Svetlana Makarovič facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Svetlana Makarovič
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| Born | 1 January 1939 Maribor, Slovenia |
| Occupation | Writer, poet, actress, illustrator and chanteuse |
| Nationality | Slovenian |
Svetlana Makarovič (born 1 January 1939) is a famous Slovenian writer. She writes stories, poems, and books for children. She is also an actress, an illustrator, and a singer. People call her "The First Lady of Slovenian poetry."
Svetlana Makarovič often uses old Slovenian folk tales in her stories. She tells tales about strong and independent women. Her books for young people are now considered modern classics. They are very important in the history of Slovenian youth literature. She won the Levstik Award for her whole career in 2011.
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About Svetlana Makarovič
Svetlana Makarovič went to school to become a pre-school teacher in Ljubljana. In the early 1960s, she studied many subjects. These included psychology, teaching, and foreign languages. She also played the piano in cafes. For a short time, she taught children with special needs.
In 1968, she finished her studies at the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television. Svetlana Makarovič worked as an actress. She performed in the Ljubljana city Theatre and the Slovene National Theatre. Since 1970, she has been a freelance writer. This means she works for herself.
Her Books and Stories
Svetlana Makarovič started sharing her writing in 1957. Her first poem was In the Black Pavement. It was published in a magazine called Mlada pota. She also published poems in other magazines.
Her first book of poems, Somrak (meaning "Twilight"), came out in 1964. Her poems often explored deep feelings. Later, her poetry became more direct. She wrote about difficult topics. Some of her most famous poem collections are Srčevec (1973) and Izštevanja (1977).
In 2012, she published a fairy tale called Sneguročka. This story was inspired by a Russian fairy tale character. Svetlana Makarovič has always loved Russian traditions.
Stories for Young Readers
Svetlana Makarovič began writing for young people after 1970. She created her own special style. Her characters often have unique names. Examples include Zofka the Witch and Mishmash the Baker. These characters often feel like they don't fit in. They might be hurt or alone.
She writes many modern animal stories. These include picture books like Pekarna Mišmaš ("The Mishmash Bakery"; 1974) and Sapramiška ("Skipmouse"; 1976). In her stories, animals act and talk like humans. But the stories are not always perfect. They show that even in animal worlds, there can be unkindness. Characters might feel lonely or sad.
Some of her special stories are Škrat Kuzma dobi nagrado (1974) and Coprnica Zofka (1989). These stories often show how hard it is when someone is different. She also writes fantastic stories. Kosovirja na leteči žlici (1974) is one example. In these tales, the storyteller supports freedom. They stand against strict rules. Many of her works have also been recorded as audio stories.
Her Books in Schools
Many of Svetlana Makarovič's works are part of the school curriculum. They are used to teach Slovenian language. Some of these popular books include:
- Jaz sem jež ("I'm a Hedgehog")
- Čuk na palici ("A Screech Owl on a Stick")
- Pekarna Mišmaš ("The Mishmash Bakery")
- Coprnica Zofka ("Zofka the Witch")
- Kosovirja na leteči žlici ("Cosies on the Flying Spoon")
Music and Theatre Work
Svetlana Makarovič has also published books of songs, called chansons. One is Krizantema na klavirju (1990). She has performed her own songs in concerts. Her songs are like her poems. They talk about family, social rules, and how people behave. But her songs often have more humor.
She has recorded several albums of her songs. These include Nočni šanson (1984) and Pelin žena (1985). She also wrote lyrics for popular Slovenian songs.
Working with the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre
Svetlana Makarovič has worked a lot with the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre. Her play Sovica Oka was first performed there in 1972. Sapramiška is a puppet show that has been performed many, many times. It first opened on October 17, 1986.
Svetlana Makarovič helped with the puppet theatre in many ways. She wrote stories and music for the shows. She also designed puppets and sets. Sometimes, she even acted in the plays herself. She has been part of 31 shows. She has performed in countries like Italy, Austria, and Mexico.
Some of Her Puppet Shows
- Sovica Oka (Oka the Owl), 1972 (author and adaptation)
- Pekarna Mišmaš (The Mishmash Bakery), 1977 (author, text adaptation)
- Sapramiška (Skipmouse), 1986 (author, roles, music)
- Mi, kosovirji (We, the Cosies), 1988 (author, text adaptation)
- Korenčkov Palček (The Carrot Dwarf), 1989 (author, roles, music, puppet design)
- Kokoška Emilija (Emily the Hen), 1997 (direction, author, role, music)
Discography
Albums
- Nočni šanson (1984)
- Dajdamski portreti (1985)
- Pelin žena (with Dennis González) (1986)
- Namesto rož (1999)
Awards and Recognition
Svetlana Makarovič has received many important awards for her work.
Recognition Awards
- 2011: Freewoman of Ljubljana (a special honor from the city)
Awards
- 1975: Levstik Award
- 1976: Prešeren Fund Award
- 1987: Janusz Korczak Honour List
- 1994: Jenko Award
- 1994: IBBY Honour List
- 2000: Prešeren Award (one of Slovenia's highest awards for artists)
- 2002: Viktor for her life's work
- 2009: Golden Order for Merits of the Republic of Slovenia
- 2011: Levstik Award (for her entire career)
- 2012: Golden Coin of Poetry
- 2021: Ježek Award
See also
In Spanish: Svetlana Makarovič para niños
