Pebble
A mysterious find, a peculiar house and an endearing main character.
When Kat stumbles across a seemingly ordinary pebble, she soon realises she’s found something extremely special. This discovery is about to completely change her life... exactly what she’s been waiting for.
Kat’s eccentric uncle has passed away, and she has recently moved into his old home on the outskirts of the city: The Wooden Nest. The house is a peculiar place, with rooms full of cabinets packed to the brim, wonky drawers and suits of armour and marble statues, which Kat barely manages to squeeze past. She roots around in the drawers full of Japanese fans, shark teeth and old coins.
When Kat stumbles across a pebble one day, she quickly realises she’s made a very special discovery. Before long, the pebble starts to do things no ordinary, grey, boring pebble could do. Things happen that she cannot explain. Together with her newly made friends, Kat is determined to find out more about the mysterious history of the pebble beings.
Kiezel is a thrilling magic-realistic story about a girl struggling at home and looking for a new family. Kat discovers a world that is much more colourful and loving than the one she had known. The Wooden Nest symbolises freedom, imagination and creativity – a truly adventurous read.
Thrilling fantasy, compelling writing and nuanced themes
Unpredictable and wayward fiction debut
Age 10+
Magic realism writing brimming with secrets
Bouwien Jansen had a years-long career editing the magazines 'Kidsweek' and '7Days'. She is now a freelance journalist for a range of children’s and other magazines, including 'WWF’s Rangers Junior'. Her book 'Beestachtige buren', written with coauthor Lotte Stegeman and illustrated by Marieke Nelissen was released in 2019. 'Kiezel', published in 2025, is her first work of children’s fiction.