ACHUKA Book of the Day 4 Sep 2025
See also:
Bear’s Lost Glasses [ACHUKA Book of the Day 7 Oct 2024]
Elephant Island [One of New York Times Best Children’s Books 2022]
“Children who get their hands on this oversize, glossy delight, filled with made-to-linger details, will be lucky ducks indeed.” Publishers Weekly
“Timmers’s wonderful hand painted artwork keeps the focus on the underwater world, which takes up half or more of each page. Kids will sigh with relief to discover that the monster is actually a playful friend, and will love discovering all of the funny looking creatures and vehicles in the water.” YouthServices Starred Review
“Translated from Dutch, the wry narrative is told entirely in short, declarative lines of conversation. The contrast between the oblivious birds floating in stark white and Eric with the rainbow monster menagerie below is flawlessly deadpan. The book’s multilayered aerosol spray and acrylic paint illustrations are uniquely pleasing. Here be monsters—and they are monstrously fun!” KIRKUS
The name of this book’s translator will be familiar to anyone who was following ACHUKA a dozen years or so ago when, for all too short a time, we published ebooks, Bill’s novella The Field being the inaugural title.
Alongside his own writing Bill has been active as a translator of picture books, particularly from the Dutch. He has done an excellent job here with a story told, as the KIRKUS review describes, “entirely in short, declarative lines of conversation.”
The doubles foldout in the centre of the book is spectacular and will be pored over by any child who delights in visual detail.
Four ducks are tired of their small pond and set out for an adventure in the big lake. Walking at the back, Eric isn’t sure. He’s heard there’s a monster in the lake, but his friends don’t believe a word of that old story! Eric reluctantly tags along, only to make a startling discovery and find himself in a wonderful underwater adventure. This large-format picture book features a detailed fold-out underwater world of mechanical marvels and sea creatures. The story of a nervous duck who finds courage and the overconfidence of groups will resonate with anyone who’s nervously dipped a toe in unknown waters.
The book (from Gecko Press) has been published with the support of Flanders Literature.
Follow Leo Timmers on
View this post on Instagram
Leo Trimmers “THE MONSTER IN THE LAKE” Fantasy will be direct by ALEX ZAMM from the director of ‘WOODY WOODPECKER’ pic.twitter.com/a2s3COdpzc
— Gowtham Rajj (@rajj_gowtham) May 31, 2025
Leave a Reply