IBBY Honour List 2022 – A children’s book about a longing that makes silence sound louder than the loudest boom.
Author: Katri Tapola
Illustrator: Muhaned Durubi
Finnish original: Siinä sinä olet
Publisher: Teos, 2020
Genre: Illustrated children’s fiction
Number of pages: 32 pp.
Reading material: Finnish original, English translation, Arabic translation
Little Sama’s dad isn’t home anymore, he’s in another country. She misses him so much, and the waiting is turning into anger. Sama packs her bags to go see him, but then the phone rings. It’s her dad, and suddenly she doesn’t feel the need to leave after all.
“You’re in my eyes. And that’s why my eyes gleam.
You’re in my mind. And that’s why my mind is filled with light.
And that’s why far away can be close. And why even if you’re separated, you can be together.”
(Translated by Hildi Hawkins)
There You Are is a bilingual book for children of many cultures: Katri Tapola’s beautiful, eloquent text has been translated into Arabic by Aya Chalabee. The illustrations are by Muhaned Durubi.
About the authors:
Katri Tapola
Muhaned Durubi