Georges Jean facts for kids

Georges Jean (born September 16, 1920 – died December 19, 2011) was a French poet and writer. He was an expert in language, signs, and books for children. He spent his life teaching and writing about these interesting subjects.

Georges Jean's Life and Work

Georges Jean was born in a French city called Besançon. He first studied philosophy. Later, he went to a special school called École normale supérieure de Saint-Cloud. This school helped him become a teacher.

Teaching and Research

Georges Jean loved teaching. He taught about language (this is called linguistics). He also taught about how signs and symbols work (this is called semiology). He taught about poetry too. He worked at the University of Maine in Le Mans, France. He was a professor there from 1967 to 1981.

He also led a group called the 'International Poetry-Childhood Centre'. This group focused on poetry for children. He helped with government committees about theater. He also taught at a school for librarians. Georges Jean wrote more than 70 books. These included collections of poems, essays, and ideas about poetry and teaching.

Famous Books and Awards

One of his books was called Le plaisir des mots : Dictionnaire poétique illustré. This book won an award in 1983. It was the ‘Mention’ Budding Critic Award from the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

Another very popular book he wrote was L’écriture, mémoire des hommes. The English version is called Writing: The Story of Alphabets and Scripts. This book was a bestseller in France. It has been translated into 21 different languages around the world.