August

A unique adventure from an unprecedented perspective high above the trees, poetic and layered, full of meaning.

August sacrificed himself to live a new life as a hermit serving the forest. High in a watchtower amid an immense sea of trees, he keeps a close eye on everything; problems he reports immediately. The weeks, months, seasons and years pass by without too much worry. Until one day, the trees begin to disappear at an alarming rate.

Selected for the White Ravens 2025:
'As soon as you open this picture book, a stylish adventure begins right on the endpapers. You see a forest packed with pine trees, a small yellow bird, and a helicopter. This vehicle is carrying August, who lands in the forest with a large bag full of provisions and even bigger plans. He is ready to live alone in a tree house and to take care of the forest and the animals. Over the years, he experiences all kinds of adventures and natural disasters, including a hurricane, a fire, a termite infestation, and famine. These events mainly seem to serve as inspiration for beautiful illustrations with sophisticated compositions and colour combinations. The termites, for example, appear as huge cranes and bulldozers, while on the
next page, human trucks and digging machines cast shadows that look just like termites. This carefully crafted and visually playful picture book invites you to pause, enjoy, and, like August, love nature.