Little Man finds a Home by Max Velthuijs translated by Rosemary Lanning

Dutch edition of Little Man Finds a Home

"There was once a tiny little man who lived in an old carboard shoe box. He was happy there."

But then the rain comes and it rains so much his little house is destroyed. So, he sets off to find a new home. He tries living with a bird in a tree but alas he falls out. He tries living in a glass jar with a frog (our Frog is Frog character) but alas it is much too hot. He joins a rabbit in his cosy burrow but alas when thirteen baby rabbits arrive it is way too crowded. Then he meets a Little Woman picking apples and she offers him the perfect home and the perfect place for a party with all of his new friends.

Little Man finds a Home was published in 1983 under the title Klein-Mannchen hat kein Haus.

This book is such a special one to have found at a recent charity book fair. You might already know I am a huge fan of the Frog is Frog series by Max Velthuijs. When I read Little Man finds a Home, I saw the familiar little frog in his striking boardshorts - could this book have been written before the famous series? I went hunting and discovered that YES that is how we come to have Frog.

And I think there were other books in this original series, Klein Mannetje helpt een vriend (Little Man helps find a friend); Klein-Mannetje vindt het geluk (Little Man finds happiness); Klein-Mannetje heeft geen huis (Little Man has no House); Klein Männchen und das Glück: Drei liebenswerte Geschichten (Little Man and Happiness - three stories).

I read this on the IBBY International page - Max Velthuijus won the IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2004. He sadly died in 2005 aged 81.

Frog started as a secondary character in the books about ‘Klein-Mannetje’ (Klein-Männchen), but beginning with Kikker is verliefd (Frog in Love, 1989 Andersen Press, London) he became a character of his own, with his own feelings and thoughts. The stories about Frog and his friends contain elements of fairy tale and fable. Just like in a traditional fable there is a message in his books but presented as a general and universal truth. Not a finger raised in warning. Velthuijs doesn’t warn his readers he shows them how the world is organized and how people react. Without closing his eyes to how people can treat others unjustly, he always comes with a positive solution for the dilemmas of Frog and his friends.

In his Frog books Velthuijs brings existential themes/subjects in words and pictures back to their essence. Kikker en het vogeltje (Frog and the Birdsong) is a beautifully simple account of the mystery of death and the need to celebrate the joys of being alive. This complex and challenging idea is presented with strong, dramatic pictures. Kikker en de Vreemdeling (Frog and the Stranger) deserves a special mention for the way this story deals with prejudice and fear for outsiders, racism and mutual understanding. Lovesickness is the central theme in Kikker is verliefd (Frog in love); solidarity in Kikker in de kou (Frog in Winter); and fear in Kikker is bang (Frog is frightened).

The animals in the picture books are, as Velthuijs said, ‘a kind of children of me, they have their own personality in which there is always a part of myself.’ Frog is childlike wide-eyed, Pig is home-loving, Hare is the intellectual one who always has a thoughtful judgement and Rat is an adventurer, perhaps the most enterprising animal in the Frog books. All Velthuijs’ stories are suffused with a sense of security, and the moral of each story is presented with gentle humour. It is this humour and security – in words and pictures, which the Frog books show to perfection.

I also own some drinking glasses with images from Frog is Frog - they were a truly special gift from a friend a few years ago! They almost look like this - we both wondered how they came to be in a charity shop here in Sydney Australia. 

Frog series by Max Velhuijs

 

At a recent charity book sale I picked up a couple of books from the Frog series by Max Velthuijs. Reading them today I marvel at the way these simple books for young children contain such wisdom.The series begins with Frog is Frog. My favourite is Frog is a Hero. I need to add this one to my own collection. 

Wikipedia have a page devoted to this series: Frog "observes daily events from a childlike perspective, offering children insight into social interactions. In Frog's world, there is no status. All the animals are the same size, which gives them absolute equality. Every animal has its own personality and skills. Frog and his friends enjoy life and deal with real life issues, such as fear, love, sadness, and loss, making these difficult subjects and emotions more understandable for children. At the end of each book, there's always a positive solution for the dilemma's the animals face."

Max Velthuijs received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2004 he died in 2005.

Here are three I have added to my shelves:

Frog and the Stranger (1993)

Is this new fellow a filthy dirty rat? A greedy fellow? A thief? No he is not. He is kind. He has stories to tell of his travels around the world. He is clever and can even speak three languages. Frog is keen to make a new friend but it will take several disasters to convince Duck, Hare and Pig that Rat does not deserve the harsh judgements they levelled at him before taking time to get to know him.

Blurb: When a rat comes to live at the edge of their wood, the animals decide they don't like having a stranger in their midst. But Frog is friendly by nature, and decides to find out if Rat is really as unpleasant as he is made out to be. As Frog discovers, Rat is intelligent and good-hearted, and proves in a series of unexpected emergencies that the other animals have been too quick to condemn him.

Key sentences: "He may be different from us, but he's not doing anything wrong and the wood belongs to everyone."  "Different said Frog, but we're all different."

Themes: New friends; Suspicion; Listening; Prejudice; Acceptance of difference; Kindness; Strangers

Frog and the Wide World (1998)

In a previous book (Frog and the Stranger) we met Rat. In this new installment Rat is setting off on an adventure. Frog asks if he can come along too but Frog is not really prepared for the long walk and sleeping outdoors. After a couple of days Frog becomes quite homesick so Rat agrees to lead him home. When all the friends are gathered together Frog describes his adventure with Rat in glowing terms. This ending is sure to make you smile. I would pair this book with The Trip to Panama by Janosch.

Blurb: When Frog hears that Rat is off in an adventure to explore the wide world, he excitedly joins him and they set off full of anticipation. But it doesn't take long for Frog to start missing his friends Pig, Duck and Hare. He soon discovers that he was much happier leaving the wide world where it was, far from home. . .

Key Sentence: "Right now, we're on our way to foreign lands. Look around you! See how beautiful it is? And every where is the unknown." "You're not ill, you're homesick."

Themes: Adventures; Journeys; Patience; Perseverance; Home; Storytelling.

Frog finds a Friend (2001)

Frog finds a teddy bear lying in the grass. He is sure given time and patience he can teach the bear to talk and indeed this is exactly what happens. Little Bear and Frog become great friends until one day Bear decides to leave. Frog is so upset but then one morning Frog wakes up to find Little Bear has returned - this is his true home.

Blurb: One fine autumn day, Frog finds a little bear lost and alone in the forest. He decides to take him home to be his new friend. Hare tells him bear won't be able to talk, but Frog is determined to teach him. And to the other animals' surprise, he does! They become the best of friends, but one day, little bear decides to go back to where he came from. Frog is inconsolable - will he ever see him again?

Key sentences: "He went up closer and saw that it was a little brown bear wearing a red sweater. It had beady black eyes and there was a teardrop on its cheek." "Before going to sleep, Frog told little bear fairytales and taught him words such as apple, rose moon ..."

Themes: New friends; Patience; Toys; Imagination; Kindness.

Here are all twelve Frog titles:

• Frog and a very Special Day Frog 
• Finds a Friend 
• Frog in Winter 
• Frog is a Hero 
• Frog and the Treasure 
• Frog is Frog 
• Frog and the Wide World 
• Frog is Frightened 
• Frog and the Birdsong 
• Frog in Love 
• Frog and the Stranger 
• Frog is Sad

The quiet blend of curiosity, respect, and joy in Velthuijs's text is enhanced by the simplicity of his bright, beautifully designed art. Kirkus (Frog and the Birdsong)