Janosch

Janosch was born as Horst Eckert on 11 March 1931 in what was then Hindenburg (now Zabrze, Poland) in Upper Silesia to a family of mixed German and Polish origin, though he identifies his nationality as "Silesian". His mother was a pious Catholic, and his father a violent alcoholic. After World War II, the family fled to West Germany. In the area of Oldenburg, Janosch worked in a textile mill. In 1953, he went to Munich, where he studied for some terms at the Academy of Arts, but broke off his studies eventually. Afterwards, he worked as a freelance artist. In 1960, his first book for children was published with George Lentz, a friend of his, who also persuaded him to take on the penname Janosch. By 1980, he had published over 100 books for children in nearly 30 languages. Amongst his most recognisable characters is the Tigerente that appears in Oh, wie schön ist Panama and the stories around the little tiger and the little bear. He has also published several books for adults, in which he deals with his childhood experiences of growing up with an abusive father and a God-fearing mother, constantly recurring topics being friendship, family relationships, and the quest for the meaning of life. Between 1953 and 1980 the artist lived in Munich, and then relocated to the island of Tenerife, where he currently resides.

In German, Janosch published until today about 150 books which in part were translated into 30 languages. Die Geschichte von Valek dem Pferd. Georg-Lentz-Verlag, Munich 1960. Valek und Jarosch. Georg-Lentz-Verlag, Munich 1960. Das kleine Schiff. Georg-Lentz-Verlag, Munich 1960. Der Josa mit der Zauberfidel. Georg-Lentz-Verlag, Munich 1960. Onkel Poppoff kann auf Bäume fliegen. Parabel-Verlag, Munich 1964. Das Auto hier heißt Ferdinand. Parabel-Verlag, Munich 1964, ISBN 3-407-79316-2. Böllerbam und der Vogel. Middelhauve Verlag, Cologne 1968, DNB-IDN 457091916. Cholonek oder Der liebe Gott aus Lehm. Georg-Bitter-Verlag, Recklinghausen 1970, ISBN 3-7903-0125-6. Lari Fari Mogelzahn. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1971, ISBN 3-407-80207-2. Leo Zauberfloh. dtv, Munich 1975, ISBN 3-423-07025-0. Sacharin im Salat. Bertelsmann-Verlag, Munich 1975, ISBN 3-570-00047-8. Update on Rumpelstiltskin and other Fairy Tales by 43 Authors. Beltz & Gelberg, Weinheim 1976, ISBN 3-407-80518-7. Traumstunde für Siebenschläfer. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1977, ISBN 3-407-80526-8. Die Maus hat rote Strümpfe an. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1978, ISBN 3-407-80538-1. Oh, wie schön ist Panama. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1978, ISBN 3-407-80533-0. English translation: The Trip to Panama. Beltz & Gelberg Verlag, Weinheim 1990, ISBN 3-407-78074-5. translator: Anthea Bell Sandstrand. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1979, ISBN 3-407-80758-9; Merlin Verlag, Gifkendorf 2001, ISBN 3-87536-218-7. Komm, wir finden einen Schatz. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1979, ISBN 3-407-80555-1. Schnuddelbuddel sagt Gutnacht. Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich 1979, ISBN 3-423-07506-6. Post für den Tiger. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1980, ISBN 3-407-78031-1. The City meets the Country. Beltz & Gelberg, Weinheim 1980, ISBN 3-407-80570-5. Das Leben der Thiere. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1981, ISBN 3-407-80585-3. Rasputin der Vaterbär. Beltz-Verlag, Weinheim 1983, ISBN 3-407-80270-6. Ich mach dich gesund, sagte der Bär. Diogenes-Verlag, Zürich 1985, ISBN 3-407-79335-9. Das Lumpengesindel. Diogenes-Verlag, Zürich 1987, ISBN 3-257-00689-6. Der Mäuse-Sheriff. Georg Bitter Verlag, Recklinghausen 1989, ISBN 3-931081-05-2. Die Kunst der bäuerlichen Liebe 1. Teil. Merlin Verlag, Gifkendorf 1990, ISBN 3-926112-26-3. Du bist ein Indianer, Hannes. Bitter Verlag, Recklinghausen 1990, ISBN 3-7903-0388-7. Polski Blues. Goldmann Verlag, Munich 1991, ISBN 3-442-30417-2. Zurück nach Uskow. Merlin Verlag, Gifkendorf 1992, ISBN 3-926112-34-4. Schäbels Frau. Goldmann Verlag, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-442-30442-3. Mutter sag, wer macht die Kinder?. Mosaik-Verlag, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-576-10038-5. Von dem Glück, Hrdlak gekannt zu haben. Goldmann Verlag, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-442-30443-1. Von dem Glück, als Herr Janosch überlebt zu haben. Merlin Verlag, Gifkendorf 1994, ISBN 3-926112-25-5. Franz mit dem verdammten Hut. Little Tiger Verlag, Hamburg 1995, ISBN 3-423-70389-X. Schnuddel baut ein Wolkenhaus. Isis Verlag, Chur 1995, DNB-IDN 949586870. Schnuddels Gute-Nacht-Geschichten. Isis Verlag, Chur 1995, DNB-IDN 94958696X. Wörterbuch der Lebenskunst. Goldmann Verlag, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-442-30626-4. Gastmahl auf Gomera. Goldmann Verlag, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-442-30662-0. Restaurant & Mutterglück oder Das Kind. Merlin Verlag, Gifkendorf 1998, ISBN 3-926112-79-4. Ich liebe eine Tigerente. Mosaik-Verlag, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-576-11318-5. Janoschs großer, kleiner Tigeratlas. Bassermann, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8094-1239-2. Janoschs Tausend-Bilder-Lexikon. Bassermann, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8094-1240-6. Wie der Tiger zählen lernt. Bassermann, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8094-1238-4. Wie der Tiger lesen lernt. Bassermann, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8094-1237-6. Bei Liebeskummer Apfelmus. Bassermann, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8094-1371-2. Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsbär. Bassermann, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8094-1369-0. Wenn Schnuddel in die Schule geht und andere Geschichten. cbj, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-570-21622-5. Gibt es hitzefrei in Afrika? So leben die Kinder dieser Welt. Heyne Verlag, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-453-12089-2.

The Tigerente (lit. tiger duck) is a children's book character created by Janosch. It is a little wooden toy duck on wheels, striped black on yellow, that is pulled around on a string by various characters of Janosch's books. It never has a line of dialogue, but still has become by far the most popular figure ever created by the author. The Tigerente has since appeared on a wide range of products including posters, postcards, high school art projects, buttons, mugs, socks, umbrellas, cutlery, and nearly every item of children's furniture imaginable. It has been the namesake and mascot of the German TV show Tigerenten Club, all without ever uttering a single line.

The story "Oh, wie schön ist Panama" was adapted into a contemporary opera under the title "Oh, the beautiful Panama" by Lin Wang. The opera was premiered at Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2013, and was a sold-out event.