This article is about the children's book. For the film, see The Flying Liftboy.
Abeltje is a children's novel by celebrated Dutch author Annie M. G. Schmidt, originally published in 1953 by De Arbeiderspers. It was one of Annie M. G. Schmidt's first children's books, and such an instant success that it was already in its fourth edition when the sequel, De A van Abeltje, came out in 1955. Since 1988, the book has been published by Querido with illustrations by Thé Tjong-Khing.[1][2]
The story of Abeltje has some similarities with the plot of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (1972), in which the main characters also fly around the world in an elevator.
Young Abeltje gets a job as a liftboy in a department store. His boss tells him that he may not press the elevator's top (green) button under any circumstances. One time, when Abeltje gets into trouble, he presses the button, and the elevator goes shooting out the building and flies off.
Trapped with him on the elevator are a travelling mothball salesman, Jozias Tump; a singing instructor, Miss Klaterhoen, and a young girl, Laura. They fly across the ocean and eventually arrive in New York City, where they land in Central Park. In New York, Abeltje is mistaken for another boy who has gone missing. They leave New York and fly to South America, where Tump is made president of a banana republic and the missing boy is freed. A coup against Tump breaks out and the foursome once again manage to escape with their lift.
Adaptations
Radio
Abeltje was also broadcast in the Netherlands in the 1950s as a radio play. In 2002, Abeltje and the sequel De A van Abeltje were published together in 2002 under the title Abeltje en de A van Abeltje. In 2008, a four-CD audiobook of Abeltje was published, read by Schmidt's zoon Flip van Duyn.
A film of the book, also called Abeltje (English title: The Flying Liftboy), was released in cinemas in late 1998. The film won the Golden Calf for best film in 1999. It was adapted into a seven-part television series that was broadcast in the Netherlands in 2000. The film largely follows the story of the book, although it was modernised in places. For instance, Abeltje has a skateboard and an earring in the film. His neighbour Laura is his girlfriend in the film, and his mother works in a flower shop in the book but owns her own garage in the film. Also, Abeltje accidentally encounters his lookalike Johnny in the book, but in the film he goes sleuthing to find Johnny.
abeltje, this, article, about, children, book, film, flying, liftboy, children, novel, celebrated, dutch, author, annie, schmidt, originally, published, 1953, arbeiderspers, annie, schmidt, first, children, books, such, instant, success, that, already, fourth,. This article is about the children s book For the film see The Flying Liftboy Abeltje is a children s novel by celebrated Dutch author Annie M G Schmidt originally published in 1953 by De Arbeiderspers It was one of Annie M G Schmidt s first children s books and such an instant success that it was already in its fourth edition when the sequel De A van Abeltje came out in 1955 Since 1988 the book has been published by Querido with illustrations by The Tjong Khing 1 2 First edition Abeltje has been adapted for radio and film It has been translated from Dutch into Danish Finnish French German Hebrew Japanese Norwegian Spanish and Swedish 3 The story of Abeltje has some similarities with the plot of Roald Dahl s Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator 1972 in which the main characters also fly around the world in an elevator Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Adaptations 2 1 Radio 2 2 Film 3 References 4 External linksPlot summary EditYoung Abeltje gets a job as a liftboy in a department store His boss tells him that he may not press the elevator s top green button under any circumstances One time when Abeltje gets into trouble he presses the button and the elevator goes shooting out the building and flies off Trapped with him on the elevator are a travelling mothball salesman Jozias Tump a singing instructor Miss Klaterhoen and a young girl Laura They fly across the ocean and eventually arrive in New York City where they land in Central Park In New York Abeltje is mistaken for another boy who has gone missing They leave New York and fly to South America where Tump is made president of a banana republic and the missing boy is freed A coup against Tump breaks out and the foursome once again manage to escape with their lift Adaptations EditRadio Edit Abeltje was also broadcast in the Netherlands in the 1950s as a radio play In 2002 Abeltje and the sequel De A van Abeltje were published together in 2002 under the title Abeltje en de A van Abeltje In 2008 a four CD audiobook of Abeltje was published read by Schmidt s zoon Flip van Duyn Film Edit Main article The Flying Liftboy A film of the book also called Abeltje English title The Flying Liftboy was released in cinemas in late 1998 The film won the Golden Calf for best film in 1999 It was adapted into a seven part television series that was broadcast in the Netherlands in 2000 The film largely follows the story of the book although it was modernised in places For instance Abeltje has a skateboard and an earring in the film His neighbour Laura is his girlfriend in the film and his mother works in a flower shop in the book but owns her own garage in the film Also Abeltje accidentally encounters his lookalike Johnny in the book but in the film he goes sleuthing to find Johnny References Edit Abeltje Literatuurplein nl Annie MG Schmidt Abeltje Archived from the original on 2010 03 26 Retrieved 2010 01 21 Annie MG Schmidt Vertaald primair werk Archived from the original on 2009 06 28 Retrieved 2010 01 21 External links Edit Children s literature portalAbeltje on the Web site of Annie M G Schmidt Dutch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abeltje amp oldid 1064408153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
