John the Skeleton
John the Skeleton
By Triinu Laan
Illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats
Translated from the Estonian by Adam Cullen
Yonder: Restless Books for Young Readers | Ages 5–8
2022 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition winner
2021 The White Ravens catalog
2021 Tartu Prize for Children’s Literature
Hardcover • ISBN: 9781632063700
Publication date: Oct 1, 2024
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About the Book
For this newly retired classroom skeleton, life is just beginning. When Gramps and Grams bring John to their farm deep in the woods of South Estonia, each day becomes a new adventure: rescuing snails, making snow angels, even sitting in a closet at an art exhibit. Award-winning author Triinu Laan weaves death and grief into the bright fabric of life, crafting a tender, humorous portrait of what it means to care for one another, grow old together, and appreciate the little things.
Praise for john the skeleton
“Laan’s vignettes of life with John the Skeleton complement the illustrations—simple yet profound. . . . His presence feels symbolic, an acknowledgment that aging and death are facts of life; the story will encourage readers to care for one another and to appreciate the little things. . . . A magical book that allows death to become a beloved part of life.”
—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Folk-naif pencil illustrations with beet-red highlights combine gentle humor with tender observation . . . and when the line between life and death blurs further in this lightly other-worldly read, John offers true companionship.”
“I enjoyed [John the Skeleton] immensely, because it is absurd, funny, loving, and makes you understand the grandparents’ quirks. . . . The illustrations are full of life, and make an endearing portrait of the tribulations of farm life, the aging of loved ones, and the pleasure to be found in the little things. This book has won so many awards, and for good reason!”
— Mariana Ruiz, GeekDad
“This slyly funny Estonian import is an affectionate, whimsical look at death.”
“This reflective, folksy book explores concepts of memory, life, death, and everything surrounding them. The direct third-person present-tense text uses short, vignette-style chapters, adding an immediacy to the telling. The art, using textured shades of gray that appear to be rendered with pencil alongside striking pops of bright pink, creates a feel that is both haunting and fresh.”
— Horn Book Magazine
About the Author
Triinu Laan is a writer, a manager of cultural activities, a mother of five, and loves wild living more than anything else. She studied law and holds a master of arts in cultural management. Laan lives with her three youngest children, mathematician husband, and self-conscious cat in the countryside in Võru County. Their home language is Võro, which is spoken by about 70,000 people, primarily in south Estonia. Therefore, it’s no surprise that several of Laan’s books are bilingual. Her stories convey the understanding that the worlds of adults and children, the living and the dead, and humans and animals are not so different as one may think. Laan’s literary style captivates young readers and their parents alike; she believes that children are fully capable of discussing serious and complicated topics.
About the Illustrator
Marja-Liisa Plats is an illustrator, graphic designer, photographer, and singer. She graduated from Tartu Art College in photography and is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers Association and the Tartu Artist’s Union. Plats has illustrated more than fifty children’s books, and has received extensive recognition for her works; she has been listed in the White Ravens catalog three times. Her illustrations are inquisitive and experiment with a broad range of visual techniques.
About the Translator
Adam Cullen is a poet and translator of Estonian prose, poetry, theater, and children’s literature into English. A member of the Estonian Writers’ Union, some of his most recent published translations include Between Two Sounds (Joonas Sildre, Plough, 2024), Panga-Rehe Stories (Jüri Arrak, 50 Watts Books, 2022), Oskar and the Things (Andrus Kivirähk, The Emma Press, 2022), and I Am an Artist (Kertu Sillaste, Graffeg, 2021, longlisted for the 2023 UKLA Book Awards). His translation of Martin Algus’s radio drama The Lion won the 2022 BBC Audio Drama Award and a special prize at Prix Europa. Cullen has also published three collections of original Estonian poetry. Originally from Minnesota, he has lived in Estonia since 2007.
Book Details
Hardcover ISBN: 9781632063700 • 19.95
Publication date: Oct 1, 2024
190mm x 255mm • 64 pages
Children’s Fiction: Picture Book / Estonia / Family / Aging
Rights: World English, Audio