Ziraldo

Hello there. My name is Ziraldo, and I want to tell you my story. I was born in a town in Brazil called Caratinga on October 24th, 1932. Ever since I was a little boy, I loved to draw. I would draw on anything I could find. My parents saw how much I loved it and always encouraged me. Something very exciting happened in 1939 when I was only six years old. One of my drawings was published in a real newspaper for everyone to see. I was so proud. It made me want to keep drawing forever and share my ideas with the world.

As I grew up, I never stopped drawing. It was my favorite thing to do. In 1959, I decided to create my very own comic book. This was a very special moment because my book was the first comic book in all of Brazil to be made by just one person. That person was me. The main character was a friendly and magical boy from Brazilian stories named Pererê. He was mischievous and kind, and he had many fun adventures in the forest with all of his animal friends. I loved creating stories for Pererê and bringing his magical world to life for other children to enjoy.

Many years later, in 1980, I had an idea for a new character. I wrote a book called 'O Menino Maluquinho,' which means 'The Nutty Boy' in English. He was my most famous character of all. The Nutty Boy was a happy and energetic kid with a giant imagination. He was known for one silly thing: he always wore a cooking pan on his head like a helmet. He was always ready for an adventure and loved to play. Children all over Brazil, and then all over the world, loved reading about his funny adventures. His story showed that it’s wonderful to be full of joy and a little bit silly.

I spent my whole life creating stories and characters that I hoped would make children smile. I wanted my drawings and books to bring happiness and encourage kids to use their own imaginations. I lived to be 91 years old, and it makes me so happy to know that my books are still being read by families everywhere. I hope my characters, especially the Nutty Boy with the pan on his head, always remind you to be creative, have fun, and enjoy every single adventure that comes your way.