Johanna Ries was born in Marl, Germany and studied illustration at the Münster School of Design. Her debut picture book, The Speckled Feather, is her stunning bachelor thesis bound between end sheets and filled with lavish scenes and textures that transport us from the comforts of our home to the African safari. Read on to […]
Hans de Beer – An interview with the author and illustrator of the beloved Little Polar Bear Series
Dear Hans de Beer, why did you pick a polar bear to be the hero of your picture books more than 30 years ago? I was looking for an exotic animal, which could move from one environment to another. A polar bear fit the bill very nicely, and I also found it interesting to draw. When I […]
Let’s take a look at the making of Lars!
Hans de Beer, in order to get a good look behind your shoulder, we are curious what your work desk looks like? Please tell us more about your creative process: The little polar bear was my first attempt to do illustrations for children and to use watercolors. Previously, my drawings had been for adults, and […]
Lars Takes Action
The little polar bear loves his home in the snow and ice of the arctic, but in the books the temperatures are getting warmer every year. “In the first volume, nobody was aware that Lars’s environment was in so much danger. But in the course of time, this has become more and more apparent. It […]
The Voice of David Henry Wilson – Who is David Henry Wilson?
David Henry Wilson (b. 1937) is a children’s author, playwright, poet, and translator. As an author, he is known for his Jeremy James series, the Superdog series and The Castle of Inside Out. His books have been translated into many languages including Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese.. For many years he lectured at the universities of Bristol (England) and Konstanz (Germany), where he […]
Announcing a new book by “the Steampunk Beatrix Potter”
Betsy Bird’s Cover Reveal of Torben Kuhlmann’s Einstein “If you’ve never seen a Kuhlmann book, you are in for a treat. I’ve always called him the Steampunk Beatrix Potter, but to be fair he’s more interesting than that. Over the years Kuhlmann’s books have charmed with their precision and attention to even the smallest of […]
Back to the Roots
On the challenges of producing a new edition of a picture book classic Käthi Bhend’s pictures invite us to look and linger, as there are so many beautiful details awaiting discovery. It’s the same if you visit the illustrator at her home in Ausserrhoden, Zwitzerland: you’ll find yourself on a voyage of discovery, admiring wooden paintings […]
TALTAL LEVI TAKES US BEHIND THE SCENES OF MEET ME BY THE SEA
Taltal Levi was born in the Galilee, Israel. She graduated from Lucerne University of Arts and Design with a degree in illustration, and currently works and lives in Basel, Switzerland. From a young age she used drawing as a tool to liberate herself from reality’s hardship and dullness. Taltal loves telling stories about characters who embrace their […]
Introducing: NorthSouth’s Newest
Hi! I’m Stefanie. I am a die-hard Rainbow Fish fan, though I’m also known to pine over Marie Rutkoski’s or Laini Taylor’s otherworldly imagination and their devastatingly sharp characters. Or, when I’m in need of a suckerpunch disguised as a hug, it doesn’t get any better than Fredrik Backman’s Beartown. […]
Peep!! Peep! Meet Chick Chat Creator Janie Bynum
Janie Bynum grew up Texas and graduated with a BFA in graphic design with an emphasis on illustration. As an author/illustrator, she has created many lovable characters and stories for younger children. Her work has been recognized as a Junior Library Guild Selection. She loves to travel and experience other cultures, drawing inspiration from the […]