John the Skeleton

"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