189

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A yellow canary sits on a branch in front of a dark background where scenes of his life are displayed
Language: 
Title in English: 
189
Author: 
Dieter Böge
Illustrator: 
Elsa Klever
Illustrations: 
Colour
Place of publication: 
Stuttgart
Country: 
Publisher: 
Aladin / Thienemann-Esslinger
Year of publication: 
2020
Pages: 
48 p.
Size: 
26x32
ISBN: 
978-3-8489-0179-1
Category: 

In a mining village in the German Harz mountains in the 19th century begins the story of a little canary. He delights the villagers with his singing. But he has an additional duty: Sometimes he is taken into the mine, where he continues to sing. In case he falls silent, the miners are warned: The air is getting scarce! The canaries from the Harz region have become world-famous for their singing. Thus one day the bird is bought by a trader, with 188 others, and starts for an adventurous journey to the USA. – Dieter Böge՚s historical narrative meets a surprisingly innovative visual design. Through Elsa Klever՚s imaginative illustrations the bird՚s songs become audible and its dreams visible. The pictures also show the canary as a commercial object and symbol of status. Richly detailed scenes make the stations of the journey very vivid. This title is nominated for the 2021 German Children՚s Literature Award.