Gunilla Wolde facts for kids

Barbro Gunilla Kristina Brorsson Wolde (July 15, 1939 – April 15, 2015) was a Swedish writer and illustrator. She created many popular children's books.

Early Life and Career

Gunilla Wolde studied at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design. This school is located in Stockholm, Sweden. After her studies, she worked as a caricaturist. A caricaturist draws funny pictures of people or events. She also drew satirical political pictures for newspapers. These newspapers included Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet.

Famous Children's Books

Starting in the late 1960s, Gunilla Wolde began writing and illustrating books. These books were for small children. She created two very famous series of picture books. These were about a boy named Totte and a girl named Emma. In English, Totte's books are called "Tommy" and Emma's are called "Betsy".

Stories from Everyday Life

The books about Totte and Emma show everyday situations. They focus on what a small child experiences. For example, they show playing, eating, or going to bed. Gunilla Wolde based the character Totte on her own son, Per. Emma was inspired by Gunilla herself and her daughters.

Global Popularity

The books about Totte and Emma became very popular. They have been printed many times in Swedish. They have also been translated into 14 other languages. This means children all over the world could read her stories.

Later Works and Legacy

As Gunilla Wolde's own children grew up, she stopped writing about Totte and Emma. She then started writing books about horses. These books were for older readers. Gunilla Wolde passed away in April 2015 after an illness. Her books continue to be loved by children and families.