This summer saw the publication of the “Denkmalpflege in Bayern” hidden object book, published by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments. It takes children on a discovery tour of archaeological excavations, building sites and workshops. To mark this year’s 50th anniversary of the Bavarian Monument Preservation Act, the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation is giving away free copies to families and institutions for children in Bavaria – while stocks last!

Hidden object books have been around since the 1960s. The roots of this children’s attraction are even older. An early forerunner of hidden object pictures is the painting “The Dutch Proverbs” by Pieter Brueghel the Elder. However, the actual father of hidden object books is considered to be the illustrator Ali Mitgutsch, who died in 2022 and published his first book of this kind, in which he processed his own childhood dreams, with the title “All around my city” in 1968. The Munich educator and psychotherapist Kurt Sielmann provided the impetus for this textless children’s book, which has sold over 1.8 million copies to date. Children discover familiar and well-known things, but also lots of new things – and they can “read” them at their own pace and according to their current interests. Hidden object books are a very special kind of picture book. They are books that never get boring. There is always something new to discover in their detailed pictures. They promote concentration, vocabulary and perception. At the beginning, it is simply a matter of naming the countless things, but soon the children begin to tell little stories about the colorful pictures. This encourages imagination and language skills. They can be used to explore topics in a playful way and certain things that need to be found are provided with suitable definitions and explanations.

The “Denkmalpflege in Bayern” hidden object book was published in summer 2023 – it takes children on a discovery tour of archaeological excavations, construction sites and workshops. It shows how exciting monument preservation is. In it, children can discover how monument conservators work and look after buildings and art. Old houses, castles, palaces or pictures and wooden figures, for example, tell stories of the past. That is why they should be protected – just like the traces of the past that are hidden in the ground: under playgrounds, roads or meadows. When archaeologists dig for them, they often come across ancient shards, pots or even knights’ swords and gold coins.

Annegret Reimann lets good-humored figures swarm through our colorful cultural heritage. What does an aerial archaeologist do? How do you “repair” a church tower? What does the man from the stone laboratory of the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments investigate? Can you search for and keep treasures hidden in the ground with a metal probe? How does a painting restorer work? Young and old can explore the lovingly designed pictures together and expand their vocabulary in a fun way.

Tip: To mark this year’s 50th anniversary of the Bavarian Monument Protection Act, around 10,000 Bavarian daycare centers and libraries will receive a free copy this summer. Simply send an email to: poststelle@blfd.bayern.de.

Annegret Reimann and Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation: “Monument Preservation in Bavaria” | Wimmelbuchverlag 2023 | For children between 2 and 5 years old | €8.95 | ISBN: 978 398 585 1324

Tiles are a popular choice for designing balconies and terraces. Not only do they give outdoor areas an elegant look, they are also extremely robust and durable. However, there are some challenges when laying porcelain stoneware, especially large-format, thin ceramic tiles. Particularly in areas with limited space – such as low heights between the exterior door and the floor – you quickly reach your limits. SAKRET offers a solution here: the thermoelastic thin-layer system. This was specially developed for laying porcelain stoneware outdoors and enables precise and durable laying, even with minimal installation height.

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The challenge when laying porcelain stoneware outdoors lies in the combination of durability and flexibility. The temperature fluctuations and moisture in outdoor areas place particular demands on the laying materials. By precisely coordinating the materials used, the SAKRET thin-layer system ensures that the tiles are not only laid firmly, but also remain flexible and can compensate for thermal expansion. This means that the system remains stable even in extreme weather conditions.

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Whether for large-format tiles or the design of smaller outdoor areas – the thermoelastic thin-layer system from SAKRET is the ideal solution for every project. With its coordinated products, it ensures a durable, flexible and aesthetically pleasing installation of porcelain stoneware in outdoor areas. Thanks to the flexible laying techniques and reliable water management systems, your balcony or terrace will always remain stable and beautiful, even in changing weather conditions.

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