Writing short stories on commission is one of my specialties. It’s a craft of its own: telling a complete story with few words, leaving space for the illustrator, and sparking a child’s imagination without overexplaining or moralizing. I love that challenge. My commissioned stories have appeared in Ploegsma Children’s Books’ popular read-aloud anthologies and in well-known children’s magazines such as Bobo.
One of my proudest projects is In Fiep Street, a 21-story series for Bobo based on illustrations by the Netherlands’ most beloved illustrator, Fiep Westendorp. Being invited by Bobo‘s editor-in-chief to write stories inspired by Fiep’s artwork was a true honor. It placed me, however modestly, in the tradition of celebrated Dutch authors such as Mies Bouhuys and Annie M.G. Schmidt, who also brought Fiep’s illustrations to life through their stories.
In Fiep Street follows Ties and Pleun and their friends as they turn everyday life into one big adventure—full of curiosity, mischief, kindness, and imagination.
‘Het kaasmuisje‘ (‘Little Cheese Mouse’) is the story of Daan and his friends in daycare and their plan to keep a little mouse safe from Mew the cat and, of course, from Ms. Aicha. ‘Het kaasmuisje’ (‘Little Cheese Mouse’) is published in the read-aloud anthology Het grote voorleesboek voor rond de 5 jaar (The Big Read-Aloud Book for 5-Year-Olds)
‘Het Kerstdiner‘ (‘The Christmas Dinner’) tells us of Boris who prefers to play computer games 0ver helping his flu-ridden mom with Christmas dinner preparations. He’s winning big time when he spots Mom’s shopping list. And she is already on her way to the supermarket, with a cold, in the rain. ‘Het kerstdiner’ (‘The Christmas Dinner’) is published in the read-aloud anthology Kerstverhalen (Christmas Stories) by Ploegsma Children’s Books.
‘Raceauto!‘ (‘Racing Car!’) is the story of Pim who can win an ice cream if his side of the car is the cleaner than Dad’s side. Dad thinks he’ll win, but he’s in for a big, and very unexpected, surprise… Published in the read-aloud anthology Papa is een held! (Dad is a Hero!) by Ploegsma Children’s Books.
‘De erwtjes van Epke’ (‘Epke’s Peas‘) tells the story of Epke, who really, really, really doesn’t like peas. But his mother has a simple rule: no peas, no vla—the creamy Dutch custard dessert that every child loves.
‘Epke’s Peas’ is published in Het pi-pa-peuterboek (The Ti-Ta-Toddler Book) by Ploegsma Children’s Books.
‘Opa is de weg kwijt‘ (‘Granpa Lost his Way’) is a sweet story about Pilou and her grandpa who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Pilou doesn’t really know what mom means when she says that grandpa lost his way. You can find this story in Het grote opa- en omaboek (The Big Grandpa and Grandma Book), a Ploegsma publication.
‘De koekjesdief’ (‘The Cookie Thief’) about little Ties who doesn’t want to share his cookies makes an appearance in Ridders, dino’s en piraten (Knights, Dino’s and Pirates), a Ploegsma anthology.
But my short-story career started with a single story: ‘Drupjes grote reis’ (‘Little Droplet’s Big Trip’), about Little Droplet and his best buddy Little Saltlet. They live deep down in the ocean, until one day they decide to venture up to the surface, to where the hot, hot sun is…
Another series of short stories for Bobo was ‘In de klas’ (‘In class’), a series of nine stories about teacher Rob and his class. Teacher Rob is the best teacher ever, the teacher every single kid wants and needs: caring, inventive, inspiring and full of mischief. The stories and Teacher Rob were inspired by my son Olivier’s Kindergarten teacher… Rob.
Mina Witteman 