Ludwig and the Rhinoceros

English Translated by Marshall Yarbrough full color throughout $ 19.95 US / $ 26.95 CAD Hardcover / 8.5 x 11 40 pages / ages 5 to 9 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4527-5


Ludwig and the Rhinoceros

Does something exist even if you can’t see it? A humorous bedtime story for budding philosophers.

“There’s a rhinoceros in my room!” Ludwig claims. His father doesn’t think so. He looks for the huge pachyderm in every corner, but he just can’t find it. There CANNOT be a rhinoceros in Ludwig’s room. It’s way too small for a rhinoceros. But Ludwig shows his father that something can be there, even if you can’t see it.

Young children will love pointing out the rhinoceros in each spread. Older children will enjoy thinking about how the moon is still there even when we can’t see it. Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein discussed the power and the limitations of language with his professor Bertrand Russell: how even if you don’t see something, it can still be there. These philosophical discussions are the basis for Noemi Schneider’s hilarious and thoughtful story. The Berlin duo GOLDEN COSMOS, who work with their characteristic screen printing style for international magazines, are now illustrating a picture book for the first time.

Hugely entertaining.
Mac Barnett, The New York Times

This original offering makes for an unusual bedtime tale that combines humor and depth—just right for budding philosophers everywhere.
BookPage

Ludwig’s childlike faith in his rhinoceros will ring true for young ­believers and ­imaginers everywhere. Three-color ­illustrations in a palette recalling that of Goodnight Moon create a vibrant nighttime landscape.
School Library Journal

Blues and greens contrast with neon yellow and fiery orange in this philosophical bedtime story that tackles the rhinoceros in the room.
Foreword Reviews

Giving little ones—Ludwig and readers—the power of owning the book’s perspective is an interesting flip of traditional adult-child dynamics. Here, the child holds the knowledge that the adult struggles to understand.
Kirkus Reviews

Audiences will begin to contemplate the invisible lines between imagination and philosophical thought as they enjoy the artistry alongside the easy-to-read text.
Kimberly Filmore, New York Public Library

the book opens up a whole new world to inquisitive minds
Youth Services Book Review

The day-glow illustrations by Golden Cosmos fit the surreal storyline perfectly, and include plenty of humorous moments that will keep kids engaged and giggling, along with the fact that kids will be cheering for the victorious Ludwig. The front and back end papers, both different and engaging, add another layer of personality to an already sweet, but elusive rhino.
Jilanne Hoffman, author of "A River of Dust"

  • USBBY Outstanding International Book, 2024
  • A 2024 CBC Librarian Favorites Winner
  • Foreword Indies Book Award, finalist
  • dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picturebooks, 2023
  • Five Books Best Kid's Books, 2023
  • Society of Illustrators Original Art, 2023