Lous Martens about the book: "Seventeen years ago our grandson Jaap was born. That was the start of an animal book for Jaap.

He used a dummy for the OASE journal of architecture and loosely pasted in pictures of animals that he had clipped from newspapers and magazines about art, literature and science. Plus stamps and photos from advertising brochures. Then Zeno was born and the same thing happened: an animal book for Zeno. Now he was working on two books at once. Then came Anna. Julian. Luca. At this point, there were five books-in-the-making on the table. And none of those five are finished yet. The children, as well as himself, enjoy seeing the small, ever-evolving changes.

The additions. These books were never intended for the outside world where he had found all the pictures. Never intended to be published. Now they lie here, grouped into one big book, because others have convinced me it’s what they deserve."

Lous Martens about the book: "Seventeen years ago our grandson Jaap was born. That was the start of an animal book for Jaap.

He used a dummy for the OASE journal of architecture and loosely pasted in pictures of animals that he had clipped from newspapers and magazines about art, literature and science. Plus stamps and photos from advertising brochures. Then Zeno was born and the same thing happened: an animal book for Zeno. Now he was working on two books at once. Then came Anna. Julian. Luca. At this point, there were five books-in-the-making on the table. And none of those five are finished yet. The children, as well as himself, enjoy seeing the small, ever-evolving changes.

The additions. These books were never intended for the outside world where he had found all the pictures. Never intended to be published. Now they lie here, grouped into one big book, because others have convinced me it’s what they deserve."