Writer Paul van Loon from Drunen has received a Golden Book for Meester Kikker, reports the CPNB book association. The prize was presented on Sunday afternoon during the premiere of the musical Meester Kikker. It is the second time in a month that Van Loon has received a Golden Book for one of his works. At the end of September, the author also received one for his children’s book Raveleijn.
Since the publication of Meester Frog in 1995, more than 75,000 copies have been sold. According to CPNB, this is good for the gold status within the children’s book genre. A different standard applies to adults, at least 200,000 copies must be sold before a title is awarded a Golden Book.
Unusual master
Master Frog is about an unusual teacher who says he is sometimes a frog, but the children in his class do not believe him. But then one day the teacher enters the classroom with wet and torn clothes and duckweed in his hair, and claims to have been attacked by a stork.
In 1996 the book was awarded by the Children’s Jury, the most important audience award for children’s books. In honor of the musical and the Golden Book, a new full-color edition of Meester Kikker will be published this month.