Annie M. G. Schmidt

Hello! My name is Annie M. G. Schmidt, and I love to tell stories. I was born in a small town called Kapelle in the Netherlands on May 20th, 1911. When I was a little girl, my favorite thing to do was curl up with a book and get lost in its pages. I read so many amazing stories about magical places and funny characters. After reading all those books, I knew that one day, I wanted to write my own stories to share with the world.

Before I became a famous writer, I worked in a place filled with books—a library! As a librarian, I was surrounded by stories all day long, and it was wonderful. During this time, I also had a son named Flip. I started writing little poems and stories just for him, to make him laugh and dream. In 1946, I got a new job working for a newspaper called Het Parool. This was my big chance to share my writing not just with Flip, but with everyone who read the paper.

Have you ever heard of two friends named Jip and Janneke? They are two of my most famous characters! I began writing stories about their adventures in 1952. Jip and Janneke are next-door neighbors who get into all sorts of fun, everyday mischief. They might play in the garden, try to bake a cake that gets a little messy, or go on an adventure in their own backyard. A wonderful artist named Fiep Westendorp drew them as simple black shapes, which made them look very special and easy for everyone to recognize. Children all over the Netherlands loved reading about Jip and Janneke's fun times every week in the newspaper.

Besides books, I also loved writing other things! I wrote songs that people could sing along to, poems that were fun to read out loud, and even musicals and television shows for both children and grown-ups. It was so exciting to see my words come to life on a big stage or on a TV screen. In 1988, I received a very special prize called the Hans Christian Andersen Award. It’s like getting the biggest gold medal in the whole world, but for writing children's books. I was so proud to receive it.

I lived a long and happy life filled with stories and songs, and I lived to be 84 years old. Even though I am no longer here, my books are still read by children everywhere, which makes me very happy. I am remembered as the Queen of Dutch children's literature. I hope my stories about my friends Jip and Janneke, and all my other characters, continue to make you smile and fill your day with a little bit of fun.