Der Hase mit der roten Nase

Helme Heine, one of the most successful picture book authors of recent decades, was born on April 4, 1941, in Berlin. He studied economics and art and traveled through Europe and Asia in the early 1960s. In Johannesburg, South Africa, he founded the politically literary cabaret "Sauerkraut." He took over the direction of a theater group and became the editor of a satirical magazine. In 1976, he began his international career with his first picture book "Elephant Multiplication." This was followed by "Just Wait, Said Schwarte" in 1977. Heine has a unique approach to the animal world, and his books often feature animal characters that resemble his pets. Thus, his picture book world is largely inhabited by pigs and elephants, mice and birds, princes and wizards, and sometimes even by childlike beings. His stories revolve around coexistence and friendship. His works have received numerous awards and prizes, including the Most Beautiful German Books, the European Prize for Youth Literature, and the Grand Prize of the German Academy for Children's and Youth Literature. Helme Heine also writes for adults and creates comics and animated films.