The Gray City - by Torben Kuhlmann (Hardcover)

About the Book

Let there be color! From the creator of the Mouse Adventures comes an epic, illustrated story about a girl who sets out to bring color back to a city where everything is gray. Kuhlmann uses his love of science and his mastery of illustration to introduce color theory to young readers through his striking visuals and contemporary narrative.

Book Synopsis

Let there be color! From the creator of the Mouse Adventures-Torben Kuhlmann-comes an epic, illustrated story about a girl who sets out to bring color back to a city where everything is gray.

There is something off about Robin's new city. Everything there is gray--house facades, people, even flowers. Where are all the colors? Robin sets out in search of color and uncovers a plot: behind all the gray is the faceless Gray Works company. Thanks to her powers of deduction and a few allies, Robin gets into the company's control center and sets all the controls to colorful. In the end, only her cat is left gray.

Torben Kuhlmann-creator of the Mouse Adventures series including the 2019 Batchelder honor winner Edison-uses his love of science and his mastery of illustration to introduce color theory to young readers through his striking visuals and contemporary narrative.

Review Quotes

"When a vibrant, color-loving girl moves to a new town, she bristles against the monochrome color scheme and the rules that demand conformity... The realistic nature of the illustrations might lead to interesting classroom discussions about similarities to students' lives and world around them... Recommended for reluctant readers who prefer stories with engaging visuals."-- "Children's Literature"

"In a dramatic action sequence, Robin sabotages the Gray Works, and the story comes to a brisk and cheerful end. Alongside

an allegory about opposing widespread conformity, striking, film-still-style spreads offer visual sweep and imaginative detail."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"The story is a triumphant, pairing well with the real star here, the remarkable illustrations."-- "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)"

"The illustrations make it special. A visually striking allegory for independent readers."-- "Booklist"

"Readers are treated to outstanding, detailed watercolor illustrations."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"An imaginative tale encouraging vibrancy and children's discovery, The Gray City demonstrates how gray is more than just a plain mixture of black and white."-- "Foreword Reviews, starred review"

About the Author

Torben Kuhlmann lives and works in Hamburg as a freelance children's author and illustrator. He studied illustration and communications design at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. He wrote and illustrated his first picture book, Lindbergh: the Tale of a Flying Mouse, in 2012 as his final thesis, and it was published in 2014 by NordSüd Verlag. It quickly became a bestseller and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Three more mouse adventures followed and were equally successful. In 2024, the tenth anniversary was celebrated by the publication of Earhart, the fifth book in the series. However, a few mouse-free books have also crept into the repertoire during the last ten years, including Moletown, The Clown Said No, and The Gray City.

David Henry Wilson, born in London, is a playwright, novelist, children's book author, and translator. His plays have been produced in many well-known theaters in Great Britain as well as abroad, and his children's books--especially the Jeremy James series--have been translated into many languages. His novel The Coachman Rat received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. For many years he lectured at the universities of Bristol (England) and Konstanz (Germany), where he founded the university theater. His translations from French and German cover many subjects, ranging from literary theory, art, travel, and general culture to children's novels and picture books.