This year´s National Dutch Children´s Book Week (Kinderboekenweek) runs  5-16 October 2016. Every year this event has a theme and this year it is ´Grandparents´ – Wonderful! Usually the book recommendations for the Kinderboekenweek include one or two children´s books by English speaking authors / illustrators but this year this is not the case. So, I have put together our own list:  Kinderboekenweek2016Recommendations (1)

It is never easy to make a list and no doubt I could have added many more. But, have a look, I am sure you will find a book you like. For many of my recommendations you can find book related activities online e.g Elmer and Grandpa Eldo: Drama or Games & Colouring

There are two books on the list that I´d like to point out. One is the very colourful ´Grandad´s Island´ by Benji Davies. It´s clever, it´s beautiful and there is lots for children to discover and talk about. His picture book ´The Storm Whale´ is CPNB Dutch Picture Book of the year 2017. And the other one is the powerful ´The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas´ by John Boyne. Its 10 year anniversary edition (this year) is illustrated by the very talented Oliver Jeffers.

Excellent news from Little English Town Library Utrechtse Heuvelrug which is based in the Bibliotheek Zout. This wonderful cupboard now houses around 200 books, ready to support local Dutch Primary Schools. Amazing achievement and great way to start the new academic year.

And so the English for Kids Foundation has returned from teaching English (voluntary) in Orizona, Brazil. It was a very successful project. Originally, Katarina (project leader) and her trainee teachers had planned to teach 4 classes a day but interst was so strong that they taught 12 classes a day. I am delightd to have played a very small part in this fantastic project. Our donated English children´s books have now been left at the school’s library and they are the only English books they have. We will be sending more the next time.

And our library starter packs are starting to arrive. First photos from the library at Nieuwbouw Kindcentrum De Kring Rijen came in today. Posters and books were up and in the shelves very quickly – wow! Wonderful to see how easy it can be to make some room for English children´s books, thanks so much for the photos

Just received some lovely school library photos from 2 schools joining our new School Library Project. We are looking for Dutch primary schools who are part of a cluster, system or quite rural. So get in touch if your school wants to join The Little English Library and set up their own English school library. We have 15 starter packs filled with goodies from publishers, EP-Nuffic, British Council Netherlands , The American Book Center Anglia Network Europe and we have 5 more places left. So get in touch.