Wim Hofman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wim Hofman
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Hofman receives the Gouden Penseel in 1974
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| Born | February 2, 1941 Oostkapelle, Netherlands |
| Genre | Children's literature, poetry, drama |
| Notable works | Het Vlot, Zwart als Inkt, A Good Hiding |
| Notable awards | Gouden Griffel, Gouden Penseel, Nienke van Hichtum-prijs, Theo Thijssen-prijs, Max Velthuijs-prijs |
| Spouse | Toke Hofman-Mertens |
| Children | Maarten Hofman, Machteld Irons-Hofman |
Wim Hofman, born on February 2, 1941, in Oostkapelle, Netherlands, is a famous Dutch author. He writes many books, especially for children. He also draws the pictures for his own stories and paints.
When he was younger, after finishing elementary school, Wim Hofman thought about becoming a missionary. He even joined a special school called a seminary in Sterksel. But he soon found his true passion: writing!
He started writing books quite early. His very first novel came out in 1969. It was called "Welwel, de zeer grote tovenaar & zes andere doldwaze verhalen over ridders, tovenaars, matrozen, krentenbollen, cowboys, indianen & over een planeet." That's a long title!
On his birthday, February 2, 1970, he married Toke Mertens. They moved to Vlissingen, where Wim Hofman still lives today. He has two children. Over the years, he has won many important awards for his amazing books.
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Wim Hofman's Wonderful Books
Wim Hofman has written a lot of books. Many of them are loved by children and adults alike. His stories often have clever wordplay and unexpected twists that make them fun to read. Some of his books have been translated into German. Only one book, "Straf," was translated into English with the title "A Good Hiding."
Koning Wikkepokluk de Merkwaardige Zoekt een Rijk
This book, published in 1974, took a long time for Wim Hofman to write. Its title means "King Wikkepokluk the Odd is Looking for a Kingdom." The story is like a fairy tale and even starts with "Once upon a time." It tells the adventures of King Wikkepokluk as he searches for his kingdom.
Wim Hofman also drew beautiful ink pictures for this book. Because of these drawings, the book won the Gouden Penseel award. This award celebrates the best illustrations in children's books.
Het Vlot
"Het Vlot" means "The Raft" in English. This book came out in 1989. It tells a story about the town of Vlissingen after the bombings of World War II. The main character is a young boy who wants to escape. He decides to build a raft, just like the famous character Huckleberry Finn, to travel away.
"Het Vlot" received the Gouden Griffel, which is the highest award for children's books in the Netherlands. It's a very special prize!
Zwart als Inkt
Published in 1998, the title "Zwart als Inkt" means "Black as Ink." The full title also says it's "the story of Snow White and the seven dwarves." While it's based on the well-known fairy tale, Wim Hofman's version is different. It's more emotional, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and can be quite powerful.
Like some of his other books, "Zwart als Inkt" shows how children can sometimes feel helpless in the world. This book also won the Gouden Griffel award in 1998, making it another highly praised work by Wim Hofman.
