Book cover for The Cricket's Healing by Toon Tellegen

The Cricket's Healing

2026 Released
160 Pages
1-2 Hours
Audiobook Unavailable
Paperback Unavailable
Pushkin PressISBN 9781805333364
Translated by David Colmer

Even in our darkest moments, there is always the possibility of healing: a sensitive and sharply funny illustrated gift book about struggling with—and overcoming—depression

The 2nd internationally bestselling book in Toon Tellegen's witty, philosophical series of animal fables about our mental health


One day, the cricket notices a strange feeling in his head: a heavy, unwavering feeling that won't go away. It’s a sensation he can’t shake off, no matter how hard he tries. His once jolly demeanour starts to fade, and soon the other animals in the forest notice the change that has come over him. They start calling him 'the gloomy cricket'.

No matter how hard he tries, the cricket can’t seem to find the right words to explain this feeling to the other animals. And as the feeling gets worse, he starts to feel more and more isolated from them all. Why don’t they seem to experience this pain like he does? Only after a long time and a lot of effort does that feeling disappear from his head again.

An international bestseller, Toon Tellegen’s much loved series has sold more than 1 million copies in the Netherlands. The Cricket’s Healing is the perfect gift for the hurting "Cricket" in your life. This lovely—and loving book—addresses deep emotional and philosophical themes with humor, kindness, and intelligence.

Toon Tellegen

More by Toon Tellegen

David Colmer

Translated by

David Colmer is an Australian writer and translator of Dutch and Flemish literature. He has translated over eighty books throughout his career, including I'll Root for You, A Pond Full of Ink, and Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise (all Eerdmans). His work has been honored with many awards, including the PEN Translation Prize and the Dutch Foundation for Literature's James Brockway Prize, which recognizes a translator's body of Dutch-language poetry. David lives in Amsterdam.

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