Children’s Writers

Children all around the world like to listen to stories. In the pat, stories were handed down from one generation to next by word of mouth. These myths and folk tales were not freely available in written form until printing was invented and more people learned to read. Each generation of parents and children has its favorite authors, but the work of greatest children’s authors will be enjoyed for centuries.

Author of Folk Tales

Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) was the son of a Danish shoemaker. He wrote 168 fairy tales, including The Little Merimaid. Some of his stories were based on folklore, but others were completely original. The Ugly Duckling is based on his unhappy experiences at school

American Childhood

Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910). He told the story of two boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, and their adventures on the Mississippi River in the US.

Japanese Favorite
In his short life, Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933) wrote stories about animals and people that Japanese children love. His characters include Matasaburo the Wind Imp and Wildcat, king of the countryside.

Illustrated Stories
Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) was an English author who wrote a series of stories about animals, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit. They are illustrated with her own paintings. Many of the animal characters were based on real people whom she knew.

More Great Children’s Writers
Robert Louis Setvenson (1850-94) Travels in the wild parts of America and the South Pacific inspired this Scottish writter. He wrote adventure stories, including Treasure Island and Kidnapped.

Roald Dahl (1916-90) Although his parents were from Norway, Roald Dahl was born in Britain. His books Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) were made into movies.