This book reminds us how rarely we ask before we judge. Obacht! is quiet, clever, and incredibly important, for children as well as adults.
Tahsim Durgun, content creator and bestselling author
Everyone sees the world from different perspectives. When we talk to each other and ask curious questions, we learn to see it through different eyes. In this way, we realize that being different doesn't mean being a stranger, but rather offers an opportunity to learn from one another. Obacht! is a wonderful book that encourages children and adults alike to explore the unfamiliar.
Mike Josef, Mayor of Frankfurt am Main
A reminder that living together doesn’t work without talking to each other.
Anne Sauer , presenter and bestselling author (“In Life Next Door”)
A reminder to meet the unknown on equal terms.
Svenja Kretschmer , Deutschlandfunk
A plea to meet the unknown on equal terms.
3sat
This accessible story encourages everyone to approach new or unknown things with an open mind.
Britta Spichiger , SRF - Swiss Radio and Television
[A] children's book that offers encouragement in a time of constant crises and populism.
Alexander Jürgs , Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Rhein-Main
How do we react to the unfamiliar? This question arises daily, individually and socially, politically and culturally. Obacht! approaches the question with lightness and wit.
Hans ten Doornkaat , NZZ am Sonntag
We won't reveal too much, except perhaps that the titular Obacht! alarm plays a key role, and we have before us the perfect book for the hyperventilating year of 2026.
Jan Drees , literary critic, journalist, and presenter
Obacht! is a timelessly beautiful picture book that shows us how easily seemingly gigantic problems can be solved when we involve children!
Benno Hennig von Lange , Literaturhaus Frankfurt
Oh no! There’s a huge animal lying outside the town! It’s blocking the road. “Oh dear!” cries Wompf. “Oh dear!” groans Timpe-Ma. Something has to be done! And so they do something. They cover the animal, build a bridge over it, and a road around it. Problem identified, problem solved! Only Mienchen shakes his head; he doesn’t like it at all. But who listens to Mienchen anyway? So he takes heart and simply speaks to the animal…
Kerstin Hau and Stella Dreis have created a picture book that is both timeless and contemporary. With pace, humor, and clear language, they show how we can encounter the unknown. The minimalist illustrations allow for interpretation: everyone can be Mienchen or a city dweller. A story about talking to each other, approaching one another, and learning from each other.
Everything is unknown until you get to know it.