Klaus Flugge's Reading List

"Badger’s Parting Gifts is a story about death that is fresh and that I call light-hearted but it doesn’t preach too much. I think it’s a wonderful example of an idea that needed to be written. I read the book at my mother’s funeral, you know. It’s a wonderful way of talking about death and I’m sure you’ve come across it and maybe read it once or twice. I think this book will go on forever. You know, that’s one of our few real classics and I think necessary books we have published."

"Jeanne Willis has consistently come up with wonderful texts ideal for picture books. And of course, you will have come across some of those. She has written a great many books. In Susan Laughs I find it amazing how she gently, gently steers the reader to the fact that there can be handicapped children that do things that able-bodied children would do. And, I think the lesson is that we should be careful that we don’t look down on any disability. So many people can do a lot of things that you probably think they couldn’t do. The final page gives you that wonderful surprise. If I’m proud of anything, as a publisher, it’s to have found interesting new stories but also to have been able to find the artists who were suitably inspired by these stories to bring them to life."

"I’ve published a lot of fiction as well as illustrated books. In the case of Melvin Burgess this was his first book. And at first I was a bit reluctant because I was old-fashioned and I thought if a teenager wanted to read they would normally choose an adult book. The Cry of the Wolf was pushed to me by my son, who was then 10 years old, or 12 years old. He said, “Dad, you have to publish this book. It’s such a fantastic idea about the last wolf in Britain and so well-handled.” And indeed it was. This was Melvin Burgess’s first book and we’ve gone on from there and done another 20 or so. I’ve stopped counting. Junk is one of his most famous books. There’s a resurgence, a renewed interest, in wolf books. But wolves I find quite interesting. On the continent, they have reintroduced wolves in some countries like Italy and Germany. And this book shows children that wolves are not as they are often portrayed in children’s books. Exactly."

"Well again, this book is about an idea … or, rather a phrase. You must have come across this phrase as a mother, “I didn’t do it.” It’s the reply when you blame a naughty child for having done something. And again, the book does not offer a heavy lesson. It’s a unique way of writing about a subject that many families will have been faced with often enough. Yes. There’s an extra dimension to it. You know, there are so many books I can think of—it’s difficult to choose just five. I chose Oscar because it is a new way of talking about a subject—in this case behaviour—and that reading it makes children feel better. To make children laugh is important to me. I would say that laughter is my favourite subject. I mean, first to make them enjoy the book—and, ideally, make them laugh at the same time."

"This is a somewhat unusual book. You know, David McKee—everybody knows Elmer the Elephant . I chose The Conquerors because it’s a unique way of introducing an important subject. I suppose you could call it the art of gentle persuasion, or how you can peacefully convince someone to see things your way. How old is your daughter? Yes, well, that’s a perfect age for asking questions and reading this book. Sign up here for our newsletter featuring the best children’s and young adult books, as recommended by authors, teachers, librarians and, of course, kids."