Janosch
Encyclopedia
Janosch (born March 11, 1931) is one of the best-known German
artists and children's book authors. He was born in Hindenburg (now Zabrze
, Poland) in Upper Silesia
. He said in an interview that he is Silesian
and that it is his nationality.
After World War II
the family fled to West Germany
. In the area of Oldenburg
Janosch worked in a textile mill. In 1953 he went to Munich
, where he studied for some terms at the Academy of Arts, but broke off his studies eventually. Afterwards he worked as a freelance artist. In 1960 his first book for children was published with George Lentz, who was a friend of his, who also persuaded him to take on the penname Janosch. Within the next 10 years numerous books for children followed with different publishing houses.
He also published books for adults, in which he deals with his childhood experiences of growing up with an abusive father and a God-fearing mother, constantly recurring topics being friendship, family relationships and the quest for the meaning of life.
Among others, he has received the following awards:
By 1980 he had published over 100 books for children in nearly 30 languages. By then he had left Germany and now lives on the island of Tenerife
in the Atlantic Ocean
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
artists and children's book authors. He was born in Hindenburg (now Zabrze
Zabrze
Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...
, Poland) in Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. He said in an interview that he is Silesian
Silesians
Silesians , are the inhabitants of Silesia in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. A small diaspora community also exists in Karnes County, Texas in the USA....
and that it is his nationality.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the family fled to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. In the area of Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
Janosch worked in a textile mill. In 1953 he went to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, where he studied for some terms at the Academy of Arts, but broke off his studies eventually. Afterwards he worked as a freelance artist. In 1960 his first book for children was published with George Lentz, who was a friend of his, who also persuaded him to take on the penname Janosch. Within the next 10 years numerous books for children followed with different publishing houses.
He also published books for adults, in which he deals with his childhood experiences of growing up with an abusive father and a God-fearing mother, constantly recurring topics being friendship, family relationships and the quest for the meaning of life.
Among others, he has received the following awards:
- 1975: the Literature Award of the City of Munich
- 1979: the German Youth Literature AwardDeutscher JugendliteraturpreisThe Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries...
- 1984: the Zilveren Griffel
- 1993: the BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
By 1980 he had published over 100 books for children in nearly 30 languages. By then he had left Germany and now lives on the island of Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.