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Raw reality and hopeful fantasy

Linus

Sabien Clement, Pieter Gaudesaboos & Mieke Versyp

Linus lives with his mourning mother, who wanders around the house like a ghost. He has nobody to play with. Everywhere he goes, he draws signs pointing to his house, but nobody ever comes to visit. Until he writes a letter to his late brother Boris. One day, he turns up on the doorstep and tells Linus the most amazing stories. But when Linus is keen to share the stories about his imaginary little brother with his mother, it is not easy for her.

'Linus' is a book that demands to be reread, for the story as well as the abundance of unique illustrations.
Het Laatste Nieuws

‘Linus’ is a poignant but comforting book about a mother and son who manage to talk about the loved one they have lost. It is also a unique encounter between the styles of two award-winning talents, who make effective use of their different styles to lend a distinctive character to the two interlinked stories – the sad framing story which is set in reality and Linus’s dreamed, absurd adventures with his brother. Clement’s stark, but expressive and emotional drawings are a painful visualisation of the lonely reality of Linus and his mother, while Gaudesaboos’ more complex, associative pictures complement Linus’ wild fantasies. A heart-warming story about the interaction between fantasy and feeling.

A work of art for young children, about a difficult topic that’s made palpably and respectfully real, and that’s moving at all times
NDB Biblion