7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper

7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper (German: Siebenschläfergeschichten) is a 1985 children's book written by Hanna Johansen.

7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper
First edition (German)
AuthorHanna Johansen
Original titleSiebenschläfergeschichten
Translator
  • Christopher Franceschelli (US edition)[1]
  • Marion Koenig (UK edition)[2]
IllustratorKäthi Bhend
Cover artistKathi Bhend
CountrySwitzerland[3][4]
LanguageGerman
GenreChildren's fiction
PublisherVerlag Nagel & Kimche[5]
Publication date
1985[4][5]
Published in English
Media typeHardcover
Pages95[1]
ISBN0-525-44491-2

Synopsis

Much to his brother's and parents' dismay, a boy's obsession over the habits of his favourite animals—squirrel-like creatures called "sevensleepers"—makes him pretend he is one of them. The number seven figures in his daily routines throughout the course of 49 stories: he becomes that age early on in the book, with as many presents to match; he goes to bed every night at seven o'clock; and he even eats or owns things in groups of seven. This trait even helps him follow the week more efficiently than months or years, which are both far longer.

Publishing history

Siebenschläfergeschichten, the original German version of 7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper, was published in 1985 by the Swiss company Nagel & Kimche.[5] A Dutch edition, titled De zevenslaper and translated by Erna Borawitz, came out through the Christofoor imprint a year later.[6] In the Iberian realm, the book was translated into Spanish by Lola Romero (as 1987's Cuentos de lirones),[7] and in Portuguese as Histórias de Sete-Sonos in 1991. The Penguin subsidiary E. P. Dutton released an English translation for the US market (by Christopher Franceschelli) in 1989; a British version, by Marion Koenig, appeared through Faber and Faber a year later.[2]

Reception

Colin Mills of Britain's The Guardian noted that "the writer [Johansen] is skilled in pithy observation" throughout the "49 witty, quirky yarns" comprising Tales of a Sevensleeper. "There is word-play, good natural history," he added, "and the pictures by Kathi Bhend, some cartoon format, some intricate miniatures, are unusually integral."[2] Another British publication, The School Librarian, said of the book: "Despite an ambiguous opening [...], it is a clever work of imagination".[8] Carolyn Phelan commented likewise in an issue of Booklist: "While the whimsical prose will strike some readers as too precious, others will find its brand of imagination engaging."[3] Tatiana Castleton, a Californian librarian, wrote in the School Library Journal that this "unusual and intriguing little book [is] not for everyone, but made to order for lap and read-aloud sessions with the right listener." She praised Franceschelli's prose as "beautiful", and Bhend's illustrations "endlessly inventive and fascinating."[1]

gollark: “Well the laws of Australia prevail in Australia, I can assure you of that. The laws of mathematics are very commendable, but the only law that applies in Australia is the law of Australia," - former prime minister.
gollark: Mostly because the politicians are just utterly moronic.
gollark: Oh no, the stupid country.
gollark: As a non-proud UK-dweller, even I know.
gollark: Probably 90% of politicians, considering...

References
  1. Castleton, Tatiana (July 1, 1990). "7 X 7 Tales of a Sevensleeper". School Library Journal. Reed Business Information. 36 (7): 61.
  2. Mills, Colin (June 22, 1990). "Children's Books: Seven times seven". The Guardian. p. 38.
  3. Phelan, Carolyn. "Review of 7 × 7 Tales of a Sevensleeper". Booklist. American Library Association.
  4. Lynn, Ruth Nadelman (1995). "7×7 Tales of a Sevensleeper". Fantasy Literature for Children and Young Adults: An Annotated Bibliography. Bowker. p. 100. ISBN 0-8352-3456-8. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  5. "Catalogue information for Siebenschläfergeschichten (1985)". WorldCat. Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC). Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  6. "Catalogue information for De zevenslaper". WorldCat. Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC). Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  7. "Catalogue information for Cuentos de lirones". WorldCat. Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC). Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  8. "7×7 tales of a sevensleeper". The School Librarian. School Library Association. 138–139: 147. 1990. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
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