The Quest The authorized translation from the Dutch of De kleine Johannes

In a sprawling old house surrounded by a labyrinth of gardens, a boy named Johannes turns every hallway, attic and greenhouse into a personal kingdom. He christens rooms after insects and animals—Caterpillar Loft, Chicken Room—while the garden becomes a patchwork of fruit‑laden peaks: Raspberry Mountain, Gooseberry Woods, Strawberry Valley. From his secret spot called Paradise, he watches the pond’s lilies sway and imagines the clouds above the dunes forming a doorway to a mysterious, red‑glowing grotto.

Johannes’s world is shared with a loyal dog, Presto, and a dignified cat, Simon, companions who listen to his whispered plans and keep his imagination grounded. Night after night he lies in the grass, yearning to slip through the grotto’s light and discover what lies beyond. His curiosity, the rhythm of a ticking clock, and the quiet wonder of his surroundings set the stage for a quest that promises both adventure and self‑discovery.