Julia Willmann & Alexandra Junge
Lili Flies High
When the little fly Lili tries to get out of the room into the light, she hits the window so hard that she loses her “L”. As “itte fy ii” she finds her way out into the open and sets off on a long journey. For as soon as she hatched, ii knew exactly where she belongs: in the Alps!
On the way, ii meets many animals who laugh at her speech impediment and her foolhardy plan. And they keep confusing her: As a hoverfly, ii has yellow stripes and no matter how much she claims to be a “fy”, no one wants to eat her. But ii gets into other dangers and goes astray. How she nevertheless comes closer and closer to her longed-for goal and in the end becomes Lili again, Julia Willmann tells in an exciting, emotional and unbelievably funny story that is much more than just made-up:
The author has meticulously researched the nature and life of the hoverfly, which was recently recognised as an important pollinator and the smallest commuter on our planet. A wealth of astonishing facts about the tiny insect has been
incorporated into the book, which, as if in passing, raises awareness of an important topic of our time: The value of biodiversity and how humans are a threat to it.
Peter Hammer Verlag
Children’s Fiction
Original title: Ganz oben fliegt Lili
Age 8+
144 pp | € 15
hc | 150 x 225 mm
Publication: Feb 2023
Author: Julia Willmann
Illustrator: Alexandra Junge
All rights available
- Funny and adventurous children's novel
- Contribution to the topic of biodiversity
- Based on the latest scientific findings
- Small appendix on the subject of hoverflies
Awards
- Korbinian Paul Maar Newcomer Award 2023
- Mannheim Feuergriffel 2021
“Exciting, full of linguistic wit and close to the facts, Julia Willmann succeeds in adapting Nature Writing for a younger audience, sensitizing them to biodiversity as well as its threats.“ – The Jury, Korbinian Paul Maar Newcomer Award 2023
“Willmann narrates with linguistic wit and imagination, there are great settings and very funny dialogues. Alexandra Junge illustrates expressively, with thick brushwork and bright colours. So the book is also an impressive environmental novel about an intrepid globetrotter.” – Marion Klötzer, Badische Zeitung
“In a way that is as exciting as it is humorous, even very young schoolchildren learn a lot about the life of hoverflies.” – Margit Lesemann, Buchmarkt
“Julia Willmann has written a children’s novel that could easily stand alongside Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. It’s just a great deal funnier. […] Writing not a word too many, whilst not neglecting the slapstick, casting major themes with young protagonists and giving wonder a healing power – these are actually classic characteristics of children’s literature, and they are all brought together in Lili Flies High.” – Christine Paxmann / Eselsohr
“The world the author presents to children is […] one worth loving, where even little ones can pursue big plans, where diversity is a given and variety is something to be cherished.” – Stephanie Jentgens / Deutschlandfunk
“The fast-paced and varied scenes are at times touching and at times funny, particularly in the lively dialogues with the other animal characters, who have all been given roles that suit them perfectly.” – Franz Lettner / 1001 Buch
“In a style that is both engaging and humorous, even very young schoolchildren learn a great deal about the life of hoverflies.” – Margit Lesemann / Buchmarkt
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