🎂 Born 1952: Jostein Gaarder
Norwegian children’s and young adult literature writer and high school philosophy teacher (1952). He is adept at integrating the history of philosophy, human destiny, and narrative deconstruction into his novels, guiding readers to think about the meaning of existence in a popular and vivid way.
- Top Award and Representative Works:
- Sophie’s World (Sophie’s World / Norwegian Sofies Welt(1991) — Awarded 1994 German Youth Literature Prize (DJLP)This book tells the story of 14-year-old Sophie, who, after receiving anonymous letters asking “Who are you?” and “Where did the world come from?”, embarks on a mysterious course of philosophical thought spanning from the pre-Socratic era to the modern era. The work skillfully blends historical philosophical knowledge with the novel’s plot, making it a globally renowned introductory philosophical text for young readers.
- “Hey, is anyone there?” (Hello, is there anybody there? / Norwegian Hallo? Er det noen her?(1996) — This film tells the story of a boy named Joachim who, while awaiting the birth of his younger brother, encounters an alien child named Maika who lands in a tree in his backyard. The two engage in a whimsical conversation about life in the universe, evolution, and the sense of existence.
| Birth | Jostein Gaarder | Jostein Gaarder (Wikipedia) |
⚰️ 1974 – Death: Chihiro Iwasaki
Japanese painter and picture book illustrator (1918–1974). Throughout her life, she focused her creative work on children and flowers. She was extremely skilled at blending the “wet-on-wet” technique of traditional Eastern ink painting with Western watercolor, expressing the eyes, postures, and clear, innocent emotions of children with unparalleled gentleness and delicacy.
- Timeless classics and representative works:
- Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window (Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window(Text by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi) — Tomohiro Iwasaki’s watercolor illustrations and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s text complement each other perfectly, vividly depicting the tender years of Totto-chan, a little girl who grows up freely in Tomoe Gakuen, and Principal Sosaku Kobayashi.
- Classic picture book masterpieces also include “It Snowed on My Birthday” (ゆきのひのたんじょうび), The Day the Birds Came (ことりのくるひ), Andersen’s Fairy Tales: The Red Shoes, etc.
| Passed Away | Chihiro Iwasaki | Chihiro Iwasaki (Wikipedia) |
🎂 Born 1936: Jan Pieńkowski
Polish-British picture book author, illustrator, and 3D paper artist (1936–2022). He was known for his elegant use of black silhouettes, marble-textured prints, and innovative paper mechanisms to create fantastical visual worlds.
- Top Award and Representative Works:* Raindrop Necklace (A Necklace of Raindrops(1968, by Joan Aiken) — The story tells of how the North Wind gives a little girl named Laura a necklace made of raindrops, which will keep her from getting wet or flooded. Pinkerschi provided unforgettable black silhouette illustrations for this collection of fairy tales, enhancing the mystique of the marbled background.
- The Haunted House (Haunted House(1979) — She has won the Kate Greenaway Medal (CIL) twice.This is a landmark interactive pop-up book that presents a fun visual experience of corridor monsters, bouncing spiders, and haunted rooms through page turning, pull rings, and pulleys.
- His representative works also include the evergreen picture book series “McG and Mogg” for young children.Meg and Mog(By Helen Nicoll)
| Birth | Jan Pieńkowski | Jan Pieńkowski (Wikipedia) |
⚰️ 1984 – Death: Ellen Raskin
American children’s author, illustrator, and graphic designer (1928–1984). Her works are known for their intricate suspenseful mystery structures, witty satire, and unique page layouts.
- Top Award and Representative Works:
- The Westin Game (The Westing Game(1978, also translated as *The Westin Legacy*) — Awarded 1979 Newbery MedalThe story revolves around the death of wealthy Samuel Westing, who leaves behind a vast fortune and a peculiar will. Sixteen chosen heirs are divided into eight groups, engaging in a logic puzzle game using clues and codes. The work explores themes of prejudice, family relationships, and self-identity.
- Fig and the Ghost (Figgs & Phantoms(1974, also translated as *The Phantom of the Figg Family*) — Awarded 1975 Newbery HonorThe story revolves around the emotional bond and fantastical journey of Mona, a girl from an eccentric family of entertainers, and her uncle who understands her best.
| Passed Away | Ellen Raskin | Ellen Raskin (Wikipedia) |
🎂 1896 – Born: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Margaret Kinnan Rawlings (1896–1953), an American novelist, lived for many years on a farm in Florida and was known for her delicate and realistic depictions of rural life and the harmonious interplay between humanity and nature.
- Representative works and content:
- Deer Park in Everlasting Spring (The Yearling(1938) — Awarded Pulitzer Prize for FictionWidely regarded as a classic coming-of-age novel, the story takes place in the Florida outback in the late 19th century. Twelve-year-old Jody adopts a motherless fawn named “Flag,” and the two develop a deep bond. However, as the fawn grows up and damages crops, Jody is forced to confront harsh realities and make difficult choices, ultimately transitioning into adulthood amidst pain and farewell.
- Mystic River (The Secret River(Illustrated by Leonard Wiesgold, 1955) — Awarded Newbery Honor, 1956The story tells of a young girl named Calpenia who finds a “mysterious river” in a poetic and fantastical forest and catches fresh fish for a hungry town.
| Birth | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Wikipedia) |
🎂 Born 1960: Deborah Ellis
Canadian children’s author and anti-war and anti-poverty activist (1960). She personally visited refugee camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and her works focus on the real living conditions of children living under the shadow of war and poverty.
- Representative works and content:
- Parvana’s Journey (Parvana’s Journey(2002) and The Breadwinner (The BreadwinnerParvana’s Waiting (2000) — listed in “1001 Children’s Books”. The story tells the epic tale of Parvana, an 11-year-old girl in Kabul, Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban regime. To support her family, who are on the verge of collapse, she bravely disguises herself as a boy and goes to the streets to read letters and sell things to support them. She also searches for her lost relatives amidst the storms of war.
| Birth | Deborah Ellis | Deborah Ellis (Wikipedia) |
🎂 1927 – Born: Maia Wojciechowska
Polish-American children’s novelist (1927–2002).
- Top Award and Representative Works:
- The Shadow of the Bull (Shadow of a Bull(1964) — Awarded 1965 Newbery MedalThe story takes place in Spain. Manolo, the son of a legendary bullfighter, is expected by the entire town to follow in his footsteps. However, deep down, Manolo yearns to become a doctor who saves lives. The work portrays the boy’s psychological journey of overcoming external expectations and fears, and bravely choosing his own path in life.
| Birth | Maia Wojciechowska | Maia Wojciechowska (Wikipedia) |
🎂 Born 1953: Grégoire Solotareff
French-Russian picture book author and illustrator (1953). He is known for using saturated, rich colors, bold black lines, and philosophical dialogues to depict the psychological interactions between animals and children.
- Top Award and Representative Works:
- Wolf Wolf (Loulou(1989) — Awarded The French Sorcières AwardThe story tells of a little rabbit who has never seen a wolf before and a young wolf named “Wolf” who has never seen a rabbit before, who become good friends. During a game of “wolf catches rabbit,” Wolf’s instincts frighten the little rabbit. Ultimately, the two overcome their innate prejudices and rebuild a friendship based on mutual understanding and trust.
- You’re Older, I’m Younger (Du groß, und ich klein / You’re big, I’m small.— Award The German Youth Literature Prize (DJLP)It tells the story of the relationship between the Lion King and the baby elephant, which transcends their differences in size and status.
- Shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award (HCAA) for Best Painter.
| Birth | Grégoire Solotareff | Grégoire Solotareff (Wikipedia) |
🍃 [other]
| event | figure | Details/Awards | Wikipedia/Data Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| born | Candy Dawson Boyd | African American children’s novelist and professor of education (1946). His most famous work is *Little Charlie P. Smith*.Charlie P. Smith Jr.）、Forever Friends Focusing on the real-life experiences of African American teenagers in terms of family love, overcoming grief over bereavement, and personal growth. | Candy Dawson Boyd |
| born | Frank Richards | British children’s novelist (1876–1961), whose real name was Charles Hamilton. He created the “Billy Bont of the Grey Monks’ School” series (…).Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School(1908) Featuring Billy, a gluttonous boy in a boarding school, this children’s novel was a popular and influential children’s novel in Britain during the first half of the 20th century and is listed in “1001 Children’s Books”. | Charles Hamilton |
| Death | Doris Buchanan Smith | American children’s author (1934–2002). Her representative work is *The Taste of Blackberries*.A Taste of Blackberries(1973) pioneered a direct exploration of the separation of life and the healing of grief over the unexpected death of a close friend for young children, and it has been a top recommended book on library lists across the United States. | Doris Buchanan Smith |
| Death | Dorothy Edwards | British children’s author and BBC radio producer (1914–1982). His most famous work is *My Naughty Little Sister*.My Naughty Little Sister(1952) records the various naughty and interesting things that little sister does every day in a gentle and humorous tone, and was included in “1001 Children’s Books”. | Dorothy Edwards |
| Death | Lee Bennett Hopkins | American children’s poet and poetry editor (1938–2019). He edited dozens of children’s poetry collections throughout his life and founded the National Children’s Poetry Award. His representative collections include *Good Nursery Rhymes, Good Times*.Good Rhymes, Good Times)wait. | Lee Bennett Hopkins |
