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The Visitor
Elise was frightened—of spiders, people, even trees. So she never went out,
night or day.
One day a strange thing flies in through the window and lands at her feet. And then there comes a knock at the door. Elise has a visitor who will change everything.
This is a gentle, sympathetic story about a child who unwittingly brings
light and colour—literally—into a lonely person’s life.
night or day.
One day a strange thing flies in through the window and lands at her feet. And then there comes a knock at the door. Elise has a visitor who will change everything.
This is a gentle, sympathetic story about a child who unwittingly brings
light and colour—literally—into a lonely person’s life.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2015
About the author
Antje Damm
62 books26 followersAntje Damm, 1965 in Wiesbaden geboren, ging nach dem Abitur zunächst als Aupair-Mädchen nach Italien, bevor sie in Darmstadt Architektur studierte. Dies führte sie erneut nach Italien, denn in Florenz verbrachte sie ein Auslandsemester. Danach arbeitete sie mehrere Jahre freiberuflich für diverse Architekturbüros. Seit ihre Töchter auf der Welt sind, schreibt und illustriert sie Kinderbücher. Heute lebt sie mit ihrem Mann und ihren vier Kindern in einem alten Fachwerkhaus in der Nähe von Gießen.
Antje Damm is a celebrated children’s writer and illustrator. Born in 1965 in Wiesbaden, Germany, she now lives with her husband and four children in a half-timbered house near Giessen. She has worked as an architect and has written and illustrated over a dozen books for children.
The Visitor, was selected as one of ten New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2018.
Antje Damm is a celebrated children’s writer and illustrator. Born in 1965 in Wiesbaden, Germany, she now lives with her husband and four children in a half-timbered house near Giessen. She has worked as an architect and has written and illustrated over a dozen books for children.
The Visitor, was selected as one of ten New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
May 3, 2019
No, Miriam, you do not need to start making a 3-D collage.
October 2, 2020
I love these illustrations! Although they haven't taken particular artistic skill the effect of making 3d scenes with pen and ink cut out illustrations is very effective and instantly gets you wanting to try this yourself.
The story is simple. An old lady hides away and sees no-one. The less she does the more she is afraid of doing new things, she becomes a recluse. One day a child calls and asks to use her bathroom, this disturbs the old lady greatly, then he wants to read a book, asks questions. Soon she realises that although this was not what she wanted it was exactly what she needed.
It's a simple and obvious story but a profound one, I can think of a couple of people I know that this book could be based upon. The grey interior of her house is transformed to multicolours.
I like the obvious message here that we all need other people, other peoples perspective and we need to do things outside our comfort zones in order to challenge ourselves and not to become too worried and focused on trivial problems. There is another message about how the elderly and young people can benefit from each others company but sadly because of safety issues this can't be the same as it was a couple of decades ago, when young people could benefit from the attention and company of older people in the community that weren't close friends or relatives and vice versa.
The story is simple. An old lady hides away and sees no-one. The less she does the more she is afraid of doing new things, she becomes a recluse. One day a child calls and asks to use her bathroom, this disturbs the old lady greatly, then he wants to read a book, asks questions. Soon she realises that although this was not what she wanted it was exactly what she needed.
It's a simple and obvious story but a profound one, I can think of a couple of people I know that this book could be based upon. The grey interior of her house is transformed to multicolours.
I like the obvious message here that we all need other people, other peoples perspective and we need to do things outside our comfort zones in order to challenge ourselves and not to become too worried and focused on trivial problems. There is another message about how the elderly and young people can benefit from each others company but sadly because of safety issues this can't be the same as it was a couple of decades ago, when young people could benefit from the attention and company of older people in the community that weren't close friends or relatives and vice versa.
December 16, 2018
This is a sweet children's book about a shy, lonely woman named Elise. Elise is scared of people and the outdoors, so she never leaves her home. One day, a neighborhood boy knocks on her door and wants to play. Elise surprises herself by enjoying spending time with the visitor.
The illustrations beautifully contrast the difference in Elise's world — when she was lonely, everything was in black and white, but as soon as she meets the boy, there is color and vibrancy. The 3D drawings had the nostalgic feel of a dollhouse.
I heard about this book thanks to The New York Times' list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2018. The book is translated from Damm's native German, and I had to file an interlibrary request to read it, but if you can find a copy, it's a delight to behold.
The illustrations beautifully contrast the difference in Elise's world — when she was lonely, everything was in black and white, but as soon as she meets the boy, there is color and vibrancy. The 3D drawings had the nostalgic feel of a dollhouse.
I heard about this book thanks to The New York Times' list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2018. The book is translated from Damm's native German, and I had to file an interlibrary request to read it, but if you can find a copy, it's a delight to behold.
September 8, 2018
It's quite lovely to see how a little boy literally brings color, excitement and joy into a secluded, timid, old lady's life and house. Page by page, by page.
See?
(source: https://www.mundtagency.com/?p=1121)
See?
(source: https://www.mundtagency.com/?p=1121)
September 27, 2018
Beautiful story of connection conquering fear, with a woman who lives alone and the paper airplane that brings a visitor, which brings color and life into her home.
May 9, 2018
As she's grown older, Elise has become increasingly reclusive and afraid of just about everything. When a paper airplane sails through her window one day, its arrival leads to a new friendship and opens a world of possibilities for Elise. Although Elise is at first frightened by the paper craft and destroys it, once a boy named Emil comes looking for it, and they spend some time together, talking, playing, sharing a snack, and even reading, she decides that she wants to see more of him. Readers will surely notice how bleak Elise's surroundings are and how the arrival of this unexpected and unwanted visitor seems to brighten everything up. By the time they reach the last page where Elise has fashioned a paper airplane for the boy and waits for his return, Elise has rosy cheeks, and her house if filled with sunshine and warmth. Ah, the difference that one person or one unexpected visitor can make in someone's life. This book from Germany relies on interesting cutout figures overlaid on a painted background to make its important points. I was thoroughly charmed by the story and reminded to be open to the experiences life has to offer. It is doubtful they will come knocking at my door, but if they do, I need to be ready to embrace the possibilities presented by an unexpected event or encounter.
September 24, 2018
Elise has allowed her fear to keep her locked up and alone in her cottage for years, until the day that an unexpected paper airplane glides through her open window. Afraid of even the plane she throws it into the trash and has nightmares of swirling paper crafts when she tries to sleep. The next morning a little boy knocks on her door looking for his lost treasure. As children often will, he walks right in and begins asking questions and wanting to do activities with her. Elise opens herself up a bit and color creeps into her home.
This is a completely charming book. The illustration is done with ink and some paper cutting so that Elise and her house have a 3-D feeling to them. Almost as if a child is playing with a paper doll in a cardboard house. This technique adds a very unique twist to typical illustration and provides a wonderful depth to the interaction between the old woman and the child. The naive interaction that draws Elise out is a wonderful theme: the old need the young, and the young need the old.
This is a completely charming book. The illustration is done with ink and some paper cutting so that Elise and her house have a 3-D feeling to them. Almost as if a child is playing with a paper doll in a cardboard house. This technique adds a very unique twist to typical illustration and provides a wonderful depth to the interaction between the old woman and the child. The naive interaction that draws Elise out is a wonderful theme: the old need the young, and the young need the old.
October 11, 2018
When Elise leaves her window open one day whilst cleaning her room, a paper aeroplane flies in. But Elise has a problem, she cannot cope with the outside world. Worse, someone is knocking at her door asking for their plane back...
In a similar visual style to My Father's Arms Are a Boat, Damm produces a vibrant and highly memorable picturebook in which a young, inquisitive child supports an older lady who, for some reason, had lost her inquisitiveness and joy for life. It's a beautiful book; deceptively simple yet unfathomably deep. I loved it.
In a similar visual style to My Father's Arms Are a Boat, Damm produces a vibrant and highly memorable picturebook in which a young, inquisitive child supports an older lady who, for some reason, had lost her inquisitiveness and joy for life. It's a beautiful book; deceptively simple yet unfathomably deep. I loved it.
December 1, 2018
Interesting mix that resembles photography and drawings-- and what about the thick paper? The colors and Elise come to life as she interacts with a strange boy who has knocked on her door. I thought it was interesting that the front inside jacket was blank, but maybe that was a translation issue. Kids would have a lot of questions-- why did she stay alone? Who was the boy? Did he get in trouble for visiting a stranger? Nice concept, though, of the power of children, stories, and play.
September 20, 2018
A very cute book with *gorgeous* illustrations. I LOVE them.
The story itself is very sweet, with only a couple oddities. (Where on Earth are Emil's parents, that they don't notice he's gone all day? Or tell him that he's not supposed to stay at a stranger's house?)
But it's a lovely tale, and again, I LOVE how Emil literally brings the colors inside with him.
The story itself is very sweet, with only a couple oddities. (Where on Earth are Emil's parents, that they don't notice he's gone all day? Or tell him that he's not supposed to stay at a stranger's house?)
But it's a lovely tale, and again, I LOVE how Emil literally brings the colors inside with him.
November 21, 2018
Sweet story about a recluse who gets a unexpected visitor. Delightful cuts out.
May 5, 2019
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2018. 3-D collage illustrations take agoraphobic solitary Elise from gray-tones to color as a neighborhood child spends the day visiting. The illustrations and concept are finely aligned and well-done, yet it had no emotional impact or real interest for me.
April 18, 2024
نام فارسی: مهمان سرزده
انتشارات طوطی
با تکنیک کلاژ و تصاویر برجسته، بسیار زیبا و شگفت انگیز درباره تنهایی و دوستی.
انتشارات طوطی
با تکنیک کلاژ و تصاویر برجسته، بسیار زیبا و شگفت انگیز درباره تنهایی و دوستی.
September 21, 2018
Elise is an old woman who is afraid of everything and lives in her gray, drab home. One day, a little boy comes to the door and before long, Elise's home is filled with color.
That's what I liked about the book; watching the story and the colors unfold.
That's what I liked about the book; watching the story and the colors unfold.
June 16, 2018
Lovely feel-good story about how a young boy made a difference to a lonely woman. Sweet and gorgeously illustrated.
November 7, 2018
Love the way the illustrations go from black n white to colourful.
September 19, 2025
از داستانهای کلاس کامیشیبای🎀✨️
خیلی پر احساس بود.
خیلی پر احساس بود.
March 31, 2019
♥ ♥ ♥
October 26, 2018
Elise never leaves her house. She is scared of everything, including spiders, trees and people. But she does like to open her windows to let in fresh air. One day, a paper airplane flies through the open window and into her house. She immediately scooped it into the fire, but she had nightmares about paper planes all night. The next day a boy knocked on Elise’s front door and asked about his plane. He also asked to use the bathroom. Elise let him in. As the boy came down the stairs, he asked about some pictures on the wall, looked at Elise’s collection of books, and asked to be read to. They played together too and had a snack. That night, Elise knew just what to do and made a new paper airplane.
Originally published in Germany, this picture book has a distinct European feel to it. Damm’s text is simple and concise, offering a straight explanation of what is going on. Along the way, the book reveals how limited Elise’s world has become and the courage it takes for her to open the door to a child. It is a book that captures loneliness and agorophobia in a clear way.
It is the illustrations that truly make this book special. Done in cut paper dioramas, the illustrations play with light and color. At first, Elise’s world is dark and gray. As the boy enters the house though, light and bright color come with him. He stays longer and soon the entire room is awash in splashes of bright colors. This more than anything shows the transformation taking place for Elise as she dares to make a new connection.
Great illustrations lift a book about empathy and community. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Originally published in Germany, this picture book has a distinct European feel to it. Damm’s text is simple and concise, offering a straight explanation of what is going on. Along the way, the book reveals how limited Elise’s world has become and the courage it takes for her to open the door to a child. It is a book that captures loneliness and agorophobia in a clear way.
It is the illustrations that truly make this book special. Done in cut paper dioramas, the illustrations play with light and color. At first, Elise’s world is dark and gray. As the boy enters the house though, light and bright color come with him. He stays longer and soon the entire room is awash in splashes of bright colors. This more than anything shows the transformation taking place for Elise as she dares to make a new connection.
Great illustrations lift a book about empathy and community. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
December 20, 2018
I love the art work that makes up this book. There are cutouts that overlay the illustrations, that give each page in this book, a multi-dimensional look. The beginning pages are dark but as the story begins to unfold, more color is added to each page and by the time the story is over, the final page is bursting with color.
The story itself was different. Elise lives by herself and she is scared of everything: people, trees, etc. Elise never leaves her house, hence the dark coloring of the pages. One day a blue paper airplane flies into her tidy home’s window and well, Elise had to get rid of it! The next day, a boy knocks on her door to retrieve his airplane but first he must use Elise’s bathroom (he urgently needed to use her facilities), if he can. When he returns, he inquiries about some neat things he saw in her house. Elise answers the boy’s questions and before long, he has spent his whole day with her.
I thought it was amazing that they spent the whole day together and no one questioned this. Where did this boy come from? Didn’t Elise feel strange/apprehensive having contact with someone that she had feared earlier? When the boy gets ready to leave, they finally inquire about what their names are, really? I thought the last page was different too. Why doesn’t she ask the boy to help her on this? I understand where the author wanted to go with this story but I just didn’t feel the warmth that I should have felt. I liked how the illustrations reflected the story.
The story itself was different. Elise lives by herself and she is scared of everything: people, trees, etc. Elise never leaves her house, hence the dark coloring of the pages. One day a blue paper airplane flies into her tidy home’s window and well, Elise had to get rid of it! The next day, a boy knocks on her door to retrieve his airplane but first he must use Elise’s bathroom (he urgently needed to use her facilities), if he can. When he returns, he inquiries about some neat things he saw in her house. Elise answers the boy’s questions and before long, he has spent his whole day with her.
I thought it was amazing that they spent the whole day together and no one questioned this. Where did this boy come from? Didn’t Elise feel strange/apprehensive having contact with someone that she had feared earlier? When the boy gets ready to leave, they finally inquire about what their names are, really? I thought the last page was different too. Why doesn’t she ask the boy to help her on this? I understand where the author wanted to go with this story but I just didn’t feel the warmth that I should have felt. I liked how the illustrations reflected the story.
October 19, 2018
Just go have a look at this picture book. Charming isn’t the only word, but it’ll do.
You’re first hope after seeing that opening endpaper, is that that the story will live up to that fantastic setting. And it does.
Elise is terrified of everything and it is best to just stay indoors. The trouble comes when she lets in fresh air, and a paper plane. A boy comes to ask after it the next day, and has an urgent request for the bathroom. And the visitor just stays, tracking color everywhere he goes and upon whatever he sees. He even brings color to Elise’s cheeks.
Elise is awkward with her young guest, but his sense of ease is contagious. The liveliness he brings is contagious and it lingers after he’s gone. And it isn’t only Elise that hopes he’ll visit again.
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2...
You’re first hope after seeing that opening endpaper, is that that the story will live up to that fantastic setting. And it does.
Elise is terrified of everything and it is best to just stay indoors. The trouble comes when she lets in fresh air, and a paper plane. A boy comes to ask after it the next day, and has an urgent request for the bathroom. And the visitor just stays, tracking color everywhere he goes and upon whatever he sees. He even brings color to Elise’s cheeks.
Elise is awkward with her young guest, but his sense of ease is contagious. The liveliness he brings is contagious and it lingers after he’s gone. And it isn’t only Elise that hopes he’ll visit again.
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2...
November 22, 2018
What an amazing book about the universal theme of loneliness and opening up your world...
Elise lived alone in her black, white and gray world until one day, a boy enters her house and transforms it with color and liveliness wherever he goes. First published in 2015 in German, this translation was smoothly translated into English by Sally-Ann Spencer for Gecko Press. The 3-D cardboard constructions are the perfect setting, helping the 2-dimensional characters pop. An amazing book, worthy of the recognition as one of the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2018!
Highly Recommended for PreSchool - grade 3.
Elise lived alone in her black, white and gray world until one day, a boy enters her house and transforms it with color and liveliness wherever he goes. First published in 2015 in German, this translation was smoothly translated into English by Sally-Ann Spencer for Gecko Press. The 3-D cardboard constructions are the perfect setting, helping the 2-dimensional characters pop. An amazing book, worthy of the recognition as one of the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2018!
Highly Recommended for PreSchool - grade 3.
December 14, 2018
An old woman, scared of everything, hides in her house. One day she has a visitor and life looks up.
Interesting illustrations - starting in black and white with color only showing through the windows, until her visitor comes in and adds color to the house.
Interesting illustrations - starting in black and white with color only showing through the windows, until her visitor comes in and adds color to the house.
December 17, 2018
This simple picture book will have a powerful impact on you. After reading you will enthusiastically encourage friends and strangers to seek The Visitor by Antje Damm. As you turn the last page expect to have teary eyes while smiling.
December 14, 2017
Such beautiful illustrations! Sometimes one needs a different perspective to shed some light and colour on your life...
August 7, 2018
Cute little story and I loved the artwork. I did feel, however, that the translation may have been a bit wonky.
August 25, 2018
Beautiful story and engaging illustrations.
September 4, 2018
I liked how as the boy and woman became friends, the colors got lighter in the illustrations. Awesome illustration style.
November 30, 2018
November 2018 - Ben insists that the boy's pants and shirt were coloring the house, and he loved flipping back and forth to notice the color spread. Completely charming.
December 18, 2018
A shut-in makes a fabulous journey to friendship on the wings of a paper airplane.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews