Guus Kuijer
Encyclopedia
Guus Kuijer is a Dutch
author
. He wrote books for children and adults, and is best known as the author of the Madelief series of children's books.
, Netherlands
. His parents were members of the Catholic Apostolic Church
, but in 2006 Kuijer explains that he doesn't remember ever believing in God.
He studied at the kweekschool in Doetinchem
to become a teacher. From 1967 to 1973 he was a primary school teacher
.
Het dochtertje van de wasvrouw.
In 1975 he published his first children's book Met de poppen gooien, for which he received a Gouden Griffel
in 1976. This book was the first of five books about a girl named Madelief (lit. Daisy).
(1998) were made of his book series about Madelief (1975–1979). Of his book series Polleke (1999–2001) a movie Polleke
(2003) and a television series Polleke (2005) were made.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He wrote books for children and adults, and is best known as the author of the Madelief series of children's books.
Early life
Guus Kuijer is born on 1 August 1942 in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. His parents were members of the Catholic Apostolic Church
Catholic Apostolic Church
The Catholic Apostolic Church was a religious movement which originated in England around 1831 and later spread to Germany and the United States. While often referred to as Irvingism, it was neither actually founded nor anticipated by Edward Irving. The Catholic Apostolic Church was organised in...
, but in 2006 Kuijer explains that he doesn't remember ever believing in God.
He studied at the kweekschool in Doetinchem
Doetinchem
Doetinchem is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek . The municipality has 56,700 inhabitants and has an area of 79.66 km²...
to become a teacher. From 1967 to 1973 he was a primary school teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Writing career
In 1968 he started writing short stories for the magazine Hollands Maandblad and in 1971 he published a collection of his short stories. In 1973 he stopped teaching in order to become a fulltime writer and this year he published his first novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Het dochtertje van de wasvrouw.
In 1975 he published his first children's book Met de poppen gooien, for which he received a Gouden Griffel
Gouden Griffel
The Gouden Griffel is an important award given to authors of children's or teenager's literature in the Netherlands.Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek for the best children's books written in...
in 1976. This book was the first of five books about a girl named Madelief (lit. Daisy).
Screen adaptations
Years later, a television series Madelief (1994) and movie Scratches in the TableScratches in the Table
Scratches in the Table is a 1998 Dutch film directed by Ineke Houtman. It was the Netherlands' official Best Foreign Language Film submission at the 72nd Academy Awards, but did not manage to receive a nomination.-Cast:*Madelief Verelst ... Madelief...
(1998) were made of his book series about Madelief (1975–1979). Of his book series Polleke (1999–2001) a movie Polleke
Polleke
Polleke is a 2003 Dutch family film, based on the children's book by Guus Kuijer.It received a Golden Film for 100,000 visitors....
(2003) and a television series Polleke (2005) were made.
Awards
- 1976 - Gouden GriffelGouden GriffelThe Gouden Griffel is an important award given to authors of children's or teenager's literature in the Netherlands.Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek for the best children's books written in...
for Met de poppen gooien - 1977 - Zilveren Griffel for Grote mensen, daar kun je beter soep van koken
- 1979 - Staatsprijs for kinder- en jeugdliteratuur
- 1979 - Gouden Griffel for Krassen in het tafelblad
- 1984 - Zilveren Griffel for Eend voor eend
- 1988 - Zilveren Griffel for Tin Toeval en de kunst van het verdwalen / Tin Toeval en het geheim van tweebeenseiland
- 2000 - Gouden Griffel for Voor altijd samen, amen
- 2002 - Zilveren Griffel for Met de wind mee naar de zee
- 2003 - Woutertje Pieterseprijs for Ik ben Polleke hoor!
- 2005 - Gouden Griffel for Het boek van alle dingen
- 2005 - Gouden Uil jeugdliteratuurprijs for Het boek van alle dingen
- 2007 - E. du Perronprijs for Hoe een klein rotgodje god vermoordde (2006) and Het doden van een mens (2007)