James Krüss – German children’s author of the 20th century, known for “Timm Thaler or The Traded Laughter” and “My Grandfather was a Cherry Tree”, recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award. His works blend fairy tale and satire, celebrating friendship, imagination, and the joy of storytelling.
📚 Born in 1926 on the island of Heligoland, whose spirit infused his “island stories.” 🌍 Grew up under Nazism, using humour to resist adult absurdity. 📖 Timm Thaler was adapted multiple times – from East German TV to international films. 🏆 Won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1968. 🎶 Also wrote poems and songs for children, some turned into popular school tunes in Germany. 🖋 Blended fairy-tale charm with irony and surprise twists. 📺 The 1979 TV series Timm Thaler became a cult hit in West Germany. 📖 Often said: “Humour is the weapon of the weak.” 🌊 Heligoland was evacuated after WWII, which he described as losing his homeland. 😮 Curious fact: briefly worked as a teacher, improvising stories during lessons. 😂 Funny note: children once sent him a box of cherries marked “for grandfather” – a nod to his book title.