Louise Smit facts for kids

Louise Smit (born January 2, 1940) is a famous South African writer. She creates children's books and also makes and directs popular children's TV shows and characters.

About Louise Smit

Louise Smit studied teaching and drama. From 1964 to 1968, she worked in Malawi. There, she shared local folktales with children, which led to a weekly children's radio show in the Chichewa language.

When she returned to South Africa, Louise became a puppeteer at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre. Later, she joined the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). She became a program director and creator. Her first shows, Haas Das se Nuuskas and Wielie Walie, were huge hits across the country. Haas Das se Nuuskas was even one of the first shows on South African television in 1975!

Louise Smit created many beloved shows. She wrote the first 200 episodes of Wielie Walie and 150 episodes of Haas Das se Nuuskas. She also created Pumpkin Patch (500 episodes), Kideo (1000 episodes), Mina Moo en Kie (150 episodes), Zap Mag, and Professor Fossilus en die Dinosourusse (26 episodes). She produced about 4000 programs in seven languages, creating a huge number of characters. She also directed the first 26 episodes of Liewe Heksie, a show created by Verna Vels.

In 1980, Louise Smit started her own company, Louise Smit Productions. She built her own TV studio, Kinnor Studios, in Johannesburg. She sold it in 1998. Louise has a daughter and now lives in Cologne, Germany.

Fun Children's Shows

Louise Smit created many memorable characters and shows that kids loved:

• Haas Das se Nuuskas — This show featured Haas Das, a rabbit with fancy ties who read the news from Animal Land. Other characters included Piet Muis and Koning Leeu. It was in Afrikaans.
• Pumpkin Patch — This English show followed the adventures of a community in a small town. Characters included Woofles the security dog and the cousins Speckles and Freckles.
• Mina Moo & Co. — This show featured Mina Moo, a friendly cow, along with Bak and Terie, King Mick, and Micka. It was in Afrikaans and English.
• Professor Fossi en die Dinosourusse — In this Afrikaans show, a German scientist built a time machine to visit dinosaurs.
• Kideo — This English playroom program featured characters like Timothy Traddle (a tortoise) and Mr. Chinwag (a donkey).
• Wielie Walie — This popular Afrikaans playroom series ran for 18 years! It featured characters like Karel Kraai, Sarel Seemonster, Bytjie, Bennie Boekwurm, Wagga Wagga Kwag, and Meend die Eend.

Amazing Books by Louise Smit

Louise Smit is also a well-known author. She has published more than 25 books, including:

• Die Bybel vir Kinders/ The Bible for Children (1982/2002)
• Professor Fossilus en die dinosaurs (2004), with pictures by Marjorie van Heerden
• Haas Das se Nuuskas (2006), with pictures by Fred Mouton
• Haas Das raak weg! (2007), with pictures by Tanja Joubert
• Wielie Wielie Walie (2010), with pictures by Sean Verster

Awards and Recognition

Louise Smit has received many awards for her work, both in South Africa and around the world:

• Seven Artes awards from SABC for best magazine and children's programs.
• Two Star Tonight Awards for directing Liewe Heksie and for a series in Tswana called Kabarete ya Poone.
• A Unima Award for her great contribution to puppetry in South Africa.
• An M-Net Award for her children's program Eko-Boffins.
• The Tokio International Television Prize (Japan Prize) in 1995 for Kideo as the most innovative program.
• The Prix de Jeunesse prize in Munich in 1996, where Kideo won third prize.
• An ATKV Woordveertjie [1] for her book Bennie Boekwurm se Tonnelhuisie.
• A South African Literary Award (SALA) for her lifetime achievements in writing and creating.

See also

• Haas Das se Nuuskas
• Wielie Walie
• Liewe Heksie