The White Ravens Database

Presented by   Internationale Jugendbibliothek / International Youth Library

Dutch / Belgium

Kleine Struis. Een voorleesverhaal over bang zijn

(Little ostrich. A read-aloud story about being afraid)

Crabeels, Kim (text)
Tolman, Marije (illus.)
[Tielt]: Lannoo, 2018. – [28] p.
(Series: Superdieren)
ISBN 978-94-014-5086-7

Animals  | Fear  | Loneliness  | Picture book

Reading age: 4+

White Ravens issue: 2019

OPAC

Little ostrich lives in the savannah with many other animals. He is afraid of everybody and everything in the savannah. That’s the reason he always buries his head in the sand, because there, under the sand, he feels as safe as he did when he was still inside the egg. There are also animals underground who disturb him, but he keeps his head buried nonetheless. One day he hears a beautiful noise, a soft voice, above him. Little ostrich looks around and discovers that all the animals are peacefully lying next to each other. He meets an ostrich girl, and they fall in love. This philosophical and endearing picture book invites children to talk about its themes: fear, loneliness, and finding somebody to share one’s life with. The story is told in a poetic language, with few words and short sentences that still say a lot. The pronounced rhythm makes it a book that should be read aloud. Expressive illustrations interpret and complete the story, with humour and an atmospheric use of colours.