How easy will it be to find a book by Erich Kästner, " Emil und die Detective"? I'd prefer to buy it in Germany, since the shipping and handling here from Amazon in the States is expensive, and I'll be in Germany in two weeks.

Is this one of those classic children's books that is easy to find?

This book is a real classic. Any bookshop should have it, and in case it isn't on the shelves, they can order it for you within 24 hours.

By the way, as you are going to Dresden, you might also enjoy Kästner's autobiography about his childhood in Dresden: "Als ich ein kleiner Junge war". Less frequent in bookshop shelves but they should also be able to order it within 24 hours.

Very easy, as quokka said.
You should usually find many editions, from simple paperback to hardcover with the classic illustrations.

Peg - I read "Als ich ein kleiner Junge war" when I was at school and still remember it - in fact it was one of the reasons that I was so keen to go to Dresden when we were in that area of Germany a couple of years ago.

Ein "Muss".

have a great time in Germany.

I did order "Als ich..." without thinking of what the postage and handling will cost. I saw that Kästner's home was in Dresden. I hope the book will arrive before I leave.

good for you, Peg. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Dresden was lovely - we particularly liked the Frauenkirche, boat trips, the Zwinger, and the Neustadt [which isn't particularly "new"!]

Peg, another nice book by Kästner is "Der kleine Mann". Not sure if it will be as readily available. It's one of the last ones he wrote, in the sixties.

Lavandula

Thanks for the responses, folks.

Do you know about this museum in Dresden?

http://www.erich-kaestner-museum.de/

"Emil und die Detektive" has a sequel: "Emil und die drei Zwillinge".

Others of Kästner's classics that I liked as a kid and still like now at the tender age of 47 are "Pünktchen und Anton" and "Das doppelte Lottchen". Kästner's greatest quality is, to me, taking children, their views and their problems just as seriously as adults.

He also wrote a funny novel for adults, "Drei Männer im Schnee".