Ilmar Trull

Ilmar Trull studied at Tallinn English College and University of Tartu. The recorded working language is Estonian. Distinctions recorded are Karl Eduard Sööt Prize for Children's Poetry and Yearly prize of the Endowment of Literature by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

• Name — Ilmar Trull • Born — 21 February 1957 • Birthplace — Tallinn, then part of Estonian SSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — Poet, children's writer, illustrator, caricaturist, crossword constructor • Language — Estonian • Genre — Poetry, children's literature, humour • Notable Works — Tuvi jalutab (2012); Rähni ravi (2015) • Awards — Order of the White Star, V class (2023); IBBY Honour List (2014); Estonian Cultural Endowment awards

Trull was born in Tallinn. From 1964 to 1975 he attended Secondary School No. 7 in Tallinn (now, Tallinn English College), and from 1976 to 1978 studied English at the University of Tartu.

According to the Estonian Writers' Online Dictionary (University of Tartu), Trull began publishing in periodicals and anthologies in the late 1970s and issued his first poetry collection for adults in 1984. He worked as a departmental and managing editor at the humour magazine Pikker from 1985 to 1995, and later edited the crossword magazine Ristik (1993–1996). Since 1996 he has been a member of the Estonian Writers' Union and has worked as a freelance writer. Trull has been a long-time contributor to children's magazines such as Täheke and Hea Laps. EWOD notes that since 1996 he has provided the children's page of the weekly newspaper Eesti Ekspress with poems for which he also draws the illustrations. In a 2024 interview on ERR's culture portal, Trull discussed his long-running practice of writing poems for children and described his approach to keeping his work suitable for young readers.

Trull has published both adult poetry and children's poetry, though he is best known for humorous children's verse. In a 2013 overview of Estonian children's literature in the literary journal Looming, critic Ilona Martson described Tuvi jalutab (2012) as containing Trull's poetry in his characteristic manner and noted its humorous, absurd tone.

Ilmar Trull is recorded as having received Karl Eduard Sööt Prize for Children's Poetry and Yearly prize of the Endowment of Literature by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. Recognition and collections. Trull received Karl Eduard Sööt Prize for Children's Poetry, Yearly prize of the Endowment of Literature by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Order of the White Star, 4th Class.