Van Dog

Van Dog, a painter, rides to the countryside to paint a landscape. Early in the morning, he puts up an easel in a meadow, mixes paints, and quietly contemplates the scenery. Meanwhile, grassland slowly comes to life. A snail nibbles on a mushroom for breakfast, ants gather to work, children play soccer, and a giant lizard monster sets off on a journey to Tokyo. In the meadow, a lot is happening: aliens are studying terrestrial plant and animal species, sheep are munching on the grass, and people are constantly rushing somewhere. The place gets more and busier as the day goes on.  A huge, dove-hearted monkey looks for her friend but gets preoccupied with a beautiful sunset. Amid all these events, the determined artist struggles to finish his picture. Is he overwhelmed by all this chaos? Or perhaps the richness of meadow life is precisely the subject of his art?

“Van Dog” combines the features of a picture book with seek-and-find and comics. It is a thought-provoking story touching on the philosophy of art without being direct about the topic.

„A wacky, immersive picture book about artistic inspiration… A busy book with a heart for art.”
―Kirkus

“Robots, vampires, giant lizards, and every colour of the rainbow populate the playful illustrations of this delightful book.“ Starred Review―Foreword

„This wonderfully silly read will tickle readers with its details and unexpected twists.” ―Booklist

The Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition 2021- the winner.

Child-friendly World 2022 by the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights – a distinction.

The Yellow Shoe Award for the best book for children and youth, by the Mayor of the City of Cracow and awarded by the Cracow Library- the winner

White Ravens 2022