October has been an exciting month for the Just Right Catalogue, particularly with the Frankfurter Buchmesse taking place and highlighting some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. 

After previously showcasing how some Just Right titles were included on the IBBY Italia Choice 2025 shelves, the recognitions continue. We’ve added another four books from our catalogue to the esteemed recommendation list known as The White Ravens, which highlights outstanding new releases in international children’s and youth literature.

Founded in 1949 by Jella Lapman, a remarkable woman who used children’s literature to help heal a generation of Germany’s children after World War II, the International Youth Library is the organisation responsible for The White Ravens selection. Home to the world’s largest collection of international children’s and youth literature, each year the list relies on a team of children’s literature experts to carefully select around 200 titles in approximately 40 languages from more than 50 countries. This selection process draws from numerous review and donation copies that the library receives throughout the year, enriching the collection of about 675,000 children’s and young adult books in over 250 languages spanning six centuries.

The library’s specialists are responsible for identifying new publications that stand out and deserve recognition – they select books based on their literary and artistic qualities, the universal relevance of their themes, as well as their innovative approaches and design. 

Here are the four books from our catalogue that have gained attention for their literary and pictorial excellence.

White Fog, written by Nicoletta Gramantieri, published by Emons Raga

Twelve-year-old Albertina was raised by her grandmother, and after her death, she must return to her native village – a place said to be under a curse. During the First World War, a group of soldiers on leave allegedly refused to return to the front and drowned themselves in the river. Since then, an uncanny mist has hung over the village. The ghosts of the young men are said to reappear, children who approach the river die, and outsiders want nothing to do with the villagers. Determined to uncover the truth and lift the curse, Albertina sets out with the help of her two friends, Celso and Vero. But after a mysterious accident by the river, she loses her ability to speak – and ultimately discovers a solution far more real than anyone could have expected. Written in a precise, literary style and set against a well-researched historical backdrop, Nicoletta Gramantieri’s novel blends fantastical elements with realistic situations. Its magical atmosphere captivates readers from the very first page. – Anna Becchi

Chromosomes, written by Fabian Negrin and illustrated by Kalina Muhova, published by Edizioni Corsare

Ninety-year-old Lucia looks back over her life. Her father, a photographer who travelled all over the world, met her mother in London. Her mother’s father was a ship captain who had met his Chinese wife Mei on one of his voyages and had married her against his family’s wishes. The family history goes back further and further, to the time of the Crusades, when one ancestor, the son of a Saxon knight and an Arab princess, received a ring that – as the story goes – once belonged to the Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Going back even further, her ancestry traces to Africa, where Lucia’s great-great-great-grandmother Lucy lived 3.2 million years ago. In a fascinating way, Fabian Negrin shows how each of us belongs in some way to the great and diverse human family. Kalina Muhova’s original illustrations are notable for their cinematic layout and for the use of the bright pink of the Pantone colour system, which makes the drawings stand out wonderfully. – Anna Becchi

The Parable of The Independent Bakers, written and illustrated by Neil Packer, published by Camelozampa

This book by Neil Packer – author of the much-acclaimed »One of a kind« – has been published directly with the Italian publisher Camelozampa, a small, committed, and independent publisher. It tells the story of an elderly couple who run a charming little bakery. Like many others, their shop is bought out by a large industrial baking corporation. As compensation, the initially reluctant couple receive enough money to embark on a six-year-long cruise. Upon their return, they bake only for themselves. But when everyone else suddenly longs for their delicious, fragrant bread, the old bakers decide to share their recipe (which is included in the book). The book has an unusual format, and its detailed red-and-blue illustrations recall German Expressionism and the work of Austrian painter Egon Schiele. It was printed by the last remaining printing house in Venice, and the bread recipe comes from master baker Marco Sutto. This book is a heartfelt homage to craftsmanship in all its forms. – Anna Becchi

Illusions, written by Asya Kravchenko and illustrated by Lidiya Lytaeva, published by A Walk Through History

In these times of fake news and AI-generated photo montages, a children’s non-fiction book about optical illusions and visual perception comes at just the right moment. Children’s author Asya Kravchenko and illustrator Lidiya Lytaeva demonstrate, explain, and clearly show how easily the human eye can be deceived. Starting with physiological phenomena such as the »blind spot«, they also delve into psychological, physical, and mathematical explanations for “misperceptions”. Especially interesting is the section covering image illusions and visual tricks in art which prevent viewers from seeing what is “really” there. Readers are invited to try things out for themselves, to experiment, and even create their own illusions. Illusions is an extremely informative and highly entertaining book, and after reading it no one will be able to trust their eyes unconditionally. – Dr. Katja Wiebe