a real gem !

I always loved picture-books

probably because I like to draw

When I worked as a teacher in Elementary school,

and especially the last 15 years with the youngest groups

I collected quite a "few" !

Ofcourse I used them at school

but I would have bought them anyway.

Although I retired 4 years ago ... 

and the grandchildren read their own books ...

I bought the most wonderful picture-book last Saturday !

"Sam & Julia"

The day before I read an article in the newspaper ( NRC next )

and I couldn't help myself :

I had to look for it !!!

A former politician, Karina Schaapman, made in her home

out of plywood fruit boxes from the local store,

a giant doll's house or rather

the house for a lot of :

MICE

( it measures 2 x 3 metres !!! )

In it are a lot, and I must say really a lot, of rooms, stairs, corridors and stores

for all the mice, which she also made herself ofcourse.

As most of the furniture, lamps, pictures, and all items in the different shops 

With the making ... came the stories !

And although the book has only just been published
( Rubinstein )

there are already negotiations going on with foreign publishers

Right they are : this book is a gem

children all over the world will love it, I'm sure

A tiny peek of the pastedown page shows how big

uuuuuhm ... how small the mice must be. 

( compared to the poppy heads which feature as bottles )