Tono dan Tini

My jaw dropped when my dearest friend Ruru gave Tono dan Tini book to me. We have both been looking for this book for years! and when she finally found it she gave it to me. I had mixed feelings between excited and not deserving this book since it was her childhood memory but she insisted that i keep it.

My love for Jip and Janneke started when Ruru and i took a Dutch language course at Erasmus Huis Jakarta. We always arrived very early before the course started so we could visit the library. We both love books by the way. Anyway, while we browsed at the childrens book section she spotted a Jip en Janneke. She told me that book cover reminded her about a book she read when she was little called Tono dan Tini. She explained about it but i all i could remember was Tini series from Marcel Marlier. We both decided to borrow the Jip en Janneke book from the library and the rest is history.

Tono dan Tini with the rest of the family:-)

I dedicate this post for Ruru. Thank you, terimakasih, matur nuwun sanget for introducing me to these two cute characters Jip and Janneke and for giving me Tono dan Tini (it means A LOT!), i will take a good care of it.

Mick and Mandy (Take Care)

Seriously, i like to hunt and became obsessed with the duo Annie M. G. Schmidt and Fiep Westendorp´s works. Its not easy to find their books though! So far i have never had luck to find their works in the bookstore´s (unless you are in the Netherlands).

Mick and Mandy is the one of the three english versions of Jip en Janneke (Dutch). The other two are Jip and Janneke and Bob and Jilly. While Mick & Mandy and Jip & Janneke published with Fiep´s illustrations, Bob & Jilly using different illustration which i personally don't like! Why didn't they keep the original illustration?..

Take Care Mick and Mandy

I got this book from one of the online marketplace and got a very good deal (happy!!). It was published by Odhams Press Limited in 1961.

Top: Jip and Janneke
Bottom: Mick and Mandy

If you notice, the drawing between the two are slightly different in size. I think the old drawing of Jip en Janneke (Mick and Mandy) is taller. I read on Fiep Westendorp biography, that from the year 1977 - 1984 she made all of Jip and Janneke stories with a new drawing.

I like the new drawings much better. I think they are cuter :-*

Tow Truck Pluck

Tow Truck Pluck (Dutch: Pluk van de Petteflet) is another book which was written by Annie M. G. Schmidt. Just like Jip and Janneke, this book was illustrated by Fiep Westendorp. I really admire Fiep Westerndorp´s works. In fact, the only reason i bought this book was because of the illustrations. So I do literally (sometimes) judge book by its cover :D.

Aren´t they cute? :-)

Jip and Janneke

Jip and Janneke (Dutch: Jip en Janneke) is probably the most famous children´s series book in the Netherlands. The series is written by Annie M. G. Schmidt and tells about friendship between Jip (little boy) and Janneke (little girl) who live next to each other. What i love the most about this book is the drawings which were made by Dutch illustrator Fiep Westendorp. The character of Jip and Janneke were drawn as black silhouette. 

This book has been translated into many different languages, including Indonesian language (called Tono dan Tini). I have a copy in English but sadly i do not have a copy in Indonesian as they do not print it anymore.

Anyway, on the way home after celebrating Christmas and New year in England, we stopped at Angel´s home in the Netherlands for refreshments. To my surprise she gave me the Jip and Janneke book in Dutch as a christmas present!! I was extremely HAPPY ^_^. I cant thank her enough, she really made my day. Thanks very much Angel & hubby.

Left: Dutch version
Right: English version