John the Skeleton

(Hardback)

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Description

From award-winning author Triinu Laan comes the heartwarming story of a beloved skeleton and all the lives he touches.

Everyone deserves a quiet, restful retirement. But for John, a newly retired classroom skeleton, life is just beginning. When John is adopted by Grams and Gramps and leaves the classroom to live on their farm, every day is an exciting new adventure: John rides in the car for the first time, makes a snow angel, scares away crooks, and becomes a source of comfort for Grams, Gramps, and their grandkids. With delightful illustrations and a charming cast of characters, John the Skeleton is a quirky, touching, and unforgettable book. Triinu Laan thoughtfully weaves aging and death into the fabric of life, crafting a tender portrait of what it means to care for one another, grow old together, and appreciate the little things.

Author Bio

Triinu Laan (1975) is a manager of cultural activities and a children's writer. She graduated in law from the Tallinn School of Economics and received a masters degree in cultural management from the University of Tartu in 2018. She is involved in the translation and editing of Vro-language books, and organizes events aimed at the promotion of the Vro language and culture. As an author, Laan has written four childrens books, all of which are in both the Vro (a regional language in South Estonia), and Estonian languages. Her debut work, The Big Black Dog, (published under her previous name Triinu Ojar) received immediate international acclaim and was listed in the White Ravens catalogue.

Marja-Liisa Plats (1984) is an illustrator, graphic designer, photographer, and singer. She graduated from Tartu Art College in photography and is a member of the Young Authors' Association in Tartu and the Tartu Artists' Union. Plats has illustrated more than 40 childrens books and regularly contributes to the childrens magazine Theke. She has received extensive recognition for her works and has been listed in the White Ravens catalogue three times. Her illustrations are inquisitive and experiment with a broad range of visual techniques.

Adam Cullen is a freelance translator of Estonian prose, poetry, and drama. His translations include novels by Mihkel Mutt (The Cavemen Chronicle, nominated for the 2015 Cultural Endowment of Estonias Prize for Literary Translation), Rein Raud (The Brother and The Reconstruction, nominated for the 2017 Cultural Endowment of Estonias Prize for Literary Translation), Kai Aareleid (Burning Cities), and Tonu Onnepalu (Radio). Cullens debut collection of original poetry, Lichen / Samblik, was published in 2017. Originally from Minnesota, he has resided in Estonia since 2007.