My Presentation Today is about the Anaconda

Bibi Dumon Tak writes nonfiction, or as she calls it: the truth in stories. Most of those stories are about animals. And all those stories are true.

They are about cows that have escaped from slaughter; about animals that help people in times of war; about birds, arctic animals, uncuddly animals, cloven-hoofed animals, city animals. She has no preferences. As long as it can crawl, fly, swim, or run; as long as it has fur, scales, spines, or feathers.

As long as they aren't people. Dumon Tak has won the Gouden Griffel, the highest honor for children's books in the Netherlands, as well as the Theo Thijssen Prize, the highest honor for authors. Two books of hers, Soldier Bear and Mikis and the Donkey, have won the Mildred L.

Batchelder Award. nAuthor residence: Zuiderwoude, Netherlands n nAnnemarie van Haeringen is a leading Dutch illustrator and author. She has illustrated numerous children's books and worked on films and children's magazines.

She has won the Gouden Penseel--the highest honor for children's illustration in the Netherlands--three times, and her books have been published in more than twenty-five languages. n nIllustrator residence: Amsterdam, Netherlands n nNancy Forest-Flier is an American-born translator and editor living and working in the Netherlands. She has translated several adult and children's novels from Dutch to English as well as books of historical nonfiction.

She has also translated for numerous Dutch museums and institutes including the Anne Frank House. She has six children and ten grandchildren. n nTranslator residence: Netherlands n