Hans now got one Golden Slate Pencil and four Silver Slate Pencils. 

To the translation of some parts of the books, by the Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature

"... Hans Hagen is the winner of the fiftieth Golden Pencil in 2004. His 'The dance of the drummers', a well-constructed collection of exciting, fairy-tale like stories within the framework of six Ghanian children who want to take lessons from a master drummer. Hagen's sentences are short and poetic, and often contain a deeper meaning. Hagen also received a Silver Pencil for 'Swanee and Lolly Londen' about a girl who is given a special dog for her birthday. This double award is worthy of the craftmanship of an exceptional author who knows how to choose subjects that interest his young readers while maintaining literary standards..." Pjotr van Lenteren, in: Children's books from Holland, spring 2005, Foundation for the Production ans Translation of Dutch Literature

JUBLES HAS PUPPIES - A friend has to go into hospital, so her dog comes to stay with Grandma. Jubelina is very excited about it, because Woopy is having puppies! In the night of the delivery Jubelina and Grandma drag matrasses into the kitchen. They sleep next to the dog basket on the floor until Woopy wakes them up: the puppies are coming! Jubelina has wild ideas. She wants to play with the pups and run with them and show them to everyone. But in the first weeks the puppies are still blind. Three seem healthy, but what about Squeak?

(over 400.000 copies from Jubles books were sold in The Netherlands)

Illustrated by Philip Hopman

VERKOCHT - The Netherlands - Querido
(in translation) - Great Britain - Boxer Books

SOLD tells the story of Yaqub, a Pakistan boy who is sold by his poor parents. He is forced to work as a cameljockey in Dubai. A lot of accidents happen during the races. The jockeys almost die from hunger: the lighter they are, the faster the camels can run... Yaqub is looking for a possibility to escape.
Hans Hagen wrote the book after a visit to Pakistan and Dubai.

The Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature asked Laura Watkinson to translate some parts of the book into English.

Illustrated by Philip Hopman  /  Awarded the Glass Globe +  the Woutertje Pieterse Award

FROM ME AND FROM YOU - a poetry-picurebook for young children - it got very good reviews. The illustrations and the poems appeal to children and adults alike.

(180.000 copies were sold from You are the dearest, the former poetrybook of Hans and Monique Hagen.)

Illustrated by Jan Jutte, who was awarded three times The Golden Brush in the Netherlands

WILDE BEESTEN - The Netherlands - Querido
MALIF Y EL LOBO - Spain - Edelvives

WILD BEASTS - This book contains two earlier books: MALIFF AND THE WOLF & THE TRAIL OF THE PANTHER.

MALIFF AND THE WOLF tells the story of a sheperds son, who finds a little wolf in the dessert. He wants to take care of the small animal, but his uncle needs a new drumskin... The book is situated in Syria. Hans Hagen travelled for some weeks through the country and there he 'found' the story in the dessert. '...The book–with its entwining of reality, dreams and stories, in which desert wolves are born from cloud–is chiefly a silent homage to a rich story-telling tradition...' de Volkskrant. Together with musician Erik Karsemeijer Hans Hagen made a play, based on his book. They perform this 'story in word and music' of Maliff and the Wulf in schools and theaters. For more information in English click here

THE TRAIL OF THE PANTHER tells the story of Djit, who lives in the Indonesian jungle. A panther kills the goats of the famliy and Djit tries to find the dangerous animal.

Awarded the Flag and Penant

Illustrated by Philip Hopman

SWANEE & LOLLY LONDON - three weeks after her birthday, Swanee's present is born. A puppy! Not a toy dog with batteries, but a real one. Swanee needs to think up an English name that begins with an L: Lovesick, Lucky, Lo Mein... and then suddenly it pups into her head. She names her puppy Lady Lolly London.  Philip Hopman's retro-like black & white drawings of Swanee and her dog are striking. 

Illustrated by Philip Hopman /  Awarded the Silver Slate Pencil

DE DANS VAN DE DRUMMERS - The Netherlands -Van Goor
DIE NACHT DER TROMMLER - Germany - Peter Hammer Verlag

THE DANCE OF THE DRUMMERS is a tale about an expert drummer and six students, who may only take lesson from him if they succesfully complete a certain challenge.  Inspired by a trip to Ghana, Hans Hagen has written a colourful and fragrant story enriched by the magical illustrations (25 pages in colour) of Philip Hopman. An extraordinary blend of word and image. 

'Six children have gathered around the master drummer, Dudu Addi. Each child has to choose a drum and a accompanying symbol. Those who make the 'wrong' selection won't receive drumming lessons. Dudu Addi helps every child to choose correctly by telling a story about each symbol. The stories are partly based on traditional stories from Ghana and other African countries. The tales, one by one, create beautiful images of the atmosphere and cultuaral traditions of these countries. At the end, as all the children come together, the stories also come together, joining to make a whole of related parts. The writer uses a pleasant style, characterised by simple, short sentences. Attractive colour illustrations enhance the told stories and evoke the atmosphere of the African settings...' Toin Duijx in Bookbird 2005, vol 43, no. 2

For more information in English click here

  Awarded the Golden Slate Pencil

Illustrated by Philip Hopman

YOU ARE THE DEAREST - a poetry-picurebook - got very good reviews in the countries where it is published. Over 170.000 copies were sold in Holland yet. The illustrations and the poems appeal to children and adults alike. Beautifull songs are made of all poems - the Dutch cd is for sale in bookshops.

If you want to read the first poem in eight languages CLICK HERE.

Illustrated by Marit Törnqvist  /  Awarded The Children's Bookshop Award

THE CAT AND THE EAGLE  tells the story about Farid who keeps seeing a black cat at the market, in the bus, between the dancers' feet near the temple. Farid tries to catch it but it evades his clutches. Then Farids mother disappears as well. The story is situated in Pakistan.

Illustrated by Philip Hopman  /  Awarded the Silver Slate Pencil

HET GOUDEN OOG   - The Netherlands - Van Goor 
GULDØJET   - Danmark - Gyldendahl
GULDÖGAT   - Sweden - Raben & Sjögren
DAS LÖWENAMULETT   - Germany - Arena Verlag

THE GOLDEN EYE is a historic novel, the first of a trilogy, depicting life in Mesopotamia 4400 years ago.

The lion padded through the dusk on velvet paws. Right below Yarim it stopped, muscles tensed, tail dipped motionless in the sand. Yarim tried to think how to warn his father. If he shouted, the lion would notice him, which was the last thing he wanted.

For a longer fragment in English CLICK HERE.

Awarded the Silver Slate Pencil

THE WAY OF THE WIND is a historic novel, the second of a trilogy, depicting life in Mesopotamia 4400 years ago.

Yarim ran as fast as he could to reach the city before it was too late. He looked anxiously back over his shoulder. A dark cloud rushed across the sky. Thousands, millions of locusts were blotting out the sun. Small shadows flitted over the sand and suddenly locusts were hitting the grond like hailstones. Yarim felt their feet tickling his legs, his hair... 

Awarded the Flag and Penant

THE WATER KISSES is a historic novel, the third of a trilogy, depicting life in Mesopotamia 4400 years ago.

Yarim took the narrow path which twisted below the city walls. Suddenly he stopped. In front of him something moved in the moonlight. Two shadows. They were coming his way. It looked as if they were floating. He blinked and they vanished. Yarim looked round fearfully. Should he go on or turn back?

KING GILGAMESH's story is almost 5000 years old. It was passed from father to son and later written in cuneiform on thousands of clay tablets, parts of which have since been found. Gilgamesh lived in southern Mesopotamia, in modern-day Iraq. This story of friendship, love and courage comes alive for us today.

Together with musician Erik Karsemeijer Hans Hagen made a play, based on his book. They perform this 'story in word and music' of King Gilgamesh in schools and theaters.

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBLES GOES WILD- A lively books filled with stories, letters, games and comics about Jubles. Jubles is loved bij children from four tilll ten years and there parents. Four of the books were tipped bij the Childrens Jury.

Illustrations in colour by Philip Hopman

The seventh of a serie of nine books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBLES CHEATS - Granny wants to buy a piano. Jubelientje prefers the drums. 'I don't know whether the neighbours will like that,' Granny says. 'I do,' Jubelientje answers. 'They will dance when I start playing.'

Illustrations in colour by Philip Hopman / Tipped by the Dutch Childrens Jury

Tipped by the Dutch Childrens Jury

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBLES LEARNS READING - Jubelientje can write three words: kiss - dad - me. But she can't write her own name yet. Granny helps her. Together they play with letters and words and Jubelientje discovers that she can write other words with these letters. With this discovery Jubelientje learns to read too because, as Granny says: 'When you look at the letters, you see them and then you know what they mean.'

In Germany the book is published together with JUBELIENTJE VANGT EEN VRIENDJE. 

Illustrations in colour by Philip Hopman

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBELIENTJE AND HER DEAREST GRANNY - It's Jubelientjes doll's birthday. The minute she produces it from under her jersey, Dirk-Jan starts to laugh. 'Is that your doll? All I can see is a head.' 'That,' said Granny, 'is because Jubelientje has nibbled away its arms and legs, and its body too. That's how much Jubelientje loves it.'

In Germany the book is published together with JUBELIENTJE LEGT EEN EI.

Illustrated by Philip Hopman  /  Awarded the Flag and Penant

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBELIENTJE CAUGHT A FRIEND - When you catch a fly or a spider or a snail, you can keep it. But what if you catch a puppy, a little white one, the sort you always wanted? Can you keep that too? 

In Germany the book is published together with JUBELIENTJE LEERT LEZEN. 

Illustrated by Philip Hopman

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBELIENTJE LAYS AN EGG - 'Suus is on holliday,' Granny says. 'So I'm looking after her tortoise. Isn't he quaint?' 'Lovely,' Jubelientjes shouts. 'Is it a man or a woman?' 'I havent a clue,' says Granny. 'Does it matter?' 'Yes,' Jubelientje answers, 'because I want a baby tortoise. Let's breed them. Suus won't mind, I guess.'

In Germany the book is published together with JUBELIENTJE EN HAAR LIEFSTE OMA.

Illustrated by Philip Hopman  /  Tipped by the Dutch Childrens Jury

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBELIENTJE WANTS TO WIN - Jubelientje has won a big prize. A dog on a lead, and a swimming pool filled with ice cream... Or so she imagines. In actual life she has never won anything. 'Come on,' Granny says. 'Let's go shopping. We'll buy all the stuff you can win prizes with. 'Yes!' Jubelientje says. 'We're going to be champions.' She and Granny launch into a prize-winning mission: writing poems, inventing slogans and doing crosswords. If they're lucky they might win a trip to Paris some day...

Illustrated by Philip Hopman

One of a serie of ten books about Jubles and her Granny - over 400.000 copies were sold in Holland yet.

JUBELIENTJE EXPLODES - Jubelientje gets a letter from Dirk-Jan. He writes: I'm moving to a new house in a another street so we'll be writing a lot to each other. Ill write to you there and you'll write back here. This is the first letter... Dirk-Jan moving? No! Jubelientje explodes.

Illustrated by Philip Hopman /  Tipped by the Dutch Childrens Jury