José María Sánchez-Silva facts for kids
José Maria Sanchez-Silva y Garcia-Morales (born November 11, 1911 – died January 13, 2002) was a talented Spanish writer. He is best known for his famous book Marcelino Bread and Wine (1953). This book was so popular that it was made into a movie in 1955, called Miracle of Marcelino. In 1968, he received the important Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his amazing contributions to children's literature.
Early Life and Education
Sanchez-Silva was born in the city of Madrid, Spain. His father, also named José María Sánchez Silva, was a journalist. José Maria had a challenging childhood and sometimes had to live without a stable home. He found help in places like the Brown School of Madrid, which was for children who needed support. At these schools, he learned useful skills like typing and shorthand. These skills helped him get a job as a stenographer in Madrid.
Writing Career Highlights
In 1934, Sanchez-Silva published his very first book, titled The Man in the Scarf.
During the Spanish Civil War, he stayed in Madrid and worked as a journalist. After the war, in 1939, he started working for the newspaper Arriba. He even became an assistant editor for the paper and also wrote for El Pueblo newspaper.
His most famous work, Marcelino Bread and Wine (originally Marcelino, pan y vino), was published in 1953. This book became a huge success when it was turned into a film by Ladislao Vajda, called Miracle of Marcelino. The movie was a big hit around the world. The story was even adapted into an anime series later on.
After the success of Marcelino, Sanchez-Silva wrote more stories about the character. These included Marcelino Pan y Vino and Adventures in the sky Marcelino Pan y Vino. He also helped write the script for a movie called Franco, ese hombre, which was a biography about a Spanish leader.
Awards and Recognition
José Maria Sanchez-Silva received many honors for his writing.
One of the most important awards he won was the Hans Christian Andersen Award. This award is given every two years by the International Board on Books for Young People. It is considered the highest honor for writers and illustrators of children's books. Sanchez-Silva received the writing award in 1966.
He also won a Spanish national prize for literature in 1957, showing how much his work was valued in his home country.
See also
In Spanish: José María Sánchez-Silva y García-Morales para niños
