Biographical note

Hans and Monique Hagen are among the most famous children's poets in the Netherlands. They were the Dutch Children's Book Laureates from 2017 to 2019. They have won two Silver Pencils for their poetry, among many other literary prizes. Their poem You Are the Loveliest" is beloved in the Netherlands, featured on countless birth, wedding, and funeral cards. The You Are the Loveliest collection has been translated into Swedish, German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Farsi. Marit Tornqvist was born in Uppsala, Sweden, and moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was five. Her illustrations of Astrid Lindgren's work have gained her international acclaim, as has her writing. The first book she wrote, A Short Story About Love, won a Silver Pencil. Bigger Than a Dream, written by Jef Aerts and illustrated by Marit Tornqvist, was published in the U.S. on Levine Querido's inaugural list."