Annie M. G. Schmidt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie M. G. Schmidt
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Schmidt in 1984
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| Born | Anna Maria Geertruida Schmidt 20 May 1911 Kapelle, Netherlands |
| Died | 21 May 1995 (aged 84) Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Resting place | Zorgvliet, Amstelveen, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Writer, librarian |
| Language | Dutch |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Education | librarian |
| Period | 1947–1989 |
| Genre | Children's literature, poetry, lyrics, comedy/drama, radio/television |
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| Notable awards | Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing 1988 |
| Partner | Dick van Duijn (1950–1981) |
| Children | Flip van Duijn (born 1952) |
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Anna Maria Geertruida "Annie" Schmidt (born May 20, 1911 – died May 21, 1995) was a famous Dutch writer. Many people call her the "queen of Dutch children's literature" because of her amazing stories. She is known for her beautiful way of using the Dutch language.
Annie M.G. Schmidt wrote many different things. She created poetry, songs, books, plays, and even shows for radio and television. But she is most famous for her children's books. Her most well-known children's series is Jip and Janneke. Many of her books, like Pluk van de Petteflet, were brought to life with drawings by Fiep Westendorp.
In 1988, Annie M.G. Schmidt received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. This award is one of the highest honors for writers and illustrators of children's books. It celebrates a writer's lasting contribution to children's literature.
After she passed away in 1995, she was still seen as a very important figure in Dutch literature. In 2007, a group of Dutch historians included her in the "Canon of Dutch History". This list features important people and events in Dutch history, placing her alongside famous figures like Vincent van Gogh and Anne Frank.
Contents
Annie M.G. Schmidt's Early Life
Anna Maria Geertruida Schmidt was born on May 20, 1911. Her hometown was Kapelle, in the Zeeland area of the Netherlands. Her father, Johannes Daniel Schmidt, was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church. Her mother, Geertruida Maria Bouhuijs, was a school teacher. Annie had an older brother named Wim. She also had two older sisters, both named Anna M.G., who sadly died when they were very young. Her family often called her Zus, which means "Sis" or "Sister."
Annie was a quiet child who wore thick glasses. She loved to write poetry and stories as a way to explore her imagination. It might surprise you, but she once got a very low grade (a 2 out of 10) in her Dutch class! She later joked about this bad report card. Her mother always encouraged her writing and even sent some of her poems to a famous poet named Willem Kloos.
After finishing high school in Goes, Annie worked as an au pair (a helper in a family's home) in Germany. Then, she decided to become a librarian. She worked as a librarian until 1946.
Annie M.G. Schmidt's Career as a Writer
In 1947, Annie M.G. Schmidt started her writing career. She began writing for an Amsterdam newspaper called Het Parool. Soon after, she started writing songs and short plays for performers like Wim Sonneveld and Wim Kan.
Her writing career really took off in the early 1950s. She wrote songs and plays for the theater. She also created scripts for radio and television shows. On top of that, she wrote columns for newspapers and, of course, many children's books.
In 1964, she received a special literary award called the Staatsprijs voor kinder- en jeugdliteratuur. This award recognized her great work in children's and youth literature.
Her last book, Wat Ik Nog Weet, was published in 1992. It was a book filled with her childhood memories. Annie M.G. Schmidt passed away peacefully in 1995, a day after her 84th birthday. Her life and work continue to be celebrated in the Netherlands. Her stories are still printed, and her plays are still performed today.
She is part of the Canon of Dutch History. This list includes fifty important topics that help teach Dutch history in schools. Annie M.G. Schmidt's inclusion shows how much she influenced Dutch culture.
Famous Books by Annie M.G. Schmidt
Jip en Janneke
Annie M.G. Schmidt started writing Jip en Janneke while working at Het Parool newspaper in Amsterdam. Jip and Janneke are two children who live next door to each other. Each week, they have new, short adventures. Some of these stories were even based on real events involving Annie's son, Flip, and the girl who lived next door to him.
The stories were beautifully illustrated by Fiep Westendorp. The first Jip en Janneke story was published on September 13, 1952. The last one appeared on September 7, 1957. A total of eight book collections were published between 1953 and 1960. Jip and Janneke are some of the most famous children's characters in the Netherlands. They are so well-known that their pictures are used on many products sold by the HEMA department stores.
Minoes or Undercover Kitty / Miss Minoes
Minoes (1970) tells the story of a cat who magically turns into a young lady. She helps a journalist keep his job by sharing gossip she hears from other cats. In 2001, a movie called Minoes was made based on the book. It became one of the most popular Dutch children's movies shown in other countries.
The Minoes movie won two Golden Calves, which are important Dutch film awards. It was the best-selling Dutch children's movie at the time. More than 815,000 people watched it in theaters, making it the highest-selling Dutch movie of that year. The movie also won first prize at the 2002 Chicago International Children's Film Festival. The book Minoes has been translated into English with titles like Minnie (1992) and The Cat Who Came In off the Roof (2014).
Annie M.G. Schmidt's Work in Radio and Television
In 1952, Annie M.G. Schmidt started writing a very popular radio show called De Familie Doorsnee. This show was on the air until 1958. In 1957, she began writing Pension Hommeles, a musical comedy show for VARA television.
Ja Zuster, Nee Zuster or Yes matron! No matron!
In the 1960s, Annie M.G. Schmidt wrote one of the most popular Dutch television series ever, Ja zuster, nee zuster. In English, this means Yes matron! No matron!. This TV show later inspired a 2002 film with the same name.
The story of Ja Zuster, Nee Zuster might have come from Annie M.G. Schmidt's 1962 comic strip called Tante Patent. This comic strip was later turned into a play in 2007.
List of Books by Annie M.G. Schmidt
- (1953) Abeltje
- (1953) Jip en Janneke
- (1954) De groeten van Jip en Janneke
- (1955) De A van Abeltje
- (1955) Hop maar Jip en Janneke
- (1956) Daar gaan Jip en Janneke
- (1957) Een zoentje van Jip en Janneke
- (1957) Wiplala
- (1958) Goed zo, Jip en Janneke
- (1959) Pas op, Jip en Janneke
- (1960) Eventjes lachen, Jip en Janneke
- (1961) Ibbeltje
- (1962) Wiplala weer
- (1970) Minoes
- (1971) Pluk van de Petteflet
- (1972) Waaidorp
- (1973) Floddertje
- (1980) Otje
- (1988) Tante Patent
- (1990) Jorrie en Snorrie
- (1992) Wat ik nog weet
Images for kids
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Decor for Ja Zuster Nee Zuster
See also
In Spanish: Anna Maria Geertruida Schmidt para niños
