Overview

Back in print at last! Award-winning author-illustrator Mies Van Hout celebrates the joys and challenges of parenthood as vibrant birds grow their families. Set against Mies van Hout’s iconic black backgrounds and utilizing the same vibrant chalk style of the internationally bestselling Happy, each spread of Surprise shows vivid birds portraying the emotions of parenthood, from “marveling” to “teasing” to “listening.” This lively book is perfect for both new and experienced parents alike, as they will resonate with the emotional and ephemeral journey of parenthood. This new, high-value edition of Surprise features extra-heavy pages that, like the love parents have for their children, will stand the test of time and repeated readings.   Award-winning author-illustrator Mies van Hout brings humor and charm to the exhilarating adventure of parenthood. Her distinctive paintings are cheerful and bold, and her work has been published in more than twenty countries. “Extraordinary colors and single words describe the journey of bird parents and children….While certainly a work that will appeal to parents, it will also delight children with the profusion of color and the single words illustrated with so much energy and imagination.”—Kirkus *Starred Review* “Surprise, which has humor as well as sweetness, should appeal to children and perhaps especially to their mothers, whether they are still [‘longing’] for a new hatchling or at last letting go.”—New York Times

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9781772783124

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Reviews

About Friends. Starred review. Van Hout used wildly expressive fish to illustrate emotions in 2012's Happy. Twelve pairs of equally exuberant monster friends do the job in this excellent companion book, each representing a verb. As in Happy, Van Hout's scribbly, childlike creations are set against a pure black backdrop, letting his neon palette shine all the brighter...Van Hout expertly conveys the emotional peaks and valleys of each friendship...Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Mies van Hout is the author and illustrator of the picture books Happy, Friends, and Surprise, among others, which have been hugely popular in Europe and North America. She studied graphic design at the Arts Academy in Groningen, the Netherlands, and has worked as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer since 1989. Her distinctive paintings are cheerful and bold, and her work has been published in more than twenty countries.

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