Child and Young Adult Literature
German books for children and young adults from the GAHM's collections
Children's books have a rich history in German culture. The first picture book was written by Johan Comenius in 1658 and was titled "The Orbis Sensualium Pictus" (A World of Things Obvious to the Senses). Comenius was an advocate for bettering education and even included in the introduction that the book should, " be freely given to children, even at home before they are put to school.”
Nibble Mouse, ca. 1930
Knabbermäuschen
Nibble Mouse
Written by Arthur Platz
Ilustrations by Johanna Bemmann
Published by Gerhard Stalling Verlag Oldenburg i.O.
Nurseries of the Sun Children, 1925
Sonnenkinder Stuben
Nurseries of the Sun Children
Written by Max Dingler (1883-1961); Illustrated by Else Wenz-Vietor; Published by Gerhard Stalling Oldenburg
Max and Moritz: A Boy's Story in Seven Tricks, 1952
Max und Moritz eine Bubengeschichte in Sieben Streichen
Max and Moritz: A Boy's Story in Seven Tricks
Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908)
'Max and Moritz' is one of the most popular children's books from Germany. This story was translated into multiple languages including English, Hebrew, Japanese, Italian, and Russian. This story also inspired a 1956 film of the same name and a rollercoaster at the Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands.
Dot and Anton, 1932
Pünktchen und Anton
Dot and Anton
Erich Kästner (1899–1974)
Kästner is well-known for "Das Doppelte Lottchen" (The Parent Trap), which had multiple movie adaptations. The most notable being the 1998 version starring Lindsay Lohan.
Emil and the Detectives, 1930
Emil und die Detektive
Emil and the Detectives
Erich Kästner (1899–1974)
German Children's Fairy Tales, ca. 1900
Deutsche Kinder-Märchen
German Children's Fairy Tales
Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm (Brothers Grimm) and Ludwig Bechstein
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were young librarians when they gathered fairy and folk tales of children and families. Their decision to gather these stories into one space was to ensure they were captured for generations to come. Many of these stories were adapted into films by Disney.
Schoolchildren's Stories, ca. 1925
Schulkindergeschichten
Schoolchildren's Stories
Written by Frida Schanz (1859-1944)
Illustrated by Maria Grengg
Published by Levy & Müller Verlag
Schanz was the daughter of two poets, Julius and Pauline Schanz, and later became a prolific German writer.
Good Friends, New School Kids Stories, 1928
Gute Freunde, Neue Schulkindergeschichten, Mit 4 farbigen Vollbildern und Buchsch
Good Friends, New School Kids Stories, With 4 Color Full Pictures and Book
Frida Schanz (1859-1944)
For Happy Girls, ca. 1910
Für frohe Mädchen
For Happy Girls
Four stories by J. Ludwig are accompanied by two color illustrations by H Zick.
A New Treasure of the Most Beautiful Stories, 1899
Neuer Jugendschatz schönster Erzählungen
A New Treasure of the Most Beautiful Stories
Written by Christoph v. Schmid & Franz Hoffmann; Illustrated by O. Andres, W. Hoffmann, and Walt Zweigle.
This is a children's book with a collection of short stories and watercolor prints.
Rapid industrialization in the 19th-century allowed for mass production of literature, including shorter periodicals. An example of one of these is the 'Children's Gazebo'. These publications include stories, brain puzzles, and images.
Children's Gazebo, ca. 1889
Kinder-Gartenlaube: Farbig illustrierte Zeitschrift zur Unterhaltung und Belehrung der Jugend
Children’s Gazebo: Colorfully Illustrated Magazine for the Entertainment and Instruction of the Youth
Volume of periodical publications from the 1880s.
A Brave Girl, 1914
Ein tapferes Mädchen
A Brave Girl
Henny Koch
Koch is known for her many books for young girls. Her stories were originally published in the illustrated girl's magazine, Das Kränzchen, but were later published in book form.
Young adult authors in Germany created the "bildungsroman" genre which focuses on a character's coming-of-age and moral growth. The genre name breaks down into "bildung"-"roman" or education novel.
Babette Bomberling's Bridegrooms, 1915
Die Bräutigame der Babette Bomberling
Babette Bomberling's Bridegrooms
Alice Berend (1875-1938)
This book delves into marriage, society, and expectations of women in the 20th century. This historical book depicts complexities of women in society turning this era of change.
A Right to Happiness!, ca. 1900
Ein Recht auf Glück!
A Right to Happiness!
Marie von Felseneck
Marie von Felseneck is a pseudonym for Maria Luise Mancke (1847-1926).
Mancke focused on writing stories for young women especially those working class or impoverished families. As literacy rates were low for many of these girls, Mancke wrote educational and entertaining stories to teach them domestic skills. She later was on the board for the German Women Writers' Association in response to the German Writers' Association not including women.
Villa Trautheim, 1914
Bertha Clément
Clément (1852-1930) was a German author who published many novels for children and young adults.
"Villa Trautheim" is an example of the "Backfisch" genre created in the mid-nineteenth-century. Translating into 'baked fish', books within this genre center on awkward teenage girls in middle or upper classes who enter womanhood. These stories focus on education and experiences supporting self-improvement.
Backfischchen's Sorrows and Joys, 1897
Backfischchen's Leiden und Freuden
Backfischchen's Sorrows and Joys
Clementine Helm (1825-1896)
Following the Backfisch genre, this book tells the story of 15 year-old Grete as she receives a 'proper' education in Berlin.
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