book trends
Reading tips for autumn 2022: Great children’s and youth novels
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No matter where the temperatures are heading – a good book warms the soul. Here are our favorite children’s and young adult novels.
Madlen Ottenschläger – Gustav and Frida
It’s such a thing with children and speed: Sometimes they’re going much too fast, sometimes annoyingly slow (at least in the eyes of the parents). In this respect, there is also a problem in the friendship between cheetah and sloth if both want to be happy. But why not get involved in the flashing or dawdling of the other? This picture book accompanies the two animals wonderfully.
I: Dorothee Blankenhagen, 32 p., 16 eurosAnnette Betz, from 4
Helen Rutter – Nine wishes for Archie
Archie Crumb considers himself a useless person because while all other children have at least some strengths, he only sees weaknesses in himself. Also, his mum has been in bed for a while and his dad has a new family. And then a crash with the bike… But at least that turns out to be a stroke of luck that gives Archie nine free wishes. The Englishwoman Helen Rutter explains in a sensitive and funny way that it is not always easy when these dreams come true and that hope is more important than magic.
Ü: Silke Jellinghaus, 256 p., 17 eurosatrium, from 10
Nils Mohl – Henny & Ponger
It is perhaps not uncommon for love stories to begin on public transport. But Henny and Ponger’s first encounter on the S-Bahn quickly turns into an adventure for which the world is literally not enough. And that is in a good 200 short chapters, which sometimes only cover a few paragraphs, and is also told so quickly that even those young people who otherwise shy away from thick books will probably stay tuned.
320 p., 18 eurosmixtvision, from 14
Raffaela Schöbitz – Make the world for yourself
According to statistics, complete gender equality will not be a reality for more than 130 years. So even today, girls still have to work harder to achieve the same as their peers. What helps? Role models. The presents this book from Cleopatra to Ada Lovelace (mathematician) to Zheng Yisao (Chinese pirate). After each portrait, hands-on exercises invite you to become (creatively) active yourself. Of course also something for boys!
192 p., 25.50 eurosLeykam, from 8
Varsha Shah – Ajay and the Ink Heroes
Newspapers are Ajay’s world: as a street boy in Mumbai he only sells them, but later he wants to be a famous journalist. But suddenly he and his friends have the chance to start their own newspaper and at the same time embark on an investigative and dangerous investigation. Child poverty and work in the textile factories are difficult topics and are nevertheless interwoven here in an exciting and readable way.
I: Sònia Albert, Ü: Katharina Naumann, 240 p., 15 euroatrium, from 10