The complex and emotional world of anticipating, planning, parenting and raising children artfully depicted by colorful bird representations. Surprise (following Happy and Friends) provides another wonderous chalklike, kaleidoscope printed canvas from Van Hout. Children and adults alike will enjoy following the journey from yearning to letting go.

2015 United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) Outstanding International Books List.

Author lives in the Netherlands.

Dutch. Originally published in Netherlands as Verrassing by Lemniscaat Rotterdam in 2013. English translation published in the United States by Lemniscaat USA in 2014.