's Nachts facts for kids
Nachts (which means "At Night") is a fun children's book from 1999. It was written and illustrated by a German author named Wolf Erlbruch. He created this book for a special event in the Netherlands called the Kinderboekenweek. This event happens every year to celebrate children's books.
The story is about a boy named Fons. He can't sleep, so he convinces his dad to go for a walk with him. As they walk through town at night, they meet amazing and imaginary animals and creatures. Wolf Erlbruch said that some parts of the story were made especially for kids in the Netherlands.
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About the Book Nachts
Nachts was first published in 1999. It quickly became known for its unique story and artwork. The book was created for the Dutch Kinderboekenweek, which is a big event that encourages children to read.
Who is Wolf Erlbruch?
Wolf Erlbruch is a famous German author and illustrator. He is known for his special way of drawing and telling stories. His books often have deep meanings but are still fun for children to read. He has won many awards for his work.
What is the Story About?
The story of Nachts follows a young boy named Fons. One night, Fons just can't fall asleep. He feels restless and wants to explore. So, he asks his father to take him on a walk.
As they wander through the quiet town in the dark, they start to see incredible things. They meet all sorts of fantastic animals and creatures that only appear at night. These meetings make their walk an exciting adventure. The book shows how imagination can make even a simple night walk magical.
The Unique Illustrations of Nachts
Wolf Erlbruch used a very special way to create the pictures for Nachts. His art style is called "mixed-media." This means he used many different materials together.
How the Pictures Were Made
Erlbruch made his illustrations by cutting out pieces of paper. He used old papers, like German wallpaper from the 1940s. He also used other interesting papers he found. This gave his pictures a unique look and feel.
Every page in the book shows a moon. Some of these moons were cut from old plans for a railroad in China. These plans had mathematical formulas on them. Erlbruch explained that these formulas represent the grown-up, logical world. He thought cutting up papers with such serious calculations was a bit like a playful act of rebellion.
A Dutch newspaper called Trouw wrote about Erlbruch's work in Nachts. They said he "cuts, pastes, draws, paints, and writes a beautiful little piece of art." This shows how much effort and creativity he put into every page.
