What kind of children's writers are there? Famous children's writers, poets and their works

Art created for children is a diverse and extensive part of modern culture.

Literature has been present in our lives since childhood, it is with its help that the concept of good and evil is laid down, the worldview and ideals are formed.

Even at preschool and primary school age, young readers can already appreciate the dynamics of poems or beautiful fairy tales, and at an older age they begin to read thoughtfully, so books need to be selected accordingly.

Let's talk about Russian and foreign children's writers and their works.

Children's writers of the 19th-20th centuries and the development of children's literature

For the first time, books specifically for children in Rus' began to be written in the 17th century; in the 18th century, the formation of children's literature began: at that time such people as M. Lomonosov, N. Karamzin, A. Sumarokov and others lived and worked. The 19th century was the heyday of children’s literature, the “Silver Age,” and we still read many books by writers of that time.

Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

The writer's real name is Charles Dodgson, he grew up in a large family: Charles had 3 brothers and 7 sisters. He studied at college, became a professor of mathematics, and even received the rank of deacon. He really wanted to become an artist, he drew a lot, and loved to take photographs. As a boy, he composed stories, funny stories, and loved the theater.

If his friends had not persuaded Charles to rewrite his story on paper, Alice in Wonderland might not have seen the light of day, but still the book was published in 1865.

Carroll's books are written in such an original and rich language that it is difficult to find a suitable translation for some words: there are more than 10 versions of the translation of his works into Russian, and it is up to the readers to choose which one to prefer.

Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002)

Astrid Eriksson (married Lindgren) grew up in a farmer's family, her childhood was spent in games, adventures and work on the farm. As soon as Astrid learned to read and write, she began to write various stories and first poems.

Astrid wrote the story “Pippi Longstocking” for her daughter when she was sick. Later, the stories “Mio, my Mio”, “Roni, the Robber’s Daughter”, a trilogy about detective Callie Blumkvist, a favorite triology of many, which tells the story of the cheerful and restless Carlson, were published.

Astrid's works are staged in many children's theaters around the world, and her books are adored by people of all ages.

In 2002, a literary prize was approved in honor of Astrid Lindgren - it is awarded for her contribution to the development of literature for children.

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940)

This is a Swedish writer, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Selma was reluctant to remember her childhood: at the age of 3, the girl was paralyzed, she did not get out of bed, and her only consolation was fairy tales and stories told by her grandmother. At the age of 9, after treatment, the ability to move returned in Selma, and she began to dream of a career as a writer. She studied hard, received a doctorate, and became a member of the Swedish Academy.

In 1906, her book about the journey of little Nils on the back of Martin the goose was published, then the writer published the collection “Trolls and People,” which included fantastic legends, fairy tales and short stories, and she also wrote many novels for adults.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973)

This English writer cannot be called exclusively for children, since adults also read his books with delight.

When he was three years old, his mother, widowed at an early age, moved her two children to England. The boy was fond of painting, foreign languages ​​were easy for him, he even became interested in studying “dead” languages: Anglo-Saxon, Gothic and others.

During the war, Tolkien, who went there as a volunteer, contracted typhus: it was in his delirium that he came up with the “Elvish language” that became the hallmark of many of his heroes.

His works are immortal, they are extremely popular in our time.

Clive Lewis (1898-1963)

Irish and English writer, theologian and scientist. Clive Lewis and John Tolkien were friends, it was Lewis who was one of the first to hear about the world of Middle-earth, and Tolkien - about the beautiful Narnia.

Clive was born in Ireland but lived most of his life in England. He released his first works under the pseudonym Clive Hamilton.

Clive Lewis traveled a lot, wrote poetry, loved to discuss various topics and was a well-rounded person.

His works are loved by adults and children to this day.

Russian children's writers

Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky (1882-1969)

Real name - Nikolai Korneychukov is known for children's fairy tales and stories in verse and prose.

He was born in St. Petersburg, lived for a long time in Nikolaev, Odessa, from childhood he firmly decided to become a writer, but when he arrived in St. Petersburg, he was faced with refusals from magazine editors.

He became a member of a literary circle, a critic, and wrote poetry and stories.

He was even arrested for his bold statements. During the war, Chukovsky was a war correspondent, editor of almanacs and magazines.

He spoke foreign languages ​​and translated works of foreign authors.

Chukovsky’s most famous works are “The Cockroach”, “The Fly Tsokotukha”, “Barmaley”, “Aibolit”, “The Miracle Tree”, “Moidodyr” and others.

Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak (1887-1964)

Playwright, poet, translator, literary critic, talented author. It was in his translation that many first read Shakespeare’s sonnets, Burns’s poems, and fairy tales from different peoples of the world.

Samuel's talent began to manifest itself in early childhood: the boy wrote poetry and had an ability for foreign languages.

The poetry books of Marshak, who moved from Voronezh to Petrograd, immediately enjoyed great success, and their peculiarity was the variety of genres: poems, ballads, sonnets, riddles, songs, sayings - he could do everything.

He has been awarded many prizes, and his poems have been translated into dozens of languages.

The most famous works are “Twelve Months”, “Luggage”, “The Tale of a Stupid Mouse”, “He’s So Absent-Minded”, “Mustachioed and Striped” and others.

Agnia Lvovna Barto (1906-1981)

Agnia Barto was an exemplary student; already at school she began to write poetry and epigrams for the first time.

Now many children are brought up on her poems; her light, rhythmic poems have been translated into many languages ​​of the world.

Agnia was an active literary figure all her life, a member of the jury of the Andersen Competition.

In 1976 she received the H.H. Andersen Prize.

The most famous poems are “Bullfinch”, “Bullfinch”, “Tamara and I”, “Lyubochka”, “Bear”, “Man”, “I am growing” and others.

Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov (1913-2009)

He devoted a lot of time to social activities, although at first he did not have a dream of becoming a writer: in his youth he was both a laborer and a member of a geological exploration expedition.

We all remember such works as “Uncle Styopa is a policeman”, “What do you have”, “Song of Friends”, “The Three Little Pigs”, “On New Year’s Eve” and others.

Contemporary children's writers

Grigory Bentsionovich Oster

A children's writer, from whose works adults can learn a lot of interesting things.

He was born in Odessa, served in the navy, his life is still very active: he is a presenter, a talented author, and a cartoon screenwriter. “Monkeys”, “A Kitten Named Woof”, “38 Parrots”, “Caught That Bitten” - all these cartoons were filmed according to his script, and “Bad Advice” is a book that has gained enormous popularity.

By the way, an anthology of children’s literature was published in Canada: the books of most writers have a circulation of 300-400 thousand, and Auster’s “Bad Advice” sold 12 million copies!

Eduard Nikolaevich Uspensky

From childhood, Eduard Uspensky was a leader, participated in KVN, organized skit parties, then he first tried his hand at being a writer, and later began writing plays for children's radio programs, children's theaters, and dreamed of creating his own magazine for children.

The writer became famous thanks to the cartoon “Gena the Crocodile and His Friends”; since then the long-eared symbol, Cheburashka, has settled in almost every home.

We also still love the book and cartoon “Three from Prostokvashino”, “The Koloboks Are Investigating”, “Plasticine Crow”, “Baba Yaga Against!” and others.

JK Rowling

Speaking about modern children's writers, it is simply impossible not to remember the author of the series of books about Harry Potter, the boy wizard and his friends.

It is the best-selling book series in history, and the films based on them have grossed huge amounts of money at the box office.

Rowling had to go from obscurity and poverty to worldwide fame. At first, not a single editor agreed to accept and publish a book about a wizard, believing that such a genre would be uninteresting to readers.

Only the small publishing house Bloomsbury agreed - and it was right.

Now Rowling continues to write, is involved in charity and social activities, she is a realized author and a happy mother and wife.

Olga

Childhood, of course, begins with an acquaintance with the works of popular writers. It is books that awaken in the child’s soul the desire for self-knowledge and an orientation towards the world as a whole. Famous children's writers are familiar to each of us from a very early age. A child, having barely learned to speak, already knows who Cheburashka is and the famous cat Matroskin is loved all over the world, the hero is charming and constantly comes up with something new. The article reviews the most famous children's writers and their works.

Benefits of these books

From time to time, even adults turn to reading children's fairy tales, stories and stories. We all sometimes want to witness a miracle, regardless of age or position.

It would be naive to believe that with the receipt of a diploma of higher education, a person radically changes. No, each of us still needs spiritual enrichment and understanding. Books can become such an “outlet”. Compare your feelings when you read news in a newspaper or read a work. In the second case, aesthetic pleasure from the process increases. Popular children's writers can even partially replace the warmth of communicating with a wise interlocutor.

Eduard Uspensky

The works of this writer cannot leave anyone indifferent. Any child will like Uncle Fyodor and his wonderful tailed friends and will delight him. Famous children's writers, such as these, are remembered forever; they cannot be forgotten even at an older age. Everyone’s favorite adventures of the three friends have a continuation: the books “New Orders in Prostokvashino” and “Uncle Fyodor’s Aunt” bring true joy.

Crocodile Gena and his friend Cheburashka also have a lot of fans. Despite the fact that modern heroes have now tried to supplant these characters, they still have their own circle of readers. Russian children's writers are known to be loved all over the world. In Soviet cartoons of yesteryear one can find the ideals of friendship and service to other people. A sense of duty and selfless dedication were put in first place here.

Nikolay Nosov

Who doesn't know famous friends Kolya and Misha? It was they who once decided to hatch little chickens from the incubator and organized entertaining activities to brighten up their leisure time. They did all this with the greatest dedication and conscientiousness. Vitya Maleev is perhaps the most beloved hero. In his face, every domestic boy recognizes himself and his history. As children, we all don’t really want to do our homework. Nosov's characters always find a way out of a difficult situation and think about how best to act. Russian children's writers like him aim to identify what is necessary in every society.

Victor Dragunsky

Deniska Korablev is a faithful childhood friend of every boy and girl aged 7-10. The stories of Victor Dragunsky are incredibly interesting to read: they are filled with various adventures and life itself, which is literally in full swing. His characters come up with pranks and go on exciting adventures. Unobtrusively, the writer leads the reader to an understanding of true values. The heroes realize what irreparable consequences a lie can have, how to maintain friendship and why lessons still need to be learned. Favorite children's writers, of course, are known to everyone; Viktor Dragunsky deservedly belongs among them.

Alan Milne

Who doesn't know the so popular Winnie the Pooh? The bear cub is familiar to all children. Anyone who has seen the cartoon of the same name at least once will never forget the cheerful prankster and honey lover. Together with his friend Piglet, he plans pranks that inevitably lead to various unforeseen situations.

But few people know that Alan Milne wrote the work “Winnie the Pooh and All-All-All” for his little son Christopher, intending to teach him lessons of kindness and sincerity. The latter, by the way, became the prototype of the boy featured in the fairy tale.

Astrid Lindgren

The books of this wonderful book are loved and recognized all over the world. Writers of children's fairy tales can hardly compare with her work, which abounds in originality and complete free-thinking. It’s worth at least remembering the entertaining story about Pippi Longstocking, who was distinguished by her great intelligence and penchant for adventurous tricks. Her heroine, one way or another, evokes a feeling of interest and sympathy. She wants to help, monitor further events. The book tells that the girl was orphaned at an early age, but one can only envy the courage and bravery with which she embarks on dangerous adventures.

No less favorite character of Astrid Lindgren is Carlson. This cheerful prankster lives on the roof and sometimes surprises others with his appearance. In addition, he really loves jam and gets a little naughty. You have to have an extremely rich imagination to come up with such heroes. Neither Carlson nor Peppy can be called obedient. On the contrary, they overturn the usual understanding of things and form in the child an individual idea of ​​himself and the world in particular. Values ​​are not imposed or promoted here; the reader makes his own conclusions and comes to his own conclusions. Famous children's writers, which undoubtedly include Astrid Lindgren, form a child's primary sense of interest in literature. The Swedish writer opens up to the reader a bright world of magic, where you want to linger longer. Even when we are old enough, many of us periodically re-read her works.

Lewis Carroll

The work of this writer is not ignored by lovers of foreign fairy tales. “Alice in Wonderland” is one of the most mysterious works and equally incomprehensible to the common man.

It has so many subtexts, meanings and meanings that at first glance it seems impossible to appreciate them. One of them is that even in everyday life, each of us is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets that we must be able to discern. Opportunities are hidden everywhere, miracles actually happen. Popular children's writers like Carroll leave the mystery to the reader and are never in a hurry to give away the big secret.

Gianni Rodari

The Italian writer, who saw serving other people as the main purpose of his existence, created a very entertaining story. The onion family, known to all children, arouses deep interest in the works of this author. Cipollino and his friends treat each other extremely carefully and take pity on the poor convicts whom Prince Lemon put in prison. In this tale, the theme of freedom and the opportunity to have your own opinion is especially acute. Famous children's writers, to whom Gianni Rodari belongs, always teach goodness and justice. “Cipollino” is remembered precisely for its focus on understanding and consoling everyone who needs it.

Thus, the work of children's writers contains a unique opportunity to return for a moment to a brighter time, to feel like a child again, to remember the simple joys that once surrounded us.

Despite the widespread computerization, parents continue to buy printed editions of books for their children. Of course, there is a greater demand for literature for very young children who cannot yet read. Older people prefer to download works on the Internet on their own and read them on their gadgets. But still, the influence of literature on children's development is undeniable. Therefore, in this article we will look at what modern children's writers exist today. A review of famous authors will help you understand what children and their parents are interested in.

The influence of literature on children's development

Let's start from the very beginning. Namely, we will understand how books influence the development of children. It should be noted that the stories that loving parents read or tell are taken completely seriously by their children. Of course, this happens up to a certain point in time, but during this period the children’s system of perceiving the world is already somewhat formed. This all means that before you start reading a book by a new author to your child, you should read it yourself.

This is a mandatory condition, because modern children's writers and their works are sometimes very innovative, and some fairy tales even show a system of values ​​from the individual point of view of the writer. Writers who create such books believe that this will help children adapt to the current world and understand it. Of course, parents should decide how to raise their child, but literature must be carefully chosen from childhood in order to instill in the child a taste for good books.

How to choose a book for a child by age

If you want to instill in your child a love of reading, then you need to choose the right books according to age. Let's just say that it is too early for a two-year-old child to read Nosov's books, since they will be difficult for him to understand, but the fairy tales of Korney Chukovsky are quite suitable. You can also read short nursery rhymes to your child and then memorize them together. Also suitable for this age are such fairy tales as “Ryaba Hen”, “Teremok”, “Kolobok” (although you can turn to them even earlier).

As the child grows up, you should start reading to him such works as “Three from Prostokvashino”, “Baby and Carlson”, “The Adventure of Pinocchio”. Next, include “Cinderella”, “Snow White” and similar fairy tales in the list of books. They are the ones who will teach the child to worry and sympathize, to think about justice, about what is good and bad.

Modern children's writers and their works can also take up residence on your children's book shelf. Of course, they should be selected more carefully; unknown texts must first be read by the parent. But if you already have a fairly adult child, then it’s difficult to keep track of him. But try to offer him something that he has not yet read from the classics, perhaps he will like it.

Children's writers and time-tested books

So, let's look at the best time-tested children's writers and books for children's development. These include the following.

• Poems by Agnia Barto. You can start reading them to your baby at the age of one, because she has both short and simple poems and longer and more serious ones.
• He is quite popular among children and almost every child knows his famous works “Moidodyr” or “Mukha Tsokotukha”.
• At an older age, children should read the works of the Brothers Grimm. These are, for example, “Blizzard”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Reasonable Hans”, “Rose Hood”.
• Lindgren Astrid and her most famous works “Pippi Longstocking” and “Baby and Carlson”.
• More complex, which means they need to be read when the child gets older. His most popular book is “The Malachite Box,” which contains many Ural tales. If your child is interested in folklore, then offer him this option.
• Quite an interesting series of books about the adventures of the girl Ellie in the Magic Land.
• Lewis Carroll writes no less fascinatingly. His most famous works are “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass”.
• The series of books “The Chronicles of Narnia” by Clive Lewis is very interesting, which opens up an amazing and magical world.

So, we looked at a very small list of children's books by author, but in fact it is much more extensive. Here you can add other works you know and love that you yourself read as a child. Your child will probably be interested in this.

Modern Russian fairy tale writers

Now let's look at a small list of modern children's writers (and their works), namely those who create fairy tales that are published in Russia.

• Natalya Gorodetskaya. A very interesting modern storyteller who has already written many works. For example, she wrote the “Fairytale Kingdom” series. By reading these books, you can truly be transported to a completely different world.
• Olga Kolpakova has already published more than a dozen books, including many interesting and instructive stories that your child will surely enjoy.
• Sofia Prokofief is the author of many magical stories and fairy tales for both very young children and schoolchildren. Among them we can note such as “Astrel and the Guardian of the Forest”, “Snow White in the Enchanted Castle”, “In the Land of Legends”.
• Valentina Oseeva. This writer has in her arsenal for children fairy tales, as well as short but instructive stories.

As you can see, many modern Russian children's writers and their works are quite popular, and can also have a positive impact on the development of your child, so that he becomes a harmonious person who knows what love and hate are, what is good and bad, where to stand for yourself, and where to support a loved one.

Contemporary foreign fairy tale writers

Not only modern Russian children's writers and their works can be present on your children's bookshelf, but also foreign ones. Of course, here you need to select much more strictly, because sometimes they offer you to read absolutely incredible things, but there are also quite fascinating ones. Let's look at the list.

• Dick King-Smith. This English author is very popular for his fascinating stories about animals that can be reread by the whole family.
• Sven Nordqvist. who created a series of books about Peson and his kitten Findus. This work has been translated into many languages, cartoons and a computer game have been created based on it.
• Christine Nestlinger. This is an Austrian author who has published more than a hundred books during her career.

Of course, this is not the entire list, but just a few examples. Parents themselves must replenish it so that their child has the opportunity to read good books.

Famous children's authors who write poetry

On your child’s shelf, in addition to fairy tales, there should also be poetic works. This will significantly expand his horizons and also help develop his memory. Now let’s look at what modern children’s writers and books for children work in this style.

• Andre Giles. This is a modern English children's poet who published the already world-famous book “The Dancing Giraffe”.
• Marina Boroditskaya. She writes both poetry for adults and for children (of which there are many more). Here are some of the author’s poems - “The Last Day of Training”, “Forest Swamp”, “Chickenpox”, “Rybkin TV” and many others.
• Galina Dyadina. Her most popular book is “The Book in the Vest.” It is a collection of poems, which are arranged in alphabetical order. This will help your child learn the alphabet and read interesting works.

Aspiring young authors

It is sometimes very difficult for a modern parent to choose literature for their child from such a variety of new, fashionable and, most often, even unknown authors. Therefore, below we will consider the best children's writers and books for the development of children, which are not yet entirely known, but have already received well-deserved praise from critics. In 2015, the Debut Prize was awarded to three authors who received a special prize “For the best work for children and teenagers.” This is Dmitry Akhmetshin from the city of Samara. The award went to him for the story “The Adventures of Denis in the Painted World.” It should be noted that this author is quite young and has several other similar works.

Also on this list is Dmitry Buchelnikov from the city of Sochi, he was noted for his story “Majara”. This is also a young author, whose real name is Dmitry Kungurtsev. Although he has been writing children's fairy tales and poems since his youth, his work was previously only published in one magazine. But now he has received an award and recognition.

As we see, the modern world is very concerned about the availability of good literature for the younger generation, which is why this year a new nomination was established for the Debut Prize - “For the best work for children and teenagers.” Thus, if you want to add to your list of children's books, compiled by author, and are looking for young talents who write good and interesting works, then you can take note of the works of the above writers.

Developmental literature (encyclopedias, anthologies, etc.)

At a certain stage of a child’s development, in order for him to learn more about the world around him and absorb the necessary knowledge in a playful way, separate literature is required. These are various encyclopedias and the like. Now let's look at what modern children's writers and their works can help you with this.

• A very interesting and talented author. Most often he creates educational literature that children really like. You can find various poems that will help your child learn the multiplication tables, as well as a number of tongue twisters, counting rhymes and many others.
• Julia Donaldson. This author wrote a “Rhyming Story” that is quite interesting for little ones.

As the child grows up, books such as large encyclopedias with colorful pictures should be purchased. Again, here you just need to focus on the age of your child and the contents of the book itself.

Teen literature

Separately, it should be said about It is at this age that the child begins to read what he himself wants. Therefore, sometimes you should wonder what your child is so passionate about, since not all modern children's writers and their works are suitable even for a teenager. Some are better not to be included in the reading list at all. Let's look at a few authors who are considered the best.

• Joanne Rowling. Perhaps this woman is one of the most popular in the world. It was she who wrote a series of books about the boy Harry Potter. Films have been made based on this work.
• Offer your teenager classics - Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", Jerome Sellinger's "The Catcher in the Rye", Ray Bradberry's "Dandelion Wine".
• For those who love magic, there is a rather interesting series of books written by Dmitry Yemets. The two most popular are the parody “Tanya Grotter” and “Mefodiy Buslaev”.

And remember, at this age the child begins to experience adult feelings, as well as to comprehend what he wants in this life and what this world is. Therefore, you should be careful when choosing books, since many authors whose works claim to be teenage literature should be read at an older age, when the psyche and worldview have already been formed.

The most popular children's and teenage books

Now we should summarize and list the most popular modern children's writers and their works. Schoolchildren are often asked to write an essay on this topic, so let’s turn specifically to the rating of authors popular among children.

• Max Fry and his series “Echo Labyrinths” and “Echo Chronicles”;
• Dan Simmons - “Illion”, “Winter Ghosts”, etc.;
• Arkady and (these authors are considered classics of Russian science fiction);
• Diana Duane also writes fantasy;
• Donald Bisset is a popular children's author.

An excellent alternative list of children's literature that you will want to return to more than once.

When we talk about Soviet children's books, Marshak, Chukovsky, Olesha immediately come to mind. Approximately the same set of authors who are usually read to children. But there are other excellent writers, whose books, however, are a little less known, but children may like them even more than “Aibolit” and “Three Fat Men” (and you along with them).
Valentina Oseeva, who has worked with street children in children's correctional institutions for more than 16 years, understands the psychology of difficult children like no one else. Her duology about the curly-headed stubborn Dinka (“Dinka” and “Dinka Says Goodbye to Childhood”) was published almost 50 years ago. They are based largely on an autobiographical story of the growing up of a tomboy girl from a family of intellectuals. In addition to this textbook story about childhood friendship, Oseeva wrote a dozen worthy short stories, which were included in the collection “The Magic Word,” and a series of books about the schoolboy Vaska Trubachev. In some places there is unctuous propaganda in the texts (in the third book about Vaska, the heroes are building a school, which obviously represents a bright future), but all this is in the context of serious conversations about goodness and justice, the ability to hear and accept others. Oseeva describes school everyday life with all its petty squabbles and existential conflicts easily and wittily, without pioneering strain or edification. In addition, as in the case of “Dinka,” she honestly talks about the families that most of the heroes have incomplete, large or simply unsettled families. But at the same time, they are still strong and friendly in their own way.

Children's poems by Alexander Vvedensky, one of the most profound authors of the first half of the 20th century, are read significantly less today than, for example, the works of his close friend Daniil Kharms. In addition, thanks to the light hand of the avant-garde historian Nikolai Khardzhiev, the opinion was firmly established that Vvedensky “was a hack in children’s literature, he wrote terrible books, there were very few good ones.” Nevertheless, during his lifetime he was seen as a popular children's author. Vvedensky managed to publish several dozen children's books, including poems, stories and adaptations of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. True, they began to be republished only after the poet’s rehabilitation in 1964. Vvedensky collaborated with children's magazines "Chizh" and "Hedgehog". His poems, which were imbued with a naive and idyllic attitude towards the world, were highly appreciated by Lydia Chukovskaya and Sergei Mikhalkov. Recently, the publishing house Ad Marginem republished “The Railway,” a story in which, through the mouth of a passenger on a steam locomotive, he talks about what is happening behind the window. Changing day and night, factories, forests and factories form a panorama of first a small town, then a country, and then the whole world. It is also worth paying attention to the book “Journey to Crimea,” on which Vvedensky worked together with Elena Safonova. This is a cheerful poetic story of two brothers from cold Leningrad who set off on a journey to the south. The motive of a person’s acquaintance with the world and genuine surprise at everything that happens is one of the main ones in Vvedensky’s work, you cannot deny this to him.

Boris Zhitkov wrote both rather tedious pedagogical stories about different professions (“On the water”, “Above the water”, “Under the water”), and curious why-why stories, which he called “encyclopedias for four-year-old citizens” (“What I saw” and "What Happened") In addition, he wrote an amazing novel about the 1905 revolution, Viktor Vavich. It was not published for a long time and practically disappeared, but returned to readers in the late 1990s. Zhitkov himself managed to be a navigator and captain on a ship, work as an ichthyologist and a worker at a machine-building plant. He sailed on ships and submarines, flew in an airplane, and was in India, Japan and Africa. In many ways, it was this experience that helped him to shine brightly in the collections “Sea Stories” and “Stories about Animals” - short but capacious stories about man’s relationship with animals and nature. In them, Zhitkov tells how smart, curious and brave animals are, how they protect people and each other.

Ilya Marshak, the younger brother of Samuil Marshak, who published under the pseudonym M. Ilyin, was one of the pioneers of Soviet science fiction for children. He regularly wrote magazine columns “Chemical Page” and “Laboratory of the New Robinson”, was published in “Chizh” and wrote stories for children, which formed a full-fledged history of inventions (the collection “One Hundred Thousand Whys”). The book “How Man Became a Giant” became one of the first textbooks on the history of philosophy for teenagers, but its opus magnum is “The Conquest of Nature.” This is a fascinating scientific story about nature, which reflects the main principles of the popular writer. He fought both against useless entertaining counterfeits of a scientific book, and against crude compilations that were passed off as educational literature. M. Ilyin's texts are still considered an example of scientific literature for children - perhaps with a discount on discussions about the destructive nature of capitalism.

Science fiction writer Ian Larry has a truly Dickensian biography. He was orphaned at the age of nine, wandered for a long time, worked as a watchmaker's apprentice and as a waiter in a tavern. And during the First World War he was drafted into the tsarist army, but soon went over to the side of the Reds. In the early 1930s, he made his debut with the not very successful story “Window to the Future,” but a year later he rehabilitated himself by releasing the utopian novel “The Land of the Happy.” This is an idyllic picture of a world in which communism has won, people have mastered space, but are faced with an energy crisis, which has shaken the framework of utopia. His most famous book was the story “The Extraordinary Adventures of Karik and Valya,” which Larry wrote at the request of Samuil Marshak. According to the plot, brother and sister Karik and Valya shrink and go on a journey to the world of insects. Larry combines naturalistic descriptions of the natural world with a wildly twisted plot, which formed the basis of the 1987 film of the same name.

Art created for children is a diverse and extensive part of modern culture. Literature has been present in our lives since childhood, it is with its help that the concept of good and evil is laid down, the worldview and ideals are formed. Even at preschool and primary school age, young readers can already appreciate the dynamics of poems or beautiful fairy tales, and at an older age they begin to read thoughtfully, so books need to be selected accordingly. Let's talk about Russian and foreign children's writers and their works.

Children's writers of the 19th-20th centuries and the development of children's literature

For the first time, books specifically for children in Rus' began to be written in the 17th century; in the 18th century, the formation of children's literature began: at that time such people as M. Lomonosov, N. Karamzin, A. Sumarokov and others lived and worked. The 19th century was the heyday of children’s literature, the “Silver Age,” and we still read many books by writers of that time.

Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

The author of "Alice in Wonderland", "Alice Through the Looking Glass", "The Hunting of the Snark" was born in a small village in Cheshire (hence the name of his character - the Cheshire Cat). The writer's real name is Charles Dodgson, he grew up in a large family: Charles had 3 brothers and 7 sisters. He studied at college, became a professor of mathematics, and even received the rank of deacon. He really wanted to become an artist, he drew a lot, and loved to take photographs. As a boy, he composed stories, funny stories, and loved the theater. If his friends had not persuaded Charles to rewrite his story on paper, Alice in Wonderland might not have seen the light of day, but still the book was published in 1865. Carroll's books are written in such an original and rich language that it is difficult to find a suitable translation for some words: there are more than 10 versions of the translation of his works into Russian, and it is up to the readers to choose which one to prefer.

Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002)

Astrid Eriksson (married Lindgren) grew up in a farmer's family, her childhood was spent in games, adventures and work on the farm. As soon as Astrid learned to read and write, she began to write various stories and first poems.

Astrid wrote the story “Pippi Longstocking” for her daughter when she was sick. Later, the stories “Mio, my Mio”, “Roni, the Robber’s Daughter”, a trilogy about detective Callie Blumkvist, a favorite triology of many, which tells the story of the cheerful and restless Carlson, were published.

Astrid's works are staged in many children's theaters around the world, and her books are adored by people of all ages. In 2002, a literary prize was approved in honor of Astrid Lindgren - it is awarded for her contribution to the development of literature for children.

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940)

This is a Swedish writer, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Selma was reluctant to remember her childhood: at the age of 3, the girl was paralyzed, she did not get out of bed, and her only consolation was fairy tales and stories told by her grandmother. At the age of 9, after treatment, the ability to move returned in Selma, and she began to dream of a career as a writer. She studied hard, received a doctorate, and became a member of the Swedish Academy.

In 1906, her book about the journey of little Nils on the back of Martin the goose was published, then the writer published the collection “Trolls and People,” which included fantastic legends, fairy tales and short stories, and she also wrote many novels for adults.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973)

This English writer cannot be called exclusively for children, since adults also read his books with delight. The author of the trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit: The Journey There and Back Again”, the creator of the amazing world of Middle-earth, on which incredible films are made, was born in Africa. When he was three years old, his mother, widowed at an early age, moved her two children to England. The boy was fond of painting, foreign languages ​​were easy for him, he even became interested in studying “dead” languages: Anglo-Saxon, Gothic and others. During the war, Tolkien, who went there as a volunteer, contracted typhus: it was in his delirium that he came up with the “Elvish language” that became the hallmark of many of his heroes. His works are immortal, they are extremely popular in our time.

Clive Lewis (1898-1963)

Irish and English writer, theologian and scientist. Clive Lewis and John Tolkien were friends, it was Lewis who was one of the first to hear about the world of Middle-earth, and Tolkien - about the beautiful Narnia. Clive was born in Ireland but lived most of his life in England. He released his first works under the pseudonym Clive Hamilton. In 1950-1955, his “Chronicles of Narnia” were first published, telling about the adventures of two brothers and two sisters in a mysterious and magical land. Clive Lewis traveled a lot, wrote poetry, loved to discuss various topics and was a well-rounded person. His works are loved by adults and children to this day.

Russian children's writers

Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky (1882-1969)

Real name - Nikolai Korneychukov is known for children's fairy tales and stories in verse and prose. He was born in St. Petersburg, lived for a long time in Nikolaev, Odessa, from childhood he firmly decided to become a writer, but when he arrived in St. Petersburg, he was faced with refusals from magazine editors. He became a member of a literary circle, a critic, and wrote poetry and stories. He was even arrested for his bold statements. During the war, Chukovsky was a war correspondent, editor of almanacs and magazines. He spoke foreign languages ​​and translated works of foreign authors. Chukovsky’s most famous works are “The Cockroach”, “The Fly Tsokotukha”, “Barmaley”, “Aibolit”, “The Miracle Tree”, “Moidodyr” and others.

Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak (1887-1964)

Playwright, poet, translator, literary critic, talented author. It was in his translation that many first read Shakespeare’s sonnets, Burns’s poems, and fairy tales from different peoples of the world. Samuel's talent began to manifest itself in early childhood: the boy wrote poetry and had an ability for foreign languages. The poetry books of Marshak, who moved from Voronezh to Petrograd, immediately enjoyed great success, and their peculiarity was the variety of genres: poems, ballads, sonnets, riddles, songs, sayings - he could do everything. He has been awarded many prizes, and his poems have been translated into dozens of languages. The most famous works are “Twelve Months”, “Luggage”, “The Tale of a Stupid Mouse”, “He’s So Absent-Minded”, “Mustachioed and Striped” and others.

Agnia Lvovna Barto (1906-1981)

Agnia Barto was an exemplary student; already at school she began to write poetry and epigrams for the first time. Now many children are brought up on her poems; her light, rhythmic poems have been translated into many languages ​​of the world. Agnia was an active literary figure all her life, a member of the jury of the Andersen Competition. In 1976 she received the H.H. Andersen Prize. The most famous poems are “Bullfinch”, “Bullfinch”, “Tamara and I”, “Lyubochka”, “Bear”, “Man”, “I am growing” and others.

Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov (1913-2009)

He can be considered a classic of Russian children's literature: writer, chairman of the Writers' Union of the RSFSR, talented poet, writer, fabulist, playwright. He is the author of two anthems: the USSR and the Russian Federation. He devoted a lot of time to social activities, although at first he did not have a dream of becoming a writer: in his youth he was both a laborer and a member of a geological exploration expedition. We all remember such works as “Uncle Styopa is a policeman”, “What do you have”, “Song of Friends”, “The Three Little Pigs”, “On New Year’s Eve” and others.

Contemporary children's writers

Grigory Bentsionovich Oster

A children's writer, from whose works adults can learn a lot of interesting things. He was born in Odessa, served in the navy, his life is still very active: he is a presenter, a talented author, and a cartoon screenwriter. “Monkeys”, “A Kitten Named Woof”, “38 Parrots”, “Caught That Bitten” - all these cartoons were filmed according to his script, and “Bad Advice” is a book that has gained enormous popularity. By the way, an anthology of children’s literature was published in Canada: the books of most writers have a circulation of 300-400 thousand, and Auster’s “Bad Advice” sold 12 million copies!

Eduard Nikolaevich Uspensky

From childhood, Eduard Uspensky was a leader, participated in KVN, organized skit parties, then he first tried his hand at being a writer, and later began writing plays for children's radio programs, children's theaters, and dreamed of creating his own magazine for children. The writer became famous thanks to the cartoon “Gena the Crocodile and His Friends”; since then the long-eared symbol, Cheburashka, has settled in almost every home. We also still love the book and cartoon “Three from Prostokvashino”, “The Koloboks Are Investigating”, “Plasticine Crow”, “Baba Yaga Against!” and others.

JK Rowling

Speaking about modern children's writers, it is simply impossible not to remember the author of the series of books about Harry Potter, the boy wizard and his friends. It is the best-selling book series in history, and the films based on them have grossed huge amounts of money at the box office. Rowling had to go from obscurity and poverty to worldwide fame. At first, not a single editor agreed to accept and publish a book about a wizard, believing that such a genre would be uninteresting to readers. Only the small publishing house Bloomsbury agreed - and it was right. Now Rowling continues to write, is involved in charity and social activities, she is a realized author and a happy mother and wife.