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Edgar Valter

Biography

Edgar Valter (1929–2006) was a graphic artist, illustrator, caricaturist, and children’s writer. He illustrated more than 250 children’s books, including masterpieces of Estonian literature authored by Eno Raud, Ellen Niit, and Aino Pervik. He himself wrote 15 works, the most popular of which are The Poku Book and its sequels. Valter’s writing stands out for its sincerity, warmth, and unusual sense of humour. He crafted stories and characters that have since become household names throughout Estonia. Nestled in the southeast of the country is even a nature-inspired Poku theme park – Pokuland. The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre in Tallinn also has a gallery dedicated to Valter’s illustrations.

Profile photo: Estonian Children's Literature Centre

 

 

The Poku Book

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
2009, 144 pp
ISBN: 9789985935491
fiction, storybook

Poku Stories

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
2004, 176 pp
ISBN: 9949406331
fiction, storybook

The Poku ABC

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
2002, 160 pp
ISBN: 9789985940501
non-fiction, storybook

The Brushtails

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
1998, 95 pp
ISBN: 9985832833
fiction, storybook, fairy-tale

Kitty and Owlie

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
1995, 47 pp
ISBN: 9985601386
fiction, storybook, picturebook

Kaķītis un Ūpītis

Original title: Kitty and Owlie
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Daila Ozola
Zvaigzne ABC
2019, 48 pp
ISBN: 9789934085838
fiction, fairy-tale, picturebook

Poķu grāmata

Original title: The Poku Book
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Daila Ozola
Zvaigzne ABC
2019, 144 pp
ISBN: 9789934083679
fiction, storybook

Poķu stāsti

Original title: Poku Stories
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Daila Ozola
Zvaigzne ABC
2020, 179 pp
ISBN: 9789934091513
fiction, picturebook

Puokiai

Original title: The Poku Book
Language: Lithuanian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Nieko rimto
2008, 143 pp
ISBN: 9789955683599
fiction, storybook

Puokių istorijos

Original title: Poku Stories
Language: Lithuanian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Viltarė Mickevičienė (Urbaitė)
Nieko rimto
2014, 180 pp
ISBN: 9786094412110
fiction, storybook

Котя и Филя

Original title: Kitty and Owlie
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Gita Staševskaja
Retš
2021, 56 pp
ISBN: 9785926837879
picturebook, fiction

The Poku Book

Original title: The Poku Book
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Tatjana Teppe
KPD Kirjastus
2021, 144 pp
ISBN: 9789949545674
fiction, storybook

Поки

Original title: The Poku Book
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Tatjana Teppe
Rosmen
2014, 144 pp
ISBN: 9785353069447
fiction, storybook

Поки

Original title: The Poku Book
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Tatjana Teppe
Rosmen
2019, 143 pp
ISBN: 9785353091165
fiction, storybook

Poku Stories

Original title: Poku Stories
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Tatjana Teppe
KPD Kirjastus
2021, 180 pp
ISBN: 9789949545681
fiction, storybook
As a writer:

2020
Latvian Children's, Young Adults' and Parents' Jury (Bērnu, jauniešu un vecāku žūrija), 2nd place (age 9+) (The Poku Book)

2006
Nukits Competition, 2nd place (Poku Stories)

2002
The Eerik Kumari Nature Conservation Award

2001
Order of the White Star, III Class
The Estonian National Culture Foundation’s award for lifetime achievement

2000
Nukits Competition, 2nd place (The Brushtails)

1996
Albu Parish’s A. T. Tammsaare Award for Literature, special prize (The Poku Book)
Nukits Competition, 1st place for writing and illustrations (The Poku Book)

1995
Annual Children’s Literature Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (The Poku Book)