Mercè Canela facts for kids

Mercè Canela, born in 1956 in Sant Guim de Freixenet, Catalonia, is a well-known Catalan writer and translator. She has written many books for children and teenagers. Her stories have won several important awards. She also helps create popular magazines for young readers.

Who is Mercè Canela?

Mercè Canela was born in 1956 in a place called Sant Guim de Freixenet. This town is in a region of Catalonia known as la Segarra. From a young age, she loved to write stories. She grew up to become a famous writer and also a translator.

Her Early Life and Studies

Mercè first studied archaeology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through digging up old sites. After her studies, she worked as a librarian there. Later, she moved to Brussels, a city in Belgium. In Brussels, she worked for the European Union. She was a documentalist, which means she managed important papers and information.

Becoming a Published Author

Mercè Canela started writing very early in her life. She always felt that writing was her main passion. In 1976, a publishing company called La Galera released one of her books for teenagers. It was titled De qui és el bosc?. In the same year, she won the Josep M. Folch i Torres award for her book L'escarabat verd.

She continued to publish many novels for children and teenagers. Her books have won several important prizes over the years. In 1984, her book Asperú, joglar embruixat was recognized internationally. It was included in the Honour List of IBBY, which is a big honor for children's books.

More Than Just a Writer

Besides writing her own stories, Mercè Canela has also translated many books. She has translated works from German, French, and Italian into Catalan. This means she helps readers enjoy stories from other languages.

In 1998, she published a book called Un passeig pel Poble Espanyol. This book explains the history of Poble Espanyol. It is a special open-air museum in Montjuïc, Barcelona. It shows different types of Spanish architecture.

Mercè Canela has also been involved with popular magazines for young people. In 1980, she became a member of the team for Cavall Fort magazine. Since 1998, she has been the director of Cavall Fort. She also directs El Tatano publications. These magazines bring fun and educational content to children.

Awards for Her Books

Mercè Canela has received many awards for her wonderful books. These prizes show how much her stories are loved and respected.

• 1976: Premi Josep Maria Folch i Torres de novel·les per a nois i noies for L'escarabat verd.
• 1981: Premi Crítica Serra d'Or de literatura infantil i juvenil for La fantasia inacabable d'Antoni Gaudí.
• 1982: Premi L'Esparver for Lluna de tardor.
• 1983: Premi Guillem Cifre de Colonya for Els set enigmes de l'iris.
• 1984: Premi Lola Anglada for El planeta dels set sols.
• 1991: Premi de Literatura Infantil El Vaixell de Vapor for S'ha de ser animal!.

See also

In Spanish: Mercè Canela para niños