Lygia Bojunga Nunes facts for kids
Lygia Bojunga is a very special writer from Brazil. She was born on August 26, 1932, in a city called Pelotas. She writes wonderful books for children and young adults. Her full name is Lygia Bojunga Nunes.
Lygia Bojunga is one of only a few people in the world to win two of the biggest awards for children's books. In 1982, she won the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. This award is given for a writer's lasting contribution to children's literature. In 2004, she won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. This prize celebrates a writer's whole career in children's and young adult books.
Contents
Her Unique Writing Style
A big part of Lygia Bojunga's books is that she tells stories from a child's point of view. This means you get to see the world through the eyes of her young characters.
Her stories often mix real life with a bit of magic and fantasy. This style is sometimes called "magical realism." In her books, anything can happen! She blends fun, beautiful language, and even silly humor with important messages. She often writes about freedom and shows great understanding for children who are going through tough times.
Fantasy in her books often helps characters deal with difficult feelings or escape from hard situations. Lygia Bojunga lets readers step right into the dreams of her main characters. You can share their adventures and feelings as if you are right there with them.
Her Life and Books
Lygia Bojunga was born in Pelotas, Brazil, in 1932. Before she became a writer, she worked on TV and radio. She also started her career as an actress and even wrote some plays.
Her first children's book, Os Colegas (which means "The Companions"), was published in 1972. In this book, and in another one called Angélica (1975), the main characters are animals. These animals act like humans, which makes the stories funny. These early books also look at how characters feel inside. For example, Angélica is about a pig who wants to be a swallow. But the pig slowly learns to be happy with who it is.
Another book, A Bolsa Amarela (1976), explores a similar idea. This time, a young girl is the main character. A Casa da Madrinha (1978) tells about the hopeful dreams of a child living on the streets.
In later books, like Seis Vezes Lucas (1995), Lygia Bojunga writes in a more realistic way. Her book Retratos de Carolina (2002) shows how she loves to try new things as a writer. In this story, you follow the main character from childhood all the way to adulthood. Lygia Bojunga uses special ways of telling stories to make more room for herself and her characters. She calls it "a house of my own invention."
Lygia Bojunga's books have been translated into many languages. These include English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and more!
Awards and Recognition
Lygia Bojunga has won many important awards for her writing.
The Hans Christian Andersen Award is given every two years. It is the highest honor a writer or artist of children's books can receive. Lygia Bojunga won the writing award in 1982.
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is given by the Swedish Arts Council. Lygia Bojunga won this award in 2004. It is known as the biggest prize in children's literature around the world.
Besides these two major awards, she has also won others. These include the Jabuti Award in 1973 and the Rattenfänger Literaturpreis in 1986.
Works in English
- The Companions – Translated by Ellen Watson. Illustrated by Larry Wilkes. Published in 1989 (original book Os Colegas, 1972).
- My Friend the Painter – Translated by Giovanni Pontiero. Published in 1991 (original book O Meu Amigo Pintor, 1987).
See also
In Spanish: Lygia Bojunga Nunes para niños
