The Great Throw – Us Kids Back Then
Children's Books History, Children's Books Friends / Family
The true, and rarely told story of a GDR childhood
Stefan is a beloved child – surrounded by his grandma and dear grandfather, his big sisters and parents. Unfortunately, he is forced to learn the violin, because his daycare centre has decided he has an ‘aptitude’ for it. As he gets older, he swaps the violin for a Judo suit. At least he’s not a couch potato, his father thinks. Stefan’s father has a job that must be kept secret. Stefan knows nothing about the Stasi, but sometimes he can’t help noticing how his father needs to be helped in when he comes home at night, after the Russians have been passing around too much vodka again. So many toasts! Surely you can drink to friendship just as well with cocoa, thinks Stefan, and tries it right away with his friend Pfläumchen.
- The first children’s book from the great German humourist Stefan Schwarz
- Personal insights into the particularities of childhood in the GDR: Authentic, warm-hearted, and with a touch of ambivalence
- With delightful, expressive illustrations by Tanja Székessy and an afterword to provoke discussion
Stefan Schwarz, born in 1965, spent his childhood and youth swimming, fishing, sailing, rowing and skating in Schwerin – when he wasn’t practising violin or going to judo training. As a young man, he wanted to join the GDR intelligence service like his father, but then the Berlin Wall fell. He studied journalism in Leipzig and has been writing as a freelance author ever since.
Tanja Székessy was born in 1969 and graduated from the department of visual communication at the Berlin University of the Arts. Among other things she designed and crafted are a Swatch clock and a photo book as well as illustrations to many textbooks, magazines and advertising companies. She lives in Berlin with her family.
Monika Osberghaus, born in 1962, lives in Leipzig with her husband and son. She worked as a bookseller and studied children’s literature before taking charge of the children’s books section of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". She is now the publisher of Klett Kinderbuch.
.jpg "Monika Osberghaus")
The true, and rarely told story of a GDR childhood
Stefan is a beloved child – surrounded by his grandma and dear grandfather, his big sisters and parents. Unfortunately, he is forced to learn the violin, because his daycare centre has decided he has an ‘aptitude’ for it. As he gets older, he swaps the violin for a Judo suit. At least he’s not a couch potato, his father thinks. Stefan’s father has a job that must be kept secret. Stefan knows nothing about the Stasi, but sometimes he can’t help noticing how his father needs to be helped in when he comes home at night, after the Russians have been passing around too much vodka again. So many toasts! Surely you can drink to friendship just as well with cocoa, thinks Stefan, and tries it right away with his friend Pfläumchen.
- The first children’s book from the great German humourist Stefan Schwarz
- Personal insights into the particularities of childhood in the GDR: Authentic, warm-hearted, and with a touch of ambivalence
- With delightful, expressive illustrations by Tanja Székessy and an afterword to provoke discussion