Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday hosted at Reading is my Super Power! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m delighted to feature Mishka by Edward van de Vendel; Anoush Elman.
Reading age 7-10 years 153 pages Levine Querido publisher Publication date November 12, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK
Winner of the national book award for children’s literature in the Netherlands — a sweet and tender story of a girl refugee finding a new home!
Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member — Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved part of their new home and gradually, the rabbit — and also Roya — get to hear the story of the family’s journey from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Told from different perspectives every time: big Bashir, gentle Hamayun, tough Navid, and sometimes Mom and Dad. Mishka and Roya listen.
Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel became friends upon Elman’s arrival in the Netherlands, and fifteen years later, they decided to write a story for younger readers about his family’s experience. This gorgeous chapter book — illustrated throughout in full color — is a tender, lyrical story of a young girl processing a new country, new school, and new friends — and a bunny escape! — in a story readers and parents will treasure.
About the Author
Edward van de Vendel has been a school principal, founder, and teacher. He has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and received the German Jugendliteratur Prize; in 2023, he received the highest honor for children’s books in the Netherlands: the Gouden Griffel, for Mishka. Edward lives in Amersfoort, and travels widely.
Author residence: Netherlands
Anoush Elman was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. When he was twelve he came to live in the Netherlands with his parents, brothers and sister, where the family had to wait seven years before receiving their residence permit. After high school he studied applied psychology, took a job as senior researcher at Pharos, the Dutch Center of Expertise On Health Disparities, and obtained his doctorate in 2022.
Author residence: Netherlands
Annet Schaap is a children’s book illustrator and in 2017 made her debut as both writer and illustrator for Lampje, which won the Gouden Griffel, the British Carnegie Medal, and the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi, and has been translated into 22 languages.
Illustratorresidence: Netherlands
Nancy Forest-Flier is an American-born translator and editor living and working in the Netherlands. She has translated several adult and children’s novels from Dutch to English as well as books of historical non-fiction. She has also translated for numerous Dutch museums and institutes including the Anne Frank House. She has six children and ten grandchildren.
Translator residence: Netherlands
It was the first evening in our new house. My three big brothers were all talking over each other and I was staring at the dinner plate on the table in front of me. Then I looked at the big window and the walls.
Let me know in the comments below the first line of the book you are currently reading.
Thank you for stopping in and stay warm. We have a storm coming Monday and our current weather is flurries and feels like 4 degrees Fahrenheit.
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10 replies on “First Line Friday”
That’s so lovely! I am reading Louise Penny’s The Grey Wolf. “The phone rang. Again. It was the fourth time in eight minutes.”
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Well, that would be annoying. I’m not a phone talking type of person. I hope you are enjoying your book.
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I am phonophobic (if that’s a word!), so I absolutely agree with you!
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Currently reading, Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk. “Marlowe had offered me fifty dollars to stand out here in the freezing Chicago cold and do an augury, and like a damn greedy fool, I’d said yes.”
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Hahahaha, I like it. Hope you’re enjoying your book.
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That sounds like a great book and you stay safe! I got the latest Circle 31 Book Club pick sent to me from one of the ladies in the book club around Christmas so, I haven’t started reading it yet, but The title is Walking with the One Who is Not Worried about a Thing Relaxed by Megan Fate Marshman and we don’t start it until February! However, it is the last book on my TBR list! The first lines is:
Introduction
Relaxed and the scripture Proverbs 3:5-6
”Dallas Willard once had this great response when asked if he could describe Jesus in one word. He sat back, took a deep breath, and responded, “Relaxed.”
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Thank you for stopping in. I hope you are enjoying your selection.
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I can save this title for a Christmas book next year!
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would love for you to consider to review our book on your blog on Christian worship:
You can download the PERMA-FREE Kindle here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXYQ5241/
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Right now I am not taking review request. I am sorry.
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