Ida Vos facts for kids
Ida Vos (born Gudema) was a Dutch author. She was born in Groningen on December 13, 1931, and passed away in Amstelveen on April 3, 2006. Ida Vos wrote books for both adults and children. Many of her books shared her own experiences as a Jewish girl during the Second World War. Her most famous book, Wie niet weg is wordt gezien, was published in English as Hide and Seek. It won a special Dutch award for children's books in 1982.
Early Life and War Years
Ida Vos and her family moved to Rotterdam in 1936. In May 1940, she experienced the German bombing of Rotterdam. After this event, her family moved to Rijswijk, which is close to The Hague.
In 1943, the Gudema family had to go into hiding to stay safe during the war. During this difficult time, Ida and her sister Elly were separated from their parents. This separation is a key part of her book Hide and Seek.
Becoming an Author
After the war ended, Ida Vos became a kindergarten teacher. She got married in 1956 and had three children. In the 1970s, she needed to go to the hospital because of difficult memories from the war. This experience led her to start writing about what she had been through.
She first wrote poems, then short stories, and finally, children's books. Her writing often focused on how the Nazi occupation took away people's freedom and what it was like to live in hiding.
Her Books
Ida Vos's books often helped young readers understand the challenges of the Second World War. Her most well-known book, Hide and Seek, tells a powerful story about children in hiding.
Here are some of her important works:
- 35 Tranen (35 Tears - 1975)
- Schiereiland (Peninsula - 1979)
- Miniaturen (Miniatures - 1980)
- Wie niet weg is wordt gezien (Hide and Seek - 1981)
- Anne is er nog (Anna is still here - 1986)
- Dansen op de brug van Avignon (Dancing on the Bridge of Avignon - 1989)
- Witte zwanen, zwarte zwanen (White Swans, Black Swans - 1992)
- De sleutel is gebroken (The Key is Lost - 1996)
- De lachende engel (The Laughing Angel - 2000)
- Hide and Seek
Legacy
Ida Vos passed away on April 3, 2006, in Amstelveen, at the age of 74. Her books continue to teach new generations about the importance of freedom and the impact of war through personal stories.
- Ida Vos at Dutch Wikipedia
