The Wanderer - by Peter Van Den Ende (Hardcover)

About the Book

"As with Shaun Tan's The Arrival, it gives us collective goosebumps to introduce the singular talent and imagination of Peter Van den Ende to North America. Without a word, and with Escher-like precision, Van den Ende presents one little paper boat's journey across the ocean, past reefs and between icebergs, through schools of fish, swaying water plants, and terrifying sea monsters. The little boat is all alone, and while its aloneness gives it the chance to wonder at the fairy-tale world above and below the waves uninterrupted, that also means it must save itself when it storms. And so it does. We hope that readers young and old will find the strength and inspiration that we did in this quietly powerful story about growing, learning, and life's ups and downs."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Society of Illustrators, Dilys Evans Founder's Award Winner
A New York Times Best Book of 2020
A Wall Street Journal Best Book of 2020

PRAISE

"Electrifying. Extraordinary. Enigmatic and gorgeous." --The Wall Street Journal

"An epic dream captured in superbly meticulous detail." --Shaun Tan

"Danger, magic, surprise and awe abound in this masterly, wordless debut." --The New York Times

"I love Van den Ende's passion." --Brian Selznick, New York Times Book Review

STARRED REVIEWS

★ "Marvelously engrossing--a triumph." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Remarkable. Absolutely sui generis." --Booklist, starred review

Without a word, The Wanderer presents one little paper boat's journey across the ocean, past reefs and between icebergs, through schools of fish, swaying water plants, and terrifying sea monsters. The little boat is all alone, and while its aloneness gives it the chance to wonder at the fairy-tale world above and below the waves, that also means it must save itself when it storms. And so it does.

Readers young and old will find the strength and inspiration in this quietly powerful story about growing, learning, and life's ups and downs.

Review Quotes

"Marvelously engrossing-a triumph." - KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

"Remarkable. Absolutely sui generis."-BOOKLIST (starred review)

About the Author

Peter Van den Ende is an artist and illustrator based in Belgium. Previously he worked as a nature guide in the Cayman Islands. The beauty of the sea was his source of inspiration for his wondrous and wordless debut picture book, The Wanderer--A Society of Illustrators, Dilys Evans Founder's Award Winner and named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.