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Toon Tellegen
141012 Axes concert- Toon Tellegen & Wisselend Toonkwintet (14941500193).jpg
Born
Antonius Otto Hermannus Tellegen
Nationality Dutch
Occupation Poet, writer

Antonius Otto Hermannus (Toon) Tellegen (born 18 November 1941) is a Dutch writer, poet, and physician, known for children's books, especially those featuring anthropomorphised animals, particularly those about an ant and a squirrel. His writings are also enjoyed by adults, due to the amusing, bizarre situations that Tellegen creates, as well as their dealings with philosophical subjects.

For his lasting contribution as a children's writer, Tellegen was a finalist for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006.

Biography

Tellegen was born in Brielle. He studied medicine at the University of Utrecht, and worked as a general practitioner in Amsterdam. After writing for many years mainly for adults, Tellegen switched to children's stories. His first children's book, written in 1984, was Er ging geen dag voorbij: negenenveertig verhalen over de eekhoorn en de andere dieren (English: Not A Day Went By: forty-nine tales of the squirrel and other animals). In these stories, the ant and the squirrel often play the lead role, and many of his stories touch on philosophical concepts.

Tellegen still writes today.

Prizes

  • 1969 - ANV-Visser Neerlandia-prijs for Als moeder ergens ziek van wordt (When Mother Gets Sick of Something)
  • 1988 - Gouden Griffel for Toen niemand iets te doen had (When nobody had anything to do)
  • 1990 - Zilveren Griffel for Langzaam, zo snel zij konden (Slowly, as fast as they could)
  • 1992 - Woutertje Pieterse Prijs for Juffrouw Kachel (Ms. Heater)
  • 1993 - Jan Campertprijs for Een dansschool (A Dance School)
  • 1994 - Woutertje Pieterse Prijs for Bijna iedereen kon omvallen (Almost Everyone Could Fall Over)
  • 1994 - Gouden Griffel for Bijna iedereen kon omvallen (Almost Everyone Could Fall Over)
  • 1994 - Zilveren Griffel for Jannes
  • 1997 - Theo Thijssen-prijs for his complete works
  • 1997 - Zilveren Griffel for Teunis
  • 1999 - Zilveren Griffel for De verjaardag van alle anderen (Everyone Else's Birthday)
  • 2000 - Gouden Uil for De Genezing van de Krekel (The Healing of the Cricket)
  • 2006 - Finalist, Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writers
  • 2007 - Constantijn Huygensprijs for his complete works
  • 2011 - Popescu Prize for Raptors
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