Harmen van Straaten releases Kinderboekenweek book ‘Herrie in de tent’

Harmen van Straaten has released ‘Herrie in de tent’, a festive picture book selected for the Kinderboekenweek 2026. The story follows a hippo who intends to perform in a music tent with a trombone, only to be joined by a growing parade of animals, including a rhino, cows, and tigers.

As more animals join with various instruments, the musical performance descends into chaotic, out-of-tune noise that frightens a monster. The narrative reaches a climax where the musical chaos leads to a quarrel, but a young boy eventually provides a solution by acting as a conductor, helping the animals transform their cacophony into a beautiful symphony.