Elsa Bornemann is a recognized Argentine doctor of the Arts, polyglot and composer. She is also widely known for her popular children's literature

Children's literature

Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...

. Her books have been translated into many languages, including Braille

Braille

The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...

.

Biography

Elsa Bornemann was born in the Parque Patricios

Parque Patricios

Parque Patricios is a barrio located on the southern side of Buenos Aires, Argentina belonging to the fourth comuna.Parque Patricios underwent a transformation during the beginning of the 1900's...

 neighborhood of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

 to Wilhelm Karl Henri Bornemann and Blancanieves Fernández. She a national teacher, having received her degree in the Arts from the University of Buenos Aires

University of Buenos Aires

The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...

, obtaining diplomas in English, German, Italian, Latin, and classical Greek.

During the 1976-83 National Reorganization Process

National Reorganization Process

The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...

, her book Un elefante ocupa mucho espacio was censored and banned. The same story was featured on the Honor list of the Hans Christian Andersen Award

Hans Christian Andersen Award

The Hans Christian Andersen Award, sometimes known as the "Nobel Prize for children's literature", is an international award given biennially by the International Board on Books for Young People in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature"...

, the first Argentine to be recognized in such a manner. Later, her books Bilembambudín o el último Mago and Disparatario were selected as part of the list "The White Ravens" awarded by the Internationale Jugendbibliothek.

Edited Books

• Un elefante ocupa mucho espacio
• La edad del pavo
• El libro de los chicos enamorados
• Queridos monstruos
• Los desmaravilladores
• Disparatario
• Los Grendelines
• Sol de noche
• Corazonadas
• No hagan olas
• Socorro doce cuentos para caerse de miedo
• El último mago
• Lisa de los paraguas
• El niño envuelto
• Mil grullas
• Un amor disparatado
• Cuadernos de un delfín

Awards and Distinctions

• Faja de Honor de la Sociedad Argentina de Escritores (1972)
• San Francisco de Asís Award (1977)
• "Alicia Moreau de Justo" Award (1985)
• Special Mention in the National Award of Children's Literature (1986)
• Honor Roll of the Hans Christian Andersen Award (1976)
• Platinum Konex Award
  Konex Award
  Konex Foundation awards, or simple Konex awards are cultural awards from the Konex Foundation to Argentine cultural personalities.Created in 1980, where conceived as a way to reward the Argentine personalities and institutions of different fields, as well as to stimulate the beginners.Even though...
  
  (1994)