Fourteen-year-old Enrico is walking to see his grandfather Luigi, who lives in te valley with his flock of sheep. As always, Enrico takes his sketchbook. He captures on paper the things that he sees and experiences along the way. Ever since he was a small boy, he has wanted to become an artist, inspired by the stories about saints that are painted in the village church. At a pleasantly relaxed Mediterranean pace, Kromhout and Van Haeringen skilfully bring the village and its residents to life. But then disaster strikes. Without ever mentioning the earthquake that hit the village, Kromhout slowly reveals what happened ‘that day in August’. In just a few lines, Enrico, using Van Haeringen’s hand, depicts the impact of the natural disaster. Beauty proves to be a consolation.
‘Literary children’s books have often paid tribute to art, but rarely in such an accessible way as That Day in August.’ – de Volkskrant
‘Rindert Kromhout paints with words. Illustrator Annemarie van Haeringen assists him beautifully with her many little illustrations.’ – NRC Handelsblad
