lion striking a series of colorful if often chagrined poses,” leading up to the ultimate message of “accepting one’s own beauty.”[suspend new]
The titular characters in Cat & Mouse start out as adversaries rather than friends, but as the pages turn, children realize that their sustained game of chase is not what it seems. Praising Tekentrup’s “textured” artwork here, a Kirkus Reviews critic dubbed this picture book a “sweet story, with just enough excitement to delight young readers.” [resume new]Made with eco-friendly ink and recycled paper, Little Duck follows an adorable duckling as it splashes around, greets a dragonfly and frog, and momentarily losing track of its siblings. A Kirkus Reviews writer observed that the “coarsely textured natural environments are pleasantly atmospheric” in this “environmentally conscious charmer.”
Acknowledging the powerful anger felt by a young girl is Teckentrup’s self-illustrated title When I See Red. With her emotion building up until she cannot control it anymore, the girl lets rage overflow, as conveyed through red-washed imagery of crashing waves and riding a panther. A Kirkus Reviews writer was impressed with the “evocative, somewhat abstract illustrations” and text and typeface that prove “effective at generating the spirit of rage and anger.” The reviewer appreciated the message that girls can feel angry—a message the book does “an outstanding job of delivering”—but worried that condoning active rage might propel children toward destructiveness.
Flipping the emotional script is Teckentrup’s A Happy Place, a fantasy in which a toddler is guided by a friendly star toward a moonlit grove where animals sing and dance. Affirming that nighttime tales are a specialty of Teckentrup’s, a Kirkus Reviews writer observed that the “deep, shadowy hues, highlighted by pops of other muted colors, are comforting rather than frightening,” making for a “dreamlike, quiet, delightful” story.[suspend new]
Teckentrup got her start as an illustrator by creating images for texts by other authors. Among these projects are Malachy Doyle’s stories in Well, a Crocodile Can!, Babies like Me!, and Baby See, Baby Do! A simple book for young children, Well, a Crocodile Can! stresses repetition and makes comparisons between different animals by posing questions to the reader. Baby See, Baby Do! is an oversized board book with flaps that toddlers can lift to make discoveries: pictures of human babies engaging in whatever activities baby animals perform on the facing page. The animals themselves include a range of exotic creatures, contrasting with the typical tame animals illustrated in most children’s books. A contributor in Kirkus Reviews remarked that the “color-filled illustrations feature wide-eyed creatures in habitats that are more whimsical than reality-based,” completing the sense of the exotic.
Penny McKinlay’s Flabby Tabby finds a chubby and middle-aged feline distressed when the new kitten in the house is fast enough to reach the food bowl first at mealtimes. Tabby determines to embark upon a fitness plan so that she can beat out this furry food-stealer, and soon she presents the kitten with some serious competition. Cooper wrote in her Booklist review of Flabby Tabby that Teckentrup’s “ink-and-watercolor pictures, with what seems to be a touch of collage, are full of energy.” “There’s something pleasingly ridiculous about Tabby,” asserted Julia Eccleshare in the London Guardian, and the star of Flabby Tabby is Teckentrup’s “wonderfully lazy and likable fluff ball.”
Written by Mark Sperring, Your Hand in My Hand is a friendship story featuring two mice who enjoy spending time in nature. Although the mice are clearly different—one is small and maybe young and the other large and perhaps older—they play in the rain, crunch through the snow, and enjoy the flowers and insects that add color, sound, and movement to the warmer months. “With pictures that show up beautifully from a distance, this companionable picture book is meant to be shared,” asserted Phelan, the Booklist critic adding that Sperring’s simple rhyming text “maintains a consistent tone and message.”
Other illustration projects by Teckentrup include picture books by British author Jane Clarke. These include Neon Leon, Firefly Home, and Leap Frog. In the first, a chameleon becomes an outcast after his unique neon hues keep his fellow chameleons awake, while Firefly Home teaches a lesson in bioluminescence while helping Florence Firefly find her way home. In School Librarian, Carolyn Copland cited Teckentrup’s “beautiful illustrations” in Firefly Home, suggesting that they will entice youngsters “to reach out and touch the light trails that streak across” each page of this nature-themed story.
[re-resume new]Ruth Doyle wrote You Are Part of the Wonder, which opens with a bird urging a porch-bound child and dog to get out and enjoy nature. Other children join in the exploration of a pond, a stream, meadows, and a park, finding wonder in everything from ants and tadpoles to tasty berries to the wind and the sky. Observing that the illustrations’ “decorative style resembles translucent, feathery cyanotypes and printmaking techniques,” a Publishers Weekly reviewer hailed You Are Part of the Wonder as “lushly visualized.” A Kirkus Reviews writer proclaimed that Teckentrup’s artwork is “enchanting—soft and delicate and full of captivating natural colors”—in this “lovely invitation to children to see themselves as part of the larger world.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, January 1, 2006, Ilene Cooper, review of Flabby Tabby, p. 118; April 1, 2008, Ilene Cooper, review of Grumpy Cat, p. 48; October 1, 2010, Carolyn Phelan, review of Little Wolf’s Song, p. 95; February 1, 2014, Carolyn Phelan, review of Busy Bunny Days: In the Town, on the Farm, and at the Port, p. 69; July 1, 2015, Edie Ching, review of Get out of My Bath!, p. 62; November 15, 2015, Carolyn Phelan, review of Your Hand in My Hand, p. 59; January 1, 2016, Francesca Goldsmith, review of Tree: Seasons Come, Seasons Go: A Peek-through Picture Book, p. 102; March 1, 2018, Kay Weisman, review of Look at the Weather, p. 42.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, October, 2015, Hope Morrison, review of Get out of My Bath!, p. 116.
Children’s Bookwatch, June, 2020, review of The Seedling That Didn’t Want to Grow.
Guardian (London, England), July 9, 2005, Julia Eccleshare, review of Flabby Tabby, p. 33.
Horn Book, July-August, 2018, Danielle J. Ford, review of Look at the Weather, p. 139.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2002, review of Baby See, Baby Do!, p. 103; December 1, 2005, review of Flabby Tabby, p. 1277; March 1, 2007, review of Big Smelly Bear, p. 232; September 15, 2007, review of How Big Is the World?; April 15, 2008, review of Grumpy Cat; August 1, 2010, review of Little Wolf’s Song; December 15, 2012, review of Playbook Farm; January 1, 2014, review of Run Home, Little Mouse, and Busy Bunny Days; February 1, 2014, review of The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book; July 1, 2014, review of My Book of Opposites; October 1, 2014, review of Up and Down; February 15, 2015, review of Where’s the Pair?; June 1, 2015, review of Get out of My Bath!; December 15, 2015, review of Tree; March 15, 2016, review of Before I Wake Up … ; February 15, 2018, review of Look at the Weather; March 15, 2018, review of Where’s the Baby?; July 15, 2018, review of Under the Same Sky; February 15, 2019, review of My Little Book of Big Questions; April 1, 2019, review of Fish Everywhere; May 15, 2019, review of Cat & Mouse; February 15, 2020, reviews of The Seedling That Didn’t Want to Grow and Lion Dresses Up!; March 1, 2020, review of We Are Together; July 15, 2020, review of The House by the Lake; August 15, 2020, review of Kindness Grows; January 15, 2021, review of Little Duck; March 15, 2021, review of Reptiles Everywhere; August 1, 2021, review of When I See Red; September 15, 2021, review of Mr. Lion’s New Hair!; November 1, 2022, review of Tiptoe Tiger; December 15, 2022, review of Birds Everywhere; June 15, 2023, review of When I Became Your Grandma; December 1, 2023, review of You Are Part of the Wonder; December 15, 2023, review of A Happy Place.
New York Times Book Review, May 30, 2012, Pamela Paul, reviews of Animal 1 2 3 and Animal Spots and Stripes.
Publishers Weekly, April 10, 1995, review of Coyote Makes Man, p. 62; November 4, 1996, review of Kancil and the Crocodiles, p. 74; March 5, 2007, review of Big Smelly Bear, p. 60; September 6, 2010, review of Little Wolf’s Song, p. 37; November 2, 2015, review of Tree, p. 82; February 22, 2016, review of Before I Wake Up … , p. 87; January 29, 2018, review of Look at the Weather, p. 191; June 25, 2018, review of Under the Same Sky, p. 186; August 12, 2019, review of How Big Is Our Baby?, p. 62; November 20, 2023, reviews of A Happy Place and You Are Part of the Wonder, p. 82.
Resource Links, December, 2013, Tanya Boudreau, review of Run Home, Little Mouse, p. 10.
School Librarian, spring, 2016, Elizabeth Baskeyfield, review of Tree, p. 28; summer, 2018, Carolyn Copland, review of Firefly Home, p. 89; autumn, 2019, Marzena Currie, review of Sea: A World beneath the Waves, p. 156.
School Library Journal, March, 2000, Christine A. Moesch, review of Well, a Crocodile Can!, p. 194; July, 2003, Steven Engelfried, review of Bumposaurus, p. 101; August, 2004, review of Dog, p. 92; February, 2006, Elaine Lesh Morgan, review of Flabby Tabby, p. 108; June, 2007, Linda Zeilstra Sawyer, review of Big Smelly Bear, p. 126; December, 2007, Judith Constantinides, review of How Big Is the World?, p. 101; May, 2008, Kara Schaff Dean, review of Grumpy Cat, p. 110; November, 2010, Julie Roach, review of Little Wolf’s Song, p. 85; March, 2014, Laura Stanfield, review of The Odd One Out, p. 128; April, 2014, Blair Christolon, review of Busy Bunny Days, p. 137; October, 2014, Marianne Saccardi, review of Sleep Tight, Little Bear, p. 99; November, 2014, Heidi Estrin, review of Up and Down, p. 94; April, 2015, Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, review of Where’s the Pair?, p. 136; June, 2015, Gay Lynn Van Vleck, review of Get out of My Bath!, p. 74; October, 2015, Jenna Boles, review of Your Hand in My Hand, p. 71; November, 2015, Lisa Kropp, review of Tree, p. 81; May, 2016, Julie Roach, review of Before I Wake Up … , p. 85; March, 2018, Carole Phillips, review of Look at the Weather, p. 140; July, 2018, Amy Shepherd, review of Neon Leon, p. 49; September, 2018, Yelena Voysey, review of Under the Same Sky, p. 97; May, 2019, Elissa Cooper, review of Fish Everywhere, p. 114; January, 2020, Deanna Smith, review of Mr. Lion Dresses Up!, p. 52.
ONLINE
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/ (June, 2020), author interview.
Boxer Books website, http://www.boxerbooksltd.co.uk/ (January 25, 2008), “Britta Teckentrup.”
Britta Teckentrup website, https://www.brittateckentrup.com (June 3, 2024).
Business Asset, https://business-asset.com/eng/ (March 16, 2022), Leah Atkins, “An Interview with Britta Teckentrup.”
Federation of Children’s Book Groups website, https://fcbg.org.uk/ (September 8, 2021), “Q&A with Britta Teckentrup.”
PFD, http://www.pfd.co.uk/ (April 15, 2009), “Britta Teckentrup.”
Walker Books website, http://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/ (April 15, 2009), “Britta Teckentrup.”
Young Writers, https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/ (December 29, 2018), author interview.
Britta Teckentrup
Britta Teckentrup grew up in a town called Wuppertal. She moved to London in 1988 to study illustration and fine art at St Martin’s College and the Royal College of Art and ended up staying in England for 17 years. Britta has created over 40 books, translated into 20 different languages. Britta’s illustrations have appeared in magazines, on homewares, clothes and packaging. Britta now lives and works in Berlin with her artist husband, son Vincent, and their cat.
Britta Teckentrup is an award winning illustrator, author and fine artist. She was born in Hamburg and grew up in a city called Wuppertal.
She moved to London in 1988 to study illustration and fine art at St Martin's College and the Royal College of Art. Her awards include a nomination for the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis and two Special Mention at the Bologna Ragazzi Award for 'Alle Wetter' and 'The Egg'.
'Don't Wake Up Tiger' was Dutch picture book of the year 2018 and 'Under the Same Sky' on the shortlist for the Kate Greenaway Award.
Britta has been invited to give workshops at The Edinburgh Book Festival, Hay Festival, Bath Festival and Ilustratour and her fine art work has been frequently exhibited at her London gallery and at art fairs all over the world. You can listen to an interview on Deutschlandfunk here.
Since 1993 Britta has written and illustrated over 120 picture books which have been translated into over 30 different languages.
After 17 years in the UK - Britta now lives and works in Berlin with her Scottish husband and their son Vincent.
Education
1994-96 - MA(RCA) - Royal College of Art - Fine Art Printmaking- London
1989-92 - BA(HONS) - Central St. Martins College of Art and Design - Illustration - London
1994 - Artist in residence, Cite International des Arts - Paris
1990 - Exchange, National College of Design - Dublin
1988-89 - Foundation Course - Harrow College of Higher Education (University of Westminster)
Awards etc.:
2022 - “Von Raben und Krähen”, White Raven,International Youth Library, October 2022
2022 - Illustradays Exhibition, Athens
2022 - “The Memory Tree”, selected for le immagini della fantasia‘, La Fondazione Stepan Zavrel, Sàrmede
2022 - “Von Raben und Krähen”, Luchs Empfehlung, January 2022
2022 - “Von Raben und Krähen”, Spiegel Bestseller Liste, January 2022
2022 - “The House by the Lake”, Kate Greenwaway longlist
2022 - ESPAI CULTURISTA SENDAK - Ilustrarium, exhibition, Barcelona
2022 - “Frau Susetts wundersame Reise - written by Salah Naoura (Tulipan)”, exhibition Münchner Bücherschau
2021 - “Von Raben und Krähen”,(Jacoby&Stuart) - 'DIE BESTEN 7 - Deutschlandradio Kultur ' (December)
2021 - Eintrag im “Lexikon der Illustration - Stiftung Illustration”
2021 – Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur - Klima-, Umwelt- und Natur-Buchtipps NOVEMBER 2021
2021 - Special Mention Bologna Ragazzi Poetry Award für “Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright”
2021 -”The House by the Lake/ La casa sul lago” – third place Premio letteratura ragazzi Cento Italy
2021 - “Der kleine Spross”, Special Mention Premio Gianni Rodari Buchpreis
2021 - “The House by the Lake”, Purple Island Award 'Nami Concours 2021'
2021 - “The House by the Lake”, selected and exhibited at Ilustrate Portugal
2021 - “Von Raben und Krähen”, selected for le immagini della fantasia‘, La Fondazione Stepan Zavrel, Sàrmede
2020 - 'Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright' (Nosy Crow/National Trust/Fiona Waters) - is on the WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR shortlist '
2020 - 'Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright' (Nosy Crow/National Trust/Fiona Waters) - is on the BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARDS 2020'
2020 - 'Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright' (Nosy Crow/National Trust/Fiona Waters) - is a National Poetry Day book recommendation'
2020 - 'Sommerhaus am See- das Bilderbuch' written by Thomas Harding(Jacoby&Stuart) - Bücher für junge Leser - ein Beitrag von Thomas Linden
2020 - 'Sommerhaus am See- das Bilderbuch' written by Thomas Harding(Jacoby&Stuart) - LUCHS-Jury Empfehlung' im Monat August
2020 - 'Sommerhaus am See- das Bilderbuch' written by Thomas Harding(Jacoby&Stuart) - Buchvorstellung Lesart - DeutschlandfunkKultur' (August)
2020 - 'Sommerhaus am See- das Bilderbuch' written by Thomas Harding(Jacoby&Stuart) - 'DIE BESTEN 7 - Deutschlandradio Kultur ' (August)
2020 - 'Sommerhaus am See- das Bilderbuch' written by Thomas Harding(Jacoby&Stuart) - 'Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur - Buch des Monats - Juli'
2020 - 'Der kleine Spross' (Prestel) - Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur (ÖKOLOGISCHER RUCKSACK 2020) -
2020 - 'Sommerhaus am See- das Bilderbuch' written by Thomas Harding(Jacoby&Stuart) - 'DIE BESTEN 7 - Deutschlandradio Kultur ' (April)
2019 - 'My Little Book of Big Questions' has received a Kirkus starred review (originally published by Jacoby&Stuart/UK and US co-editions by Prestel)
2019 - 'Die Schule' (Jacoby&Stuart) - 'DIE BESTEN 7 - Deutschlandradio Kultur ' (January)
2018 - 'Moon' is nominated for the ' Kate Greenaway Award'
2018 - 'Under the Same Sky' is shortlisted for the ' Kate Greenaway Award'
2018 - 'The Egg' (Prestel) has received a special mention at the Bologna Ragazzi Non Fiction Award 2018
2018 - Artwork selected for the 'Ilustrarte 2018' in Portugal
2018 - 'Die Feder/Birds and Their Feathers' is shortlisted for the 'Nami Concours 2019 '
2018 - 'Look at the Weather' has received a Kirkus starred review and is on the Kirkus Best Children's Books of 2018 List!
2018 - 'We Are Together', 'Before I Wake Up', 'Under the Same Sky' and 'Bee' are read on BBC's Cbeebies by Orlando Bloom, Suranne Jones, Celia Imrie and George Ezra
2017 - 'Under the Same Sky' is longisted for the UKLA Book Awards
2017 - 'Under the Same Sky' & 'Never Take a Bear to School' are nominated for the ' Kate Greenaway Award'
2017 - 'Worauf wartest du?' (Jacoby&Stuart) is on the White Ravens list 2017
2017 - 'Don't Wake Up Tiger/'Ssst! De tijger slaapt' (Nosy Crow/Gottmer) has been chosen as the 'Dutch picture book of the year 2018'
2017 - 'Das Ei' (Prestel) - 'Emys Sachbuchpreis im Monat September'
2017 - 'Das Ei' (Prestel) - 'DIE BESTEN 7 - Deutschlandradio Kultur ' (June)
2017 - 'Das Ei' (Prestel) ist Naturbuchtipp des Monats Mai 2017, Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur
2017 - 'Don't Wake Up Tiger' (Nosy Crow) has been nominated for the Children's and Teen Choice Book Awards in the US
2017 - 'Worauf wartest du?' (Jacoby&Stuart) won the Purple Island Award at the 'Nami Concours 2017 '
2017 - 'Worauf wartest du?' (Jacoby&Stuart) - Book recommendation on '3Sat Kulturzeit' (4.November)
2016 - 'Worauf wartest du?' (Jacoby&Stuart) - 'DIE BESTEN 7 - Deutschlandradio Kultur ' (November)
2016 - 'Alle Wetter' (Jacoby&Stuart) is shown on 'Kika'
2016 - 'The Odd One Out' series (Templar) has won an excellence award at the 'Global Illustration Awards' awarded at the Frankfurt Book Fair
2016 - 'Alle Wetter' (Jacoby&Stuart) is nominated for the DJLP (Sachbuch) Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2016
2016 - 'Alle Wetter' (Jacoby&Stuart) has received a special mention at the Bologna Ragazzi Non Fiction Award 2016
2016 - Bologna Book Fair, selected for the Buchkollektion der "alten Meister", Germany Guest of Honour 2016
2016 - Tree, is nominated for the Independent Book Seller Award
2016 - Tree/Baum der Jahreszeiten, is on the shortlist for Die schönsten deutschen Bücher
2016 - Selected into the top ten of the 'Dutch picture book of the year' award/Prentenboek TopTien 2016 - 'Tree'
2015 - Ilustratour - invited guest artist for Germany, Madrid
2015 - Parents' Choice Awards - recommendation for 'Get Out of My Bath', Nosy Crow
2015 - Natur Buchtipp Oktober 2015 'Der Baum der Jahreszeiten', Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur e.V.
2015 - Institut für Jugendliteratur, Wien 'Alle Wetter', Buch des Monats August 2015
2015 - Die 100 Besten, Münchner Bücherschau Junior - Der Baum der Jahreszeiten
2015 - Emys Sachbuchpreis Juli 2015 WIS proWissen Potsdam e. V. - 'Alle Wetter'
2015 - Klima Buchtipp April 2015'Alle Wetter', Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur e.V.
2015 - „Alle Wetter“ steht auf der Longlist der diesjährigen Wissensbücher des Jahres
2015 - „Tree“ wriiten by Pat Hegarty and published by Little Tiger UK has won the Junior Design Award for most innovative picture book
2015 - Nominated for the Beehive Book Award Children’s Literature Association of Utah - 'The Odd One Out'
2015 - Chosen book for Bookstart/Stiftung Lesen Belgium - 'Lauf nach Haus, kleine Maus' (Got tmer/Jacoby&Stuart)
2015 - Selected as one of the best 30 books for children in 2015 by Crescer magazine in Brazil - 'The Memory Tree' (Rovelle/Orchard)
2014 - FINALISTA en el Premio del Gremio de Libreros de Madrid - 'The Memory Tree'
2014 - ABC Best Books for Children (American Booksellers Association) - 'The Odd One Out'
2014 - Parents' Choice Awards - silver honor for 'The Odd One Out'
2014 - Selected into the top ten of the 'Dutch picture book of the year' award/Prentenboek TopTien 2015 - 'Snel naar huis kleine muis'
2014 - CCBC Choice of 2014 - Run Home Little Mouse, Kids Can Press
2014 - Eselsohr September 2014 - Cover, Galerie und Portät von Kathrin Köller
2013 - Die 100 Besten, Münchner Bücherschau junior - Der Baum der Erinnerung
2013 - Kinder- und Jugendbuchliste SR, Radio Bremen, Winter 2013/14 - Der Baum der Erinnerung
2013 - Chosen by Bank Street as one of the best children's books of 2013 - 'Animal 123' (Outstanding Merit) & Animal Spots and Stripes
2013 - 'A Quiet Day in the Jungle' is shortlisted in the Baby Book Category for the Sheffield Children’s Book Award
2013 - 'Monsieur lion chez le coiffeur' is one of 36 books shortlisted for the Prix jeunesse des libraires du Québec
2013 - 'Monsieur lion chez le coiffeur' is one of the 5 books shortlisted in the 2/3 category for the Prix du hérisson 2013/14
2013 - 'Best Books for Babies' - one of the 10 selected books, Animal Spots & Sripes/123
2013 - Smart Book Award Winner - Grumpy Cat
2013 - Grand Canyon Reader Award shortlist - Grumpy Cat
2013 - CCBC Choice of 2013 - Animal Spots & Stripes
2013 - Bücher, die noch keiner kennt, Münchner Bücherschau junior - Ab ins Bett, kleiner Bär
2013 - Best Children's Books of 2013, Gift book category, Amazon.com - Playbook Pirates
2012 - '123-Tierzählerei' is one of 15 books selected by Bookstart Switzerland (buchstart.ch) for their recommended reading list of 2012/13
2012 - Die 100 Besten, Münchner Bücherschau junior - Lauf nach Haus, kleine Maus
2012 - Kirkus starred review for 'Playbook Farm'
2012 - Chosen for 'Little Big Books' by Gestalten Verlag
2010 - Chosen as one of the 9 best books of 2010 by Smithonian Magazine - Little Wolf's Song
2009 - Chosen book for Bookstart UK (250.000 copies) - Grumpy Cat
2009 - Texas 2x2 reading list Big Smelly Bear
2009 - Voted as one of 100 Best Picturebooks of the Decade by Readingrecovery.org- Big Smelly Bear
2009 - Chosen book for Raising Readers - 'A red train'
2008 - Texas 2x2 reading list Grumpy Cat
2008 - Chosen by Bank Street as one of the best children's books of 2008 - 'How big is the world'
2005 - Recommended Read for World Book Day 2005 - Bumposaurus
2004 - Read on the 'Cbeebies bedtime hour' by Graham Norton & John Barrowman - Bumposaurus
2000 - White Ravens 2000 for 'Well, a Crocodile Can' - written by Malachy Doyle
1996 - Daler Rowney Award 1996 for Printmaking, RCA
1994 - New York Times Bookshelf - 'Coyote makes man'
1992 - Macmillan Children's books (highly recommended entry)
1992 - Work selected for Images - Best of British Illustration
1992 - Elle talent competition - Finalist
1992 - Newcomer of the year, Creative Handbook
Selected interviews, workshops & events:
June 2018 - CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards Ceremony British Library,
book signings, interviews as part of Independent Bookshop Week (IBW)
June 2018 - Feria del Libro, book signings and workshops,, Madrid
January 2017 - Prentenboek van het jaar 2018 -various workshops in the Netherland
August 2017 - Edinburgh Festival - Workshop and readings - click here
31st May - Hay Festival - Workshop and Down the Rabbit Hole LIVE (Kate Greenaway Medal Winners: The Illustrators
Who Made Us) with: Rob Biddulph, Leigh Hobbs, Emma Lewis and Britta Teckentrup - click here
April 2017 - Interview with Ute Wegmann - Deutschlandfunk - Büchermarkt Bücher für junge Leser 'Das Dunkle zieht mich an...' - click here
October 2016 - Various events at the Bath- and Guildford Book Festivals
October 2016 - Interviews in Der Buchmarkt, The Scottish Book Trust, Artist&Illustrators magazine
April 2016 - Waterstones Picadilly, in conversation with Damian Kelleher (with Ben Newman,Benji Davies and myself); London
April 2016 - Central St Martins, talk and various school events and book signings in London
April 2016 - The Guardian - Guardian Gallery with 'Before I Wake Up'
December 2015 - Portrait & Seite 1002, Herbstausgabe 1000 und 1 Buch, Wien
October 2015 - The Guardian - How to draw feature with 'Tree', Little Tiger Press
20-26.7.2015 - Ilustratour invited artist, Madrid, 4 day workshop for professionals & book signings
22.7.2015 - Workshop for children 'Hans im Glück', Goethe Institut, Madrid
14.6.2015 - RBB Radio 1, Interview über 'Alle Wetter', Literaturagenten, Thomas Böhm & Lydia Herms
10.6.2015 - Workshop for children & exhibition, Büchereien Wien
10.6.2015 - Interview Stube Wien, 1001 Buch
16.6.2015 - Radio Interview Ö1 Radio
3.12.2015 - Workshop, Stadtbücherei, Berlin Mitte - Luisenbad
September 2014 - Interview & Cover, Eselsohr
2014 - Radio France Inter - Un intrus s'est perdu
2013 - Münchner Bücherschau - reading, workshop & exhibition for children 'The Memory Tree'
2011 - present - Readings in various bookshops and schools
1994 - 2005 - Visiting lecturer at various colleges including Central St. Martins & Middlesex University
Exhibitions
2023 - "Beauty and the World", Group Show, Bologna Children's Book Fair
2022 - Illustradays Exhibition, Athens
2022 - ESPAI CULTURISTA SENDAK - Ilustrarium, exhibition, Barcelona
2022 - “The Memory Tree”, exhibited at le immagini della fantasia‘, La Fondazione Stepan Zavrel, Sàrmede
2022 - “Frau Susetts wundersame Reise - written by Salah Naoura (Tulipan)”, exhibition Münchner Bücherschau
2021 - “The House by the Lake”, exhibited at 'Nami Concours 2021'
2021 - “The House by the Lake”, exhibited at Ilustrate Portugal
2021 - “Von Raben und Krähen”, exhibited at le immagini della fantasia‘, La Fondazione Stepan Zavrel, Sàrmede
2020 - Exhibition at the Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse in Paris – "La Tête dans les images"
2019 - 100 outstanding picturebooks’ exhibition at the Frankfurt Book Fair - dpictus.com
2018 - 100 outstanding picturebooks’ exhibition at the Frankfurt Book Fair - dpictus.com
2018 - Augen ZU? Augen AUF! Exhibiton curated by Christine Knödler at the Münchner Bücherschau
with Quint Buchholz, Mira Poferl, Susanne Straßer and Britta Teckentrup
2018 - Buchsegler, Exhibition of 'Worauf wartest du?', Berlin
2018 - Ilustrarte 2018 Exhibition, Portugal
2018 - 'Ei & Feder', Exhibition at Krumulus , Berlin
2018 - 'Licht aus! Die Nacht im Bilderbuch', Städtische Galerie, Rosenheim
2018 - Gruppenaustellung, Burg Wissem, Bilderbuchmuseum
2017 - Nami island, Exhibition - Nami Concours 2017 (Purple island winner 'Worauf wartest du?')
2017 - 'Schöner verstehen'Exhibition at Illu 3 – Freiburger Festival für Illustration , Freiburg
2017 - 'Worauf wartest du?'Exhibition at Ravenburger Lesefestival 2017, Buchhandlung „Anna Rahm mit Büchern unterwegs“
2016 - Bologna Book Fair, selected for the 'Buchkollektion der "alten Meister"', Germany Guest of Honour 2016
2016 - Illustration Cupboard, London; 'Das Beste von Allem' - group exhibition
2015 - Exhibition as part of 'Das Beste von Allem', Burg Wissem Stiftung Illustration
2015 - Exhibition, Büchereien, Wien
2014 - Gruppenaustellung 'Es wimmelt in der Burg'- Wimmelbücher überall, Burg Wissem, Bilderbuchmuseum
2013 - Münchner Bücherschau, Austellung und Lesung -'Der Baum der Erinnerung', Gasteig
2013 - Gruppenaustellung (Achtung Baustelle), Burg Wissem, Bilderbuchmuseum
2003-2010 - Represented and annual exhibition - James Freeman Gallery, London
2009 - The Illustrators' Eye, St. Martin's College of Art & Design, London
2005 - 2009 Art Fair (AAF), Battersea, London
2007 - Bridge Art Fair, London
2005 - Art Fair (AAF), New York
1998 - Whitechapel Open, The Tannery, London
1997 - 71:40, Group show, Milch Gallery, London
1996 - The spirit of the staircase, RCA Group show, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
1996 - RCA centenary show, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London
1996 - Last minute creations, Group Show, Parkhaus Gallerie, Berlin
1996 - Front Art, Group show, Berlin
1996 - RCA centenary show, Royal Festival Hall, London
1996 - Four visions, Group show, SNAP, London
Publishing Houses:
UK publishers:
Orchard Books/Hachette, Walker Books/Candlewick, Nosy Crow, Little Tiger, Frances Lincoln, Quarto Publishing, Big Picture Press/Templar, Prestel, Wren&Rook
German publishers:
Jacoby&Stuart, Prestel
UK/French co-edition partners in Germany: Ars Edition, Annette Betz (Überreuter), Prestel, Beltz
Selection of co-edition publishers worldwide:
Orecchio Acerbo Editore, Albin Michel, Libros del Zorro Rojo, Milan, Bayard, Gottmer, Chronicle, Penguin Books, Lóguez Ediciones, Doubleday Books, Simon&Schuster, North South, Veltman Uitgevers, Owlkids,Barefoot Books, Scholastic, Sterling Children's Books, Orca Books, Dial, Edicare Editora , Boxer Books, Ladybird, Bohem Press, Lamberth, Bonnier Carlsen/Sweden, Hachette, Büchergilde Gutenberg, Walker Books/Candlewick, Hatier Jeunesse, De Fontein/Netherlands, Samlaget/Norway, Gallucci Editore, Editions Tourbillon, Lectorum Publications, NubeOcho, Editorial Bruño, Godwin Books, MacMillan, QUATRE FLEUVES, Agora, GRUND, Casterman, Castellano, Alison Green Books, AUTREMENT, BRINQUE BOOK, Ciranda Cultural, De Agostini, Sassi, MINEDITION, Editorial Flamboyant, MARTINIERE, CIRCONFLEXE, LAROUSSE, Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House/China, Hueders, Tianjin People's Publishing House, GeoPlaneta, BL PUBLISHING CO. LTD, Korim, BomBom Publishing and more
Editorial, advertising etc.:
Vogue, Elle, Habitat, Jamie Oliver Magazine Yearbook, Volkswagen, London Transport/LIDA, Easyjet, Marie Claire, BBC Worldwide, Elle Decoration, Waitrose, Daily Telegraph, The Artgroup, Chorion - Noddy, Skew Studio, Waterstones, BDOSH, Evening Standard, Delicious Magazine Ragdoll/Teletubbies/In the Night Garden, Hasbro, Ravensburger, Tweenies, Southbank Centre, Popi/Tralalire/Belle Histoire/Pomme d'Api magazines - Bayard/Milan, Navyblue Design, Proximity London, Duncan Baird Publishing, New Scientist, Two Associates, Ahmad Tea, Sainsburys, Imaginear, The Scotsman, Emap, John Lewis, Bladonmore, World Fashion Channel, Fair Trade
Leah Atkins Leah AtkinsVaria16.03.2022 19:11
An interview with Britta Teckentrup
Britta Teckentrup is a fascinating example of a person who lives comfortably in two languages and two cultures, a topic we returned many times during our conversation. She came to study in England when she was 18 and then lived here for 17 years before moving back to Germany with her partner and son ten years ago. Her formative years as a young adult were spent in London and it is a city (and a children’s publishing world) that she is very comfortable with. Her career as a children’s book illustrator started at her St Martin’s degree show when she was approached by a publisher and asked to illustrate a children’s book. This was James Sage’s Coyote Makes Man, which was followed by a further three books for the same publisher, who made the suggestion that she start writing her own books. At this point, Britta saw children’s publishing as a way of earning money, but her intention was to become a fine artist. She did a Masters at the Royal College, where she never mentioned her publishing work. For many years she saw her books and her fine art as two separate areas of her life. She still continues with both but now acknowledges the art in her illustrations, that her illustrations have just as much ‘soul’, and is very happy to be part of the children’s book world.
Britta normally writes and illustrates the majority of her books herself, a process that she prefers, although she has illustrated the work of others. Her experience has generally been one of working on a text given to her, rather than a collaborative process with an author, though she would be interested in this as a creative experience.
Britta says that she finds it much easier to write in English, that she finds many more words to express the same ideas or emotions. Her language fluency is influenced by where she is living. When in England she felt her spoken English became stronger than her German, but this is now reversed. Before I Wake Up… was originally written in English. It was difficult to find the same tone in the German and in the end it was re-written, and as a result has a different, more playful, tone, though importantly it is still a rhyming text. It is a magical book with a wonderful sense of flow and pace including different sizes of illustration, some wordless pages and powerful endpapers reflecting the dark of the night and the bright light of the morning. The child’s magical dream journey is from dark to light through forest and sea with a series of adventures in the company of a lion, her toy lion from her bedside in the first image. This provides a sense of reassurance, as indeed does the pattern of the rhyming language. Britta describes in a fascinating blog how this book developed out of another idea which she could not make work, but which she now can see developing – the idea of children in the city retaining only a residual sense of colour. Before I Wake Up… and the wonderful The Memory Tree (written after the death of her grandmother, but guided as Britta says by her spirit) are her favourites of the books she has so far written, she thinks because they are both so personal to her.
Her artwork is always exciting. In this book, mood is evoked with a powerful use of colour and texture. She works by a mix of handmade and digital techniques, by created collage, using wonderful papers and prints, which are then worked on digitally, giving freedom to change. Her artwork invites close looking and detailed observation.
Since settling in Berlin, Britta has observed great changes in the children’s publishing world in Germany. She has found a growing willingness to be experimental, which was apparent in the Bologna exhibition of German illustrators this year. Interestingly, but maybe not surprisingly in this context, Germany was the last country to buy co-editions of her work and despite her numerous children’s books dating back to 1993, the first was not published there until 2011. Previously her ‘style did not fit’. The German market is not as driven by the need to sell co-editions and by sales figures and is willing to produce small print runs. This means, for example, that Before I Wake Up … breaks with conventions and is, unusually for a picture book, 56 pages long. This and the beautiful paper that it is printed on add to its magical qualities, the attention to detail perhaps reflecting the fact that Prestel is mainly an art publisher.
The new Alle Wetter is even longer at 168 pages. Britta says working on a book of this length opened things up for her and gave her a freedom and a space that she has never had before. She had originally conceived this concept as four books. We discussed being published simultaneously in the UK and Germany, which is for her very exciting. Britta’s work is published by a number of publishers in the UK, more the norm in Germany, and she says that her brilliant agent has always been clear to distinguish the specific kind of work she does with each of her publishers.
Britta has a very extensive range of books in print and is published in over twenty countries. Her work is particularly popular in the South Asian market, and in France and Spain. Grumpy Cat was selected for one of the Bookstart collections, introducing her work to many. There are a lot of new books to look forward to: Alle Wetter has been bought by the Canadian publisher, Owlkids Books, so we will get to see an English version; another book with Prestel which is the story of a crow called Oskar, again in English and German; a 200 page book exploring the kinds of philosophical questions that children ask; a follow up to Tree, this one called Bee; a follow up to The Odd One Out: a spotting book; more with Nosy Crow, who will publish Don’t Wake Up the Tiger. She is a really busy person, full of ideas and enthusiasm and a pleasure to discuss books with. Look on her website to explore her full list of books in print. There is so much to enjoy.
Q&A with Britta Teckentrup
September 8, 2021/0 Comments/by FCBG blog
We were so excited to be able to ask the wonderful Britta Teckentrup a few questions about her latest book, When I see Red. A book that deals with the emotion of anger. Read on for her amazing answers!
When I See Red von Britta Teckentrup
When I See Red is a powerful account of a young girl and the storm inside her. Where did the idea and inspiration for this story come from?
I wrote the first draft of the poem a few years ago and I can’t quite remember what exactly triggered it. It might have been a personal feeling or a reflection on the mood of the times like the #metoo, #blacklivesmatter and #fridaysforfuture movement – most probably it was a combination of everything.
The poem has been lying around in my drawer for quite some time but I always came back to it and rewrote parts as I began to understand the feelings of rage, fury and anger a little better.
For some reason it feels quite timely to publish it now.
The use of imagery and vocabulary is wonderful and will inspire children to go beyond the use of ‘angry’ when communicating their emotions- was this an essential aim of your book?
Yes, feelings of anger and rage can be so difficult to articulate and I thought that a very visual language paired with powerful images can help children to express themselves.
I hope that the book can be an affirmation and an opening to talk about strong feelings of anger and rage and help to make sense of them.
Has there been a book you have worked on that really challenged you?
Actually, this book has been quite challenging…
There are so many aspects and layers to feelings of anger/rage/fury and it can be approached from so many different angles, that it was quite hard to put it all in a picture book and focus on one aspect.
Rage is often seen as a primitive and negative emotion – it is a warning signal when somebody is crossing our borders or an injustice is done to us.
But whilst sadness makes us powerless, anger can empower us.
Anger can be the powerful force that helps the little girl in my book to move forward – it acts as a catalyst for change if used in the right way – a force for good, a vehicle for changing from within.
(It was important to me to have a girl as the main character as they are quite often discouraged from showing anger.)
Do you have a favourite book that you have created?
Answering that question feels a little bit like picking a favourite child 😉
So, I guess that my answer is ‘no’ – all the books have their own personality and I wouldn’t want to choose.
Having said that, I did write ‘The Memory Tree’ for my late grandmother and it holds a very special place in my heart.
What made you want to create books for children?
Maybe it is the way children look at pictures? I am fascinated by their direct approach to visual language. Most of my books are picture books and I find the combination of words and pictures very inspiring and exciting.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration all around me and it comes from all different sources and places.
It can be a sentence I overhear on the streets, the change of the seasons, a feeling I have that I need to explore further, an object that I find fascinating, an injustice that I can’t get out of my head, nature etc.
Do you carry notebooks or sketchbooks with you for when inspiration hits?
I don’t carry a sketchbook but use my mobile phone as a digital notebook.
Whenever I have an idea for a story, overhear something or have a sentence in my head that I need to write down immediately I use either my phone or any paper that is lying around.
When I See Red by Britta Teckentrup is published by Prestel and is available now!
Teckentrup, Britta WHEN I SEE RED Prestel (Children's None) $14.95 9, 7 ISBN: 978-3-7913-7494-9
From Germany, a story about feeling the emotions of anger and rage.
While there is no gender given for the narrator, the illustrations show a pale-skinned child in a dress, and readers may assume that, since females are often discouraged from showing anger, this book is particularly directed at girls. Paired with evocative, somewhat abstract illustrations that evoke the feelings the narrative exhorts, the child describes being “blinded by fury / …furiously mad.” A little later, “howling / roaring / whistling / … / gushing / pouring / twisting,” the child declares, “Rage unleashes a power I cannot ignore.” The words themselves tumble down the page in large type, and their placement and size, as well as their meaning, are effective at generating the spirit of rage and anger. The transition from the child’s red anger and rage to letting it go is, fabulously, depicted first as crashing waves and then as a panther the child rides astride. The ever smaller type used reiterates this new calm alongside puffy clouds in a blue sky. But while acknowledging that women’s anger is important and vital, this book’s treatment may go over the top. Rage is not the same as anger, since it lacks anger’s control, and a story that validates rage may be validating destructive and self-destructive behavior. That said, the illustrations and the narrative do an outstanding job of delivering their message. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A superbly designed book that validates anger and its extreme sibling, rage. (Picture book. 5-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Teckentrup, Britta: WHEN I SEE RED." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A669986590/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=234cb4d1. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Teckentrup, Britta MR. LION'S NEW HAIR! Twirl/Chronicle (Children's None) $12.99 8, 24 ISBN: 979-1-0363-2861-9
In this French import, Monkey steps in as hairstylist, with some very silly results.
Even the king of the beasts can have bad hair days! When Mr. Lion shows up, leaves and twigs tangled in his mane, Monkey insists it's time for a wash, a blow-dry--and a new look. Designed with a die cut in the shape of Mr. Lion's face beginning on the cover and running through to all but the last page, the book allows each page turn to show Mr. Lion modeling a different 'do. Among the creative collection of styles are perky pigtails, flowing tresses, a bold blond dye job and then an even bolder red, a crown and tiara on a towering beehive, and an "elegant," severe gray number, each style more unexpected than the last. Lean art on roomy white backgrounds keeps the focus on the silly locks and Monkey's antics, whose face is as expressive as Lion's is frozen and skeptical. Deeply mottled and layered illustrations show Lion striking a series of colorful if often chagrined poses, and some readers might be relieved when Monkey finally proclaims that the bells and whistles aren't needed; Mr. Lion's hair is "best just the way it is!" While the message of accepting one's own beauty is refreshing, that Mr. Lion's face still seems uncertain somewhat undermines that theme.
The positive-affirmation message is muddled, but it still makes the cut. (Board book. 2-5)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Teckentrup, Britta: MR. LION'S NEW HAIR!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A675150162/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=67efb65a. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! An Animal Poem for Each Day of the Year
Fiona Waters, editor
Britta Teckentrup, illustrator
Nosy Crow
c/o Candlewick Press
99 Dover St., Somerville, MA 02144
www.nosycrow.com
www.candlewick.com
9781536217186, $40.00, HC, 309 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Burning-Bright-Animal-Poem/dp/1536217182
"Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!" is a stunning collection of brilliantly illustrated animal poems, one for each day of the year. The selection of descriptive lyrics, sensitive verse, and beautiful painted illustrations of all animals in their wonted habitat combines with an awareness of the rolling days, weeks, months, and seasons of the year to make an unforgettable impact on young readers.
An older child can read to a younger child, selecting any page to start, or choosing day by day the poems and creature portraits selected for each day of the calendar year. Illustrations cover a two page spread, while several poems spread across the panorama about one or several animals, birds, fish, or insects. A fully engrossing, revolving portrait of nature emerges, delicately highlighted by selected poems, in haiku, verse, or free format.
The featured poets come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. Here is one from February 7th, titled "I Watched an Eagle Soar," by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve: " I watched an eagle soar/ high in the sky/ until a cloud covered him up,/ Grandmother,/ I still saw the eagle/ behind my eyes." It is superimposed upon a painting of a lovely forested lakeshore mountain landscape, featuring a soaring eagle, bluebird in branches, and a blue tit. So continue the unfolding panorama of the seasons through the months and days of the year, across vivid canvases with fellow living creatures and poems to match their dazzling days and nights.
The poems are by a vast assortment of authors including familiar names and unknown indigenous authors, all translated to English lyrics in this edition. Each month begins with a listing of that month's chosen poets/poems by date, so if a child has a favorite animal, he can seek out poems about that creature. William Blake's "The Tiger" is featured for January 31st, paired against a dark, leafy background shading into his stripes.
Truly a treat and tempting trove of poetic and artistic treasures about creatures, alive and thriving in different settings and seasons, "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!" (150+ colored illustrations, 365+ poems) is an effortless education of the mind and senses which will reward a wide audience of all ages.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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Waters, Fiona. "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! An Animal Poem for Each Day of the Year." Children's Bookwatch, Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A707299346/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=31913c21. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
de la Bedoyere, Camilla REPTILES EVERYWHERE Big Picture/Candlewick (Children's None) $16.99 4, 13 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1707-0
An introduction to everyone’s favorite coldblooded, scaly land (mostly) creatures.
De la Bedoyere tackles her topic in pithy, systematic observations. She opens with a look at reptilian types and anatomy, then surveys both modern and extinct species, then introduces reptiles resident in the Borneo rainforest and other habitats, discusses feeding and parenting patterns, explores survival strategies, explains brumation and other temperature-control mechanisms, looks at sea-turtle migration, and, to close, interrogates our various interactions with reptiles, from fashion and science to conservation efforts. Using what looks like a mix of brushwork and painted paper collage, Teckentrup depicts dozens of flat but realistically detailed snakes, lizards, and crocodilians, all labeled and posing individually or in groups in natural settings. Regular invitations to count or spot dinosaurs, camouflaged geckos, tiny Brookesia chameleons, a baby Komodo dragon, or other creatures will tempt viewers to linger over scenes and take closer looks at the flora as well as the fauna. Though realistic, the illustrations are not without whimsy. A depiction of a pit viper sensing a rat’s body heat positions the rodent’s silhouette as if seen with an infrared camera, a cone of white extending down from the snake’s eyes; a mother timber rattlesnake looks protectively behind her at her brood of snakelets. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.8-by-18.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60% of actual size.)
A meaty but easily digestible overview. (Informational picture book. 7-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"de la Bedoyere, Camilla: REPTILES EVERYWHERE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A654727538/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce05e3c2. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Teckentrup, Britta LITTLE DUCK Orca (Children's None) $10.95 1, 12 ISBN: 978-1-4598-2694-6
Follow Little Duck as she frolics in her pond.
Pick up this board book and immediately notice the pleasing matte, cardboardlike texture of the paper. On the book’s cover, an illustrated leaf proclaims the materials to be “all-natural,” which the publisher attributes to the use of eco-friendly inks and all-recycled paper, a fact that’s sure to delight eco-conscious book buyers. Inside is a pitch-perfect toddler tale chronicling Little Duck’s mild adventures, from splashing into a pond, spotting a dragonfly, greeting a friendly frog and fish, and briefly losing (and then immediately relocating) her siblings to “cuddles [from] Mama” at the end. A direct, matter-of-fact narration recounts the list of activities, striking the perfect balance between sentences concise enough to hold little ones’ attention while adding a smattering of rich vocabulary: “Little Duck is curious and swims closer. The dragonfly’s wings glitter brightly in the sun.” Collagelike illustrations composed of rounded, unlined shapes make the main character look rather like a cheery rubber ducky while minimal and coarsely textured natural environments are pleasantly atmospheric. Because of the unbleached paper, the colors are rather dull, and the lack of contrast gears this for somewhat older readers. A companion book, Little Fox, is equally gentle but suffers from a static main character and an unfortunate typo that confuses the book’s timeline.
An environmentally conscious charmer. (Board book. 2-4)
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"Teckentrup, Britta: LITTLE DUCK." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A648127113/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce795238. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Harding, Thomas THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE Candlewick Studio (Children's None) $17.99 9, 8 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1274-7
Between 1927 and 1999, a house sees four families move in and depart in a picture book adapted from the author’s 2016 book for adults of the same name.
As in Virginia Lee Burton’s classic The Little House (1942), the house itself is the story’s hub. Perched lakeside near Berlin, this house alternately feels “happy,” “abandoned and unloved,” and “alive.” Descriptions of the residents are similarly romantic: “a kind doctor and his cheery wife”; “the musical family”; “a man with a fluffy hat.” How jarring, then, for the families to be coming and going due to events such as genocide, and how much more jarring for those events to be only vaguely implied. Little boys grow from playing in the sand to wearing Hitler Youth uniforms, but the uniforms aren’t identified. World War II and the Berlin Wall go unnamed too, while Nazis are called only “angry men.” The fluffy-hatted man “spie[s] on his neighbors”—huh? Why? This evasive piece sidesteps atrocities and even bare historical details. Readers who already know enough pertinent history to understand Harding’s subtle allusions aren’t the same readers who’d enjoy a lakeside house’s seasonal and emotional cycles. An author’s note supplies names and dates but still never delves into explaining the Nazis, Hitler Youth, or the Berlin Wall; it identifies which families were Jewish but never says why that’s relevant. Teckentrup’s textured artwork is similarly allusive, including a terrifying scene of aerial bombardment and another of a line of tanks but still failing to fill in the narrative gaps. All characters depicted have pale skin.
Aims for charm and historical import but achieves neither. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
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"Harding, Thomas: THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2020, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A629261241/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8755883b. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
de la Bédoyère, Camilla BIRDS EVERYWHERE Big Picture Press (Children's None) $17.99 3, 7 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2973-8
There are birds everywhere, but what's a bird?
Defining birds as creatures that have beaks, two wings, and feathers, this colorful collection is the fourth of an ongoing series; bugs, fish, and reptiles came before, and mammals are on the way. The format is appealing. Each spread covers a distinct topic, sometimes with a large variety of differing examples, sometimes focusing on one species or activity. The author focuses on the barn owl to describe the habits of raptors, penguins for child rearing, and Arctic terns for migration. (The clever design emphasizes the tern's long-distance voyage by requiring the reader to turn the book vertically to read that spread.) Besides the interesting facts, most spreads include an invitation to take a more careful look, with a seek-and-find puzzle or guessing game. Informative text appears in short blocks printed on an illustrative background, sometimes with lines or arrows to help readers figure out what to read next. Topics include bird anatomy, descent from dinosaurs, habitats, feathers and flight, courtship, nesting, migration, and the relationship between birds and humans. Unusually, the author distinguishes possible prehistoric ancestors of songbirds, waterbirds, and raptors. In conclusion, she tells readers how to do some bird-watching themselves. There are no sources or suggestions for further research, but the writer's many previous natural history titles show her longtime engagement with the subject. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An inviting, accessible, information-filled package. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
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"de la Bedoyere, Camilla: BIRDS EVERYWHERE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A729727405/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a35237cb. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Clarke, Jane TIPTOE TIGER Nosy Crow/Candlewick (Children's None) $17.99 12, 6 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2750-5
A tiger searches for a play date in the jungle.
Tara isn't ready for bed. She wants to play one more game, but who will play with her? She spies some fluttering wings in the sky. Perhaps they belong to someone who wants to play. "Let's tell Tara to tiptoe up quietly / so she doesn't scare them away," cautions the narrator. But oh no! Tara doesn't tiptoe. Her pounce frightens the butterflies away ("Can you flutter your arms / up and down really fast?"). Then Tara spies some owls in a tree ("How many owls can you count?"). This time Tara tiptoes, but she also roars. Oh, Tara. The owls swoop away. ("I bet you can roar just as loudly as Tara.") The interactive prompts aren't just animal sounds and actions; there is also some light mathematics: "But look! There's a tail / dangling down from a tree. / Can you stretch your arms wide / to show how long it is?" Teckentrup's bright orange feline stands out against the large, blocky foliage and silhouetted moon. The palette gradually darkens as the night stretches on and Tara finally settles down, snuggled and content, with the (perhaps naïve) hope that readers will do so, too. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
For those who need one more pounce before bed. (Picture book. 2-5)
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"Clarke, Jane: TIPTOE TIGER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A724445415/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=be9f0cf1. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Teckentrup, Britta A HAPPY PLACE Tiger Tales (Children's None) $18.99 2, 6 ISBN: 9781664300392
A youngster follows a star on an illuminated nighttime journey.
Restless, a teddy bear cast aside, a brown-skinned child reaches out to a bright star shining through a die-cut bedroom window. "Follow me, whispers the star, / and I will help you find a happy place." With the star firmly in hand, the young tot leaves home and walks past the river, over the hills, and into the enchanted woods. A dusky haze of pinks and blues surrounds a (mostly) circular cutout of the moon, encouraging everyone to dance by its light. Animal inhabitants, found in peek-through die-cut snippets ("a tippy-toed squirrel," "a long-eared hare," "and a pair of starry-eyed stoats"), all sing and dance together until they get sleepy. The star then whispers that it's time to go home. But has the youngster really ever left the safety of the snuggled-up covers? Only the star knows for sure. Deep, shadowy hues, highlighted by pops of other muted colors, are comforting rather than frightening. Nighttime is one of Teckentrup's specialties, and this gently soothing tale is no exception; it's sure to have little ones on their way to the sweetest of dreams in no time.
Dreamlike, quiet, delightful. (Picture book. 3-6)
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"Teckentrup, Britta: A HAPPY PLACE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A776005379/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=53dbed8e. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Children's/YA
Picture Books
A Happy Place
Britta Teckentrup.TigerTales, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-66430-039-2
The wonders of nighttime await a brown-skinned child in a cozy hat who responds to a star's invitation: "Follow me.../ and I will help you find a happy place." As the child follows the star's repeated "Let's go" outdoors, fields of flowers wave, a river glimmers, and a forest beckons under a brilliant full moon. Die-cut openings soon reveal a growing group of animal companions--a "tippytoed/squirrel," a fox, a hare, two stoats--who gather to "dance/ and sing/ in the light/ of the moon/ together." Next, they depart, leaving child and star alone once more: "just/ you and me,/ embracing the/world." Viewed through greenery, as if in secret, the child is seen reaching, arms wide, the star at the tip of one hand, before returning home. Spreads with a cut-out window view the child safe in bed with the star guardian outside: "I will watch over you, sleeping peacefully." For this dreamy fantasy, Teckentrup (My Little Book. of Big Questions) fuses imagination, natural beauty, and a sense of escape to create a heady mix that presents evening as a place of security and wonder. Ages 3-7. (Feb.)
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"A Happy Place." Publishers Weekly, vol. 270, no. 47, 20 Nov. 2023, p. 82. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A775514845/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0abefd64. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Doyle, Ruth YOU ARE PART OF THE WONDER Little Bee Books (Children's None) $18.99 2, 13 ISBN: 9781499814903
Children are encouraged to get outside and take it all in.
Nature is a wondrous thing, and children are integral components of it. This lyrical, rhyming picture book depicts racially diverse youngsters closely observing, interacting with, and marveling at nature and its various inhabitants. As Doyle directly addresses readers, she uses language delightfully, playfully employing pleasing consonant sounds. She also exhorts kids to experience the natural world for themselves--"Watch ants work and play." "Taste berries warm and sweet." "Feel the tickles of tadpoles / as the stream cools your feet." The author also shares the comforting idea that nature can help children cast off their troubles ("Throw your cares to the wind / and whisper a wish") or can offer inspirational musings: "The sky doesn't care how you look, what you wear. / The wind whispers, 'You're perfect' / and ruffles your hair." What a warm, gentle, and vital message this U.K. import radiates as it tells kids to "fly!" and how wonderful for children to feel embraced by nature at all times, day and night, in all seasons, and in all kinds of weather. The verses scan well, and the illustrations are enchanting--soft and delicate and full of captivating natural colors.
A lovely invitation to children to see themselves as part of the larger world around them. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Doyle, Ruth: YOU ARE PART OF THE WONDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774415133/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f3f39a82. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
You Are Part of the Wonder
Ruth Doyle, illus. by Britta Teckentrup. Little Bee, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4998-1490-3 Doyle (Dreams for Our Daughters) and Teckentrup (My Little Book of Big Questions) open their lilting, lushly visualized exhortation about the natural world with something of a dare. As a brown-skinned child and their dog stand on a porch and gaze up at the sky, text reads, "There's a bird/ outside your window/ with a song that's full of sky,/ and it wondets why/ you stay inside/ when you are free to fly?" Subsequent spreads, whose decorative style resembles translucent, feathery cyanotypes and printmaking techniques, show a cast of children portrayed with various skin tones, while imperative rhyming couplets invite each to contemplate, explore, and observe the outdoors. "Feel the tickles of tadpoles/ as the stream cools your feet," finds a child perched on a rock surrounded by a profusion of flowers, carefully dipping a pointed toe into turquoise water dotted with tiny black figures. As the seasons change, and the settings move from meadows to a city park, the predominating message is clear: come outside--and come as you are. "You are part of the wonder/ and joy Nature brings,/ of the beauty and magic/ in all living things." Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
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"You Are Part of the Wonder." Publishers Weekly, vol. 270, no. 47, 20 Nov. 2023, pp. 82+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A775514849/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b9eb1362. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Shane, Susannah WHEN I BECAME YOUR GRANDMA Nosy Crow (Children's None) $17.99 8, 1 ISBN: 9798887770314
A panda grandmother and her grandchild move through the world.
Anthropomorphic, nameless pandas are the lone characters in this rhyming message of love. "I've seen you grow a little bit each day since you were small," says Grandma joyfully, "and I'll be watching over you as you grow big and tall!" Though Grandma loves telling the little one stories, she also assures the child that she will "listen when you share your dreams with me," a brief but needed reversal of narratives where only elders offer wisdom. This refreshing morsel will be most appreciated by adults sharing the book with a child. Teckentrup's signature blocky art style is gentle and spare throughout, depicting the pair trudging through a winter storm before finding warm shelter a spread later ("just know I'll be beside you / and will always keep you warm"). In another scene, the duo gaze at clouds, with Teckentrup employing some truly gorgeous pink hues. However, it's unclear if any of this will be enough to hold readers' interest. There's little action, making this one suited for one-on-one reading between a caregiver and child. Grandmothers may dive in emotionally and connect with the message, but otherwise it's a toss-up.(This book was reviewed digitally.)
Tender but unlikely to capture readers' attention. (Picture book. 0-3)
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"Shane, Susannah: WHEN I BECAME YOUR GRANDMA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A752722838/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce645128. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.