John the Skeleton by Triinu Laan and Illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats

For this newly retired classroom skeleton, life is just beginning. When Gramps and Grams bring John to their farm deep in the woods of South Estonia, each day becomes a new adventure: rescuing snails, making snow angels, even sitting in a closet at an art exhibit.

Award-winning author Triinu Laan weaves death and grief into the bright fabric of life, crafting a tender, humorous portrait of what it means to care for one another, grow old together, and appreciate the little things.

Translated from the Estonian by Adam Cullen

Age range: 6 - 12 years
Format: Hardcover

About the Author and Illustrator:

Triinu Laan is a writer, a manager of cultural activities, a mother of five, and loves wild living more than anything else. She studied law and holds a master of arts in cultural management. Laan lives with her three youngest children, mathematician husband, and self-conscious cat in the countryside in Võru County. Their home language is Võro, which is spoken by about 70,000 people, primarily in south Estonia. Therefore, it’s no surprise that several of Laan’s books are bilingual. Her stories convey the understanding that the worlds of adults and children, the living and the dead, and humans and animals are not so different as one may think. Laan’s literary style captivates young readers and their parents alike; she believes that children are fully capable of discussing serious and complicated topics.

Marja-Liisa Plats is an illustrator, graphic designer, photographer, and singer. She graduated from Tartu Art College in photography and is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers Association and the Tartu Artist’s Union. Plats has illustrated more than fifty children’s books, and has received extensive recognition for her works; she has been listed in the White Ravens catalog three times. Her illustrations are inquisitive and experiment with a broad range of visual techniques.