Aino Pervik (English)

Aino Pervik is one of the most influential authors of modern Estonian literature for children. Born in 1932 in Estonia, she is a graduate of the University of Tartu with a major in Finno-Ugric languages. Professional writer since 1967, she has written 47 children’s books as well as prose and poetry for adults. Her works have been translated into English, German, Japanese, Lithuanian, Russian and other languages, and repeatedly staged for theatre and adapted for the screen.

Her works bring us boldly unusual fantasy worlds which, with their captivating characters and gripping events, help children understand deep existential problems: the preservation of ecological balance, the senselessness of war, the collision of cultures, finding one’s identity, freedom and fate, evil and good. She also reflects the acute problems that children face in today’s world. Her best-known children’s books are Kunksmoor (Old Mother Kunks, 1973), Arabella – mereröövli tütar (Arabella – the Pirate’s Daughter, 1982), Kallis härra Q (Dear Mr. Q, 1992), Maailm Sulelise ja Karvasega (The World According to the Feathered and the Furry, 2000), the Paula-series (2001-) and Presidendilood (Stories about the President, 2008). She has won many major prizes, including three times winner of the national annual award for children’s literature, J. Oro children’s literature award and Nukits Young Reader’s Choice Award in 2004 (3^rd Prize). Her book Paula õpib emakeelt (Paula Learns Her Mother Tongue, 2002) was included in the IBBY Honour List 2004. In 2001, she was awarded the Order of the White Star 5^th class of the Republic of Estonia.