Tehran – The 12th edition of the Persian translation of Dutch-American author Meindert Dejong’s 1954 novel “The Wheel on the School” has recently been published.
Institute for Intellectual Development for Children and Young Adults in Iran – Tehran Kanoon is the publisher of books translated by Bahereh Anvar. The publisher released the first edition in 1974.
“The Wheel on the School” is a novel about my beloved children who won the Newberry Medal in 1955 and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1957. The book was beautifully painted by Maurice Sedak, famous for his unique style of art. In his book The Promise of Happiness: Value and Veaning in Children’s Fiction, Fred Inglis points out that Dejong’s story evokes old world values and pity, making it “imagining” to bridge tradition and modernity.
Surrounded by the small fishing village of Friesland, the story follows six school children, Lina, Jela, Oak, Yerka, and the uncut twin pier and Dark. When Lina writes an essay questioning why storks are missing, their teacher encourages them to know for themselves.
The children discovered that the rugged pitching roof of the house was preventing the nesting of storks, and decided to place wagon wheels on the roof to give the birds nesting space. Their exploration of the wheel has proven challenging due to the small size of the village, and along the way you will encounter a variety of interesting local characters, including teachers, fishermen’s families, villagers and more.
The story emphasizes the power of curiosity, wonder and perseverance, and shows that dreams can be realized through thoughts and questions. The stories highlight themes of community effort, ingenuity and hope.
The children are supported by figures such as their grandmothers, Sibble III, Legless Janus, Old Douwa and “Tin Man,” enrich the story with a sense of warmth and tradition. The novel’s dedication reads “To my nie, Shirley and Beverly, and their flying fingers.”
“The Wheel on the School” is a simple yet profound story that celebrates youthful curiosity and the collective pursuit of shared dreams, making it a timeless classic in children’s literature.
Meindert Dejong (1906–1991) was a Dutch-born American children’s author who won the famous Hans Christian Andersen Prize in 1962. Born in Wieram, Friesland, he moved to the United States in 1914 and studied in Michigan and Chicago.
DeJohn began writing books for children during the Great Repression, his first published work in 1938. His famous titles include “The Wheel on the School” and “The House of Sixty Fathers.” Many of his six books written by Maurice Sendak have solidified his legacy as an important contributor to children’s literature and have received numerous awards and recognitions.
sab/