About the Book
2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Winner
2025 USBBY Outstanding International Book
2022 Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition Winner
2021 The White Ravens Catalog
2021 Tartu Prize for Children's Literature
Everyone deserves a quiet, restful retirement. But for John, a newly retired classroom skeleton, life is just beginning. When John is adopted by Grams and Gramps and leaves the classroom to live on their farm, every day is an exciting new adventure: John rides in the car for the first time, makes a snow angel, scares away crooks, and becomes a source of comfort for Grams, Gramps, and their grandkids. With delightful illustrations and a charming cast of characters, John the Skeleton is a quirky, touching, and unforgettable book. Triinu Laan thoughtfully weaves aging and death into the fabric of life, crafting a tender portrait of what it means to care for one another, grow old together, and appreciate the little things.
About the Author :
Triinu Laan (1975) is a manager of cultural activities and a children's writer. She graduated in law from the Tallinn School of Economics and received a master's degree in cultural management from the University of Tartu in 2018. She is involved in the translation and editing of Võro-language books, and organizes events aimed at the promotion of the Võro language and culture. As an author, Laan has written four children's books, all of which are in both the Võro (a regional language in South Estonia), and Estonian languages. Her debut work, The Big Black Dog, (published under her previous name Triinu Ojar) received immediate international acclaim and was listed in the White Ravens catalogue.
Marja-Liisa Plats (1984) is an illustrator, graphic designer, photographer, and singer. She graduated from Tartu Art College in photography and is a member of the Young Authors' Association in Tartu and the Tartu Artists' Union. Plats has illustrated more than 40 children's books and regularly contributes to the children's magazine Täheke. She has received extensive recognition for her works and has been listed in the White Ravens catalogue three times. Her illustrations are inquisitive and experiment with a broad range of visual techniques.
Adam Cullen is a freelance translator of Estonian prose, poetry, and drama. His translations include novels by Mihkel Mutt (The Cavemen Chronicle, nominated for the 2015 Cultural Endowment of Estonia's Prize for Literary Translation), Rein Raud (The Brother and The Reconstruction, nominated for the 2017 Cultural Endowment of Estonia's Prize for Literary Translation), Kai Aareleid (Burning Cities), and Tonu Onnepalu (Radio). Cullen's debut collection of original poetry, Lichen / Samblik, was published in 2017. Originally from Minnesota, he has resided in Estonia since 2007.
Review :
"We loved this quirky, tender tale of an Estonian family and their skeleton, that explores life and death through humor, folk art and excellent translation," -- Dr. Marianne Martens, Batchelder Award Committee Chair
"Laan's vignettes of life with John the Skeleton complement the illustrations--simple yet profound. . . . A magical book that allows death to become a beloved part of life." -- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Vignettes seamlessly present a window to Estonian culture, while saunas, pixies and linden-blossom tea (pähnähäitsmetsäi: pah-nah-hites-met-sigh-y) lend cultural authenticity to a child-friendly, medically accurate and humorous text." -- American Library Association
"Meet my favorite Estonian picture book of all time. The last time I fell for something from Estonia it was The Ear by Piet Raud, and I stand by my love of that title, but this is something special." -- Betsy Bird, School Library Journal
"I enjoyed John the Skeleton immensely, because it is absurd, funny, loving, and makes you understand the grandparents' quirks. . . . The illustrations are full of life, and make an endearing portrait of the tribulations of farm life, the aging of loved ones, and the pleasure to be found in the little things. This book has won so many awards, and for good reason!" -- Mariana Ruiz, GeekDad
"Folk-naif pencil illustrations with beet-red highlights combine gentle humor with tender observation . . . and when the line between life and death blurs further in this lightly other-worldly read, John offers true companionship." -- Publishers Weekly
"This slyly funny Estonian import is an affectionate, whimsical look at death." -- Youth Services Book Review
"This reflective, folksy book explores concepts of memory, life, death, and everything surrounding them. The direct third-person present-tense text uses short, vignette-style chapters, adding an immediacy to the telling. The art, using textured shades of gray that appear to be rendered with pencil alongside striking pops of bright pink, creates a feel that is both haunting and fresh." -- Horn Book Magazine
