Zanzibar

Catharina Valckx was born in 1957 in De Bilt, Netherlands. She grew up in France with four sisters. She traveled back and forth between the two countries before settling down in Amsterdam. She started writing for children books after the birth of her son. Her books are like guides for a happy life. She believes (and has observed) that children are already sensitive to an absurd kind of humor at a very young age, the kind of humor that makes you smile not laugh, a comforting kind of humor. Catharina has been nominated five times for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—most recently in 2025. Her books are published in eleven languages and have won numerous awards.