Sjoerd Kuyper (1952-2026) was one of the most important voices in Dutch children’s literature. He made his writing debut in 1974 with a collection of poems for adults and wrote various film scenarios, among them Het zakmes (The Pocket Knife) and Mijn opa de bankrover (My Grandpa the Bank Robber). His work has been translated into more than fifteen languages, including English, French, and Korean. Kuyper was active for more than fifty years and wrote more than eighty books, many of which were awarded and several of which have been adapted for the screen. Sjoerd was awarded the Theo Thijssen Prize for his oeuvre, a Golden Slate Pencil for Robin en God (Robin and God) and for Marnie Moves the Sea, as well as six Silver Slate Pencils, the latest for Hotel De grote L (The Big L Hotel) which was nominated for the Premio Strega and awarded the Premio Orbil in Italy. De duik (The Dive) was awarded the Jenny Smelik IBBY Prize and nominated for the Woutertje Pieterse Prize.
Sjoerd Kuyper wrote mostly about what he thought, feared, felt, more than about what he himself had experienced. His style is poetic, clear and vivid and enters with ease into the emotional world of young children.
www.sjoerdkuyper.com
Author Photo © Ineke Oostveen