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Ellen Niit

Biography

Ellen Niit (1928–2016) was a legendary children’s author, poet, and translator. Over her lifetime, she penned more than 40 books of both prose and poetry for children. The author’s works are a joy to read for all ages, and have been cherished by multiple generations of Estonian readers. Niit received many literary awards and recognitions, including the Cultural Endowment of Estonia’s Award for Children’s Literature on three occasions and the 1996 IBBY Honour List. Her works, which are written in an inventive style and with depth of meaning, have been translated into 18 languages. Niit focused on goodness and beauty, and created a bright, protective world for children.

Profile photo: Ülo Josing/ ERR

Colouring the World

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
2015, 38 pp
ISBN: 9789949526888
fiction, storybook

The Key of Heaven

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
2012, 224 pp
ISBN: 9789949482580
fiction, poetry

Wonderland

Illustrator: Lüüdia Vallimäe-Mark
1974, 107 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse

The Nut Boat

Illustrator: Ulla Sampu
1968, 16 pp
fiction, poetry, picturebook

The Amazing Bus

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
1968, 20 pp
fiction, story in verse, picturebook

A lenhajú kislány

Illustrator: Anna Győrffy
Translator: Zsuzsa Rab
Móra, Kárpáti
1970, 78 pp
fiction, storybook

At Our Farm

Illustrator: Lilian Härm
Translator: Ilvi Jõe-Cannon
Perioodika
1988, 12 pp
ISBN: 5797901757
fiction, poetry, picturebook

Brīnumzeme

Original title: Wonderland
Language: Latvian
Illustrator: Ilmārs Lapiņš
Translator: Jānis Butūzovs
Liesma
1984, 32 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse

Das ist Pille-Riin

Illustrator: Gertrud Zucker
Translator: Salme Raatma
Kinderbuchverlag
1971, 127 pp
fiction, storybook

Die Geschichte vom Maler

Illustrator: Regine Röder-Ensikat
Translator: Siegfried Behrsing etc...
Kinderbuchverlag
1980, 48 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse

Dievčatko Pille-Riin

Illustrator: Vive Tolli
Translator: Nadežda Vendtová-Šoltýsová
Mladé letá
1972, 80 pp
fiction, storybook

Ihmeellinen maalari

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Ursula Sinervo
Eesti Raamat
1974, 35 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse

Majolenka

Illustrator: Eva Bednářová
Translator: Vladimír Macura
Albatros
1982, 120 pp
fiction, storybook

Meskeország

Original title: Wonderland
Language: Hungarian
Illustrator: Mariann Roll
Translator: Dénes Kiss etc...
Móra
1977, 59 pp
fiction, poetry

Nippet

Illustrator: Georgi Štšukin
Translator: Evi Mannermaa
Perioodika
1982, 18 pp
fiction, picturebook

Op de boerderij

Illustrator: Lilian Härm
Translator: Ivo Buyle
Perioodika
1988, 12 pp
ISBN: 9061744288
fiction, poetry, picturebook

Ott w kosmosie

Illustrator: Halja Klaar
Translator: Teresa Kärmas
Perioodika
1981, 19 pp
fiction, picturebook

Pille Riin

Illustrator: Emilia Freudenreich
Translator: Aarne Puu
Czytelnik
1982, 92 pp
ISBN: 8307004586
fiction, storybook

Pille-Riinin tarinat

Illustrator: Vive Tolli
Translator: Kati Parviainen
WSOY
1967, 94 pp
fiction, storybook

Sumanus dažytojas

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Eduardas Astramskas
Vaga
1975, 36 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse

Вымышляндия

Original title: Wonderland
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Lüüdia Vallimäe-Mark
Translator: Yunna Moritz
Eesti Raamat
1980, 23 pp
fiction, poetry

Крылль

Original title: The Book of Krõll
Language: Russian
Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Jelena Rakejeva
Eesti Raamat
1984, 48 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse

Крыль

Illustrator: Georgi Štšukin
Translator: Asar Eppel
Nõukogude Kinokunsti Propaganda Büroo Leningradi osakond
1974, 18 pp
fiction, picturebook

Мидри музъем

Original title: Wonderland
Language: Udmurt
Illustrator: Vive Tolli
Translator: Nadežda Ptšelovodova etc...
Udmurtia
2008, 80 pp
ISBN: 9785765904312
fiction, storybook, poetry

Озорной Крыль

Illustrator: Georgi Štšukin
Translator: Galina Diomidova
Perioodika
1980, 18 pp
fiction, picturebook

Пилле-Рийн

Illustrator: Natalja Munts
Translator: Galina Demõkina etc...
Detskaja Literatura
1975, 16 pp
fiction, storybook

Пилле-Рийн

Illustrator: Ana Evtuşenko
Translator: V. Ciumac
Literatura artistică (Литература артистикэ)
1977, 62 pp
fiction, storybook

Пилле-Рийн

Illustrator: G. Ravinskaja
Translator: B. Kubatbekov
Mekten
1986, 16 pp
fiction, storybook

Пілле Рійн

Illustrator: Mikola Jemeljanov
Translator: Oleksandr Zavgorodni
Veselka
1984, 87 pp
fiction, storybook

Умелый маляр

Illustrator: Edgar Valter
Translator: Boris Štein
Eesti Raamat
1974, 35 pp
fiction, poetry, story in verse
2018
The White Ravens (Mr. Nightingale from Nightjar Street)

2004–2009
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate

2010

Tallinn Coat of Arms Badge

2009
Estonian State Cultural Award
A bust of Ellen Niit was unveiled at a park in the Hungarian town of Kiskőrös

2005
Lifetime achievement award from the E. W. Ponkala Fund for furthering cultural relations between Finland, Estonia, and Hungary

1999
Order of the White Star, III Class
Annual Children’s Literature Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (At a Rainbow-Light Moment)

1996
IBBY Honour List (Krõll Makes Pancakes)

1994
Karl Eduard Sööt Children’s Poetry Award (Hello There, Little Lamb!, How Krõll Tried to Mop the Floor)

1978
Juhan Smuul Annual Prize of Literature (Triinu ja Taavi uued ja vanad lood)

1977
Honored Writer of the Estonian SSR

1971
Juhan Smuul Annual Prize of Literature (Open Door Day)