With "Max and Moritz (A Story of Seven Boyish Pranks)," German poet Wilhelm Busch created not only one of the first comic books in the German language over 150 years ago, he also created a classic children's book.
Illustrated books with short texts are handed down from generation to generation in Germany.
This is the case with children books written by James Krüss in the 1950s and 1960s, including the very popular "Henriette Bimmelbahn," which tells the story of a locomotive-hauled train named Henriette.
Many of the German classics, including those written by Krüss and "Max and Moritz," are written in rhyme. That's the case as well for "Die Häschenschule" or "The Gruffalo."
Ali Mitgutsch, renowned for his richly detailed large-format picture books, didn't need any words at all.
This other 1960s classic, "My Donkey Benjamin," is illustrated with black-and-white photography.
The book depicts Susi's adventures with her donkey Benjamin on the beautiful Greek island of Rhodes
The picture gallery above goes through some of the most popular German-language children's book classics.
Read more from Meet the Germans: Parenting issues many Germans feel strongly about
The other way around, some books originally written in other languages are cult classics in Germany, including:
- "The Little Polar Bear," by Hans de Beer (Netherlands)
- "Miffy," by Dick Bruna (Netherlands)
- The "Pettson and Findus" books, by Sven Nordqvist (Sweden)
- The "Mama Moo" books, by Jujja and Tomas Wieslander and also illustrated by Sven Nordqvist (Sweden)
- The "Elmer" books, by David McKee (UK)
- "Guess How Much I Love You," by Sam McBratney (Ireland)
- "Frederick" and "Little Blue and Little Yellow," by Leo Lionni (Italy)
- "The Three Robbers," by Tomi Ungerer (France)
- "Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak (USA)
- "Good Night, Gorilla," by Peggy Rathmann (USA)
- "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," by Eric Carle (USA)
The might even be several copies of Eric Carle's classic in a German child's collection
Which picture books are your favorites? Let us know on Twitter via @dw_culture, tagged with #MeetTheGermans.
Find more content about Germany's culture, traditions and habits on our Meet the Germanspage.
Here are even more children's books classics that you can read in English:
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
'The NeverEnding Story' and beyond
If the movie "The NeverEnding Story" thrilled you during your youth, you can - like the hero of that tale - immerse in Michael Ende's masterpiece that inspired the film. Following the movie's success, his other works were also translated. "Momo" deals with time - and criticizes efficiency and stress. "Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver" is a beloved classic of German children's literature.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
A good witch and a coffee grinder robber
A giant of German children's lit, Otfried Preussler wrote for kids aged six and up. "The Little Witch" tells of a girl learning the hard way what it means to be a "good" witch. In "The Robber Hotzenplotz," a man steals a grandma's coffee grinder - and two boys set off to capture him. This tale also features the wizard Petrosilius Zwackelmann. Say his name aloud - that's the kind of story this is.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
Off to paradise with tiger and bear
In "The Trip to Panama," a bear and a tiger lead a dreamy and lazy life - until a wooden crate comes floating on a nearby river. "Panama" is written on it, and it smells like bananas. Intrigued, the bear and tiger set off to find this wonderful smelling country. Their long and winding quest leads them to the best place on Earth: home. Janosch's imagery and surreal logic charm young and old alike.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
Germany's favorite dinosaur
A well-known little dinosaur in Germany, the urmel, hatches from an egg in "Urmel From The Ice." The story is one Max Kruse's most famous works, thanks to its TV adaptation by the Augsburger Puppenkiste (picture). It also inspired the animated film "Impy's Island." The author's other famous work, "Lion on the Loose," is a merry adventure following an escaped wild animal through the city.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
Escaping the Nazis
Each of the main characters remains a safe distance away from evil in "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" (1971), by Judith Kerr. It is told through the eyes of a nine-year-old, Anna, whose family flees Germany just as the Nazis take power. There is no war in this novel; it hasn't happened yet. But the story remains as relevant today as it ever has been: By the end, Anna and her family are refugees.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
Humorous adventures in realist Berlin
Heading to Berlin? Pick up a copy of "Emil and the Detectives" by Erich Kästner. It'll take you (and your children) back to the German capital as it was in the late 1920s. After that, try another of Kästner's stories: In "Lottie and Lisa," separated twin girls meet each other for the first time at a summer camp. Decades later, it was adapted to the 1998 Hollywood blockbuster "The Parent Trap."
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
Max and Moritz
Many kindergartens and primary schools in Germany are named "Max and Moritz" after the prank-pulling duo in Wilhelm Busch's classic book. Note, however, that the book's pranks - and its moral compass - are firmly set in 1865. One example (spoiler alert!): After the boys' final prank fails, the two are ground up into pieces and fed to ducks. That's it. The end. No sequel.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
The consequences of misbehaviour
Another sure way to traumatize your kids is "Struwwelpeter." In two of these 10 "moral" stories, a child dies; in another, a kid's thumb is cut off. At least some of the stories are lighter. One involves "Fidgety Philipp," whose dinner table antics spoil every meal. Even 150 years later, his name is used to scold children who can't sit still: "Don't be such a Zappel-Philipp!"
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
The power of books
The "Inkheart" trilogy was published in the midst of the "Harry Potter" hurricane but still went on to become a success. Set in contemporary times, Cornelia Funke's main character in the story, a 12-year-old named Meggie, has the ability to take things out of books and make them come to life. It's something of a family trick. But it wouldn't be a good story unless that power came at a price.
-
10 German children's books classics you can read in English
A city of books awaits
Zamonia is a fictional continent where funny stories happen - and the name of a series by Walter Moers. "The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear" is a good introduction, but it's OK to start with the fourth book, "The City of Dreaming Books." Often, the author describes a character, waits a while for the mental picture to cement, and then - surprise! - unveils a wacky illustration of his creation.
Author: Conor Dillon
