Inclusive and gender diverse: the power of children's books?

Writers Unlimited presented a probing conversation with two great children's book authors: Edward van de Vendel and Brian Elstak, in the Kinderboekenweek (Children's Book Week) on Wednesday evening 12 October 2022, starting at 20:30 in Zaal 3 in The Hague for an adult audience. How do they look at their work and especially their social role? What is the impact of their books and how do their experiences differ? Jellie Brouwer, known as presenter of the Radio 1 programme Kunststof, asked the questions. The conversations were in Dutch.

 

Brian Elstak is involved in all aspects of storytelling as a visual artist, illustrator and children's book author. For his stories he uses imagery that references pop culture and social issues. At the end of November, Das Mag will publish Lobi with new adventures of the human children Cel, Bones and Zi, known and loved from his books Tori (written with Karin Amatmoekrim) and Trobi (like Lobi, written with Esther Duysker).

 

Edward van de Vendel's oeuvre is extensive, critically acclaimed and wide-ranging: he writes children's books, young adult novels, poems, plays and songs. Of particular note is his involvement in Querido Glow, launched in 2020. In this book series for young adults with main characters from across the queer spectrum, he published his book and podcast Gloei (Glow) with interviews and poems about young people who have in common that their sexual orientation or gender differs from that of the majority.

 

Moderator and journalist Jellie Brouwer, known among other things as presenter and interviewer of the Dutch national radio programme Kunststof, knows better than anyone else how to ask the right question at the right time. She will enter into conversation with the two authors, in which, above all, we celebrate the power (and the fun!) of children's books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writers Unlimited presented in Writers Series: De kracht van kinderboeken (Dutch spoken)

 

Wednesday 12 October 2022, 20:30-22:00 hours

 

Zaal 3, De Constant Rebecqueplein 20A. Den Haag