Jan Paul Schutten

(Vlissingen, NL 1970) writes children's books about a wide range of subjects, from natural phenomena to history. In 1998 his first book was published, De Bralmanak, for and about students. In 2003 he made his debut as a writer of children's books with Ruik eens wat ik zeg, de taal van dieren en planten (Smell what I'm saying, the language of animals and plants). It won him a prize for children's books instantly. After that he has published one or more books every year. Such as Het NOS Journaal (The six o'clock news), in which he describes how a news programme is made. In 2008 he received a prestigious prize for children's books with Kinderen van Amsterdam (Children from Amsterdam), a co-production with illustrator Paul Teng. In 2009 he wrote the special book for the children's book week, De wraak van het spruitje (The revenge of the sprout). In 2013 he published as many as five books, among others Jij bent je brein (You are your brain), together with Dick Swaab. At the festival he will be awarded the Nienke van Hichtum Prize for Het raadsel van alles wat leeft (The riddle of everything alive).