Daniel Pennak: Biography and Creativity

Known today for the whole world the French writer Daniel Pennak Was born in 1944. The place of his birth is Casablanca (Morocco). Daniel's father was a military engineer, so the family had to travel a lot and live in a different military garrison.

For most of his school years, the future writer did not shine with academic achievement. The family even had a joke that Daniel Pennak would spend at least a year memorizing the letter "a". The father often repeated that about twenty-six years old the son would master the alphabet in perfection. Only closer to the end of his studies he managed to straighten out. Wood carver, taxi driver, illustrator - these professions he mastered, leaving the school walls. After receiving a higher pedagogical education, Daniel Pennak Became a teacher. His more than twenty-five-year career was associated with teaching in the school for children with developmental delays.

The beginning of a literary career

The beginning of his literary career was by no means cloudless: the editors did not aspire to accept the author's works. While one of the famous editors did not return the work with reasoned analysis and parting words in the further development of an explicit literary gift. For his first essay publication, Daniel Pennak chose a pseudonym in order not to adversely affect the career of a military father.

World fame to the writer came after the publication of a series of detective novels "The Saga of Malossen," he is also famous as the author of children's books. Directors draw inspiration from his works, and his essay entitled "As a novel" (Daniel Pennak often repeats the quotation) radically changed the approaches of teachers to involving children in reading and awakening their love for books. By the way, he calls himself "a passionate reader". The third novel by the writer "The Little Merchant with Prose" managed to occupy the first place for two years both in France and throughout Western Europe in "readability".

Daniel Pennak: books for children

Over the "children's" stories the author began to work in 1978-1980. It was a period of residence in Brazil. Readers are well acquainted with such his stories as "Dog Dog", written in 1982, "The Eye of the Wolf" (the year of creation - 1984th), "The Adventures of Kamo" (written in 1992).

These are the books on which you can find out what real friendship is, see what French teens live like any other teenagers in the world who need understanding, love and support from adults and parents.

Pennak's works are distinguished by vivacity and immediacy, a little noticeable sadness and a very obvious call to life. They do not repel despair and tear, they do not inflict wounds on the children's hearts, but on the contrary they are presented with notes of joy.

Literary awards

The works of Daniel Pennak can be read in twenty-six languages of the world, their best estimate are the literary awards that mark the writer's work in various countries. Among them: the International Grinzane-Cavour Prize (2002), the Renodo Literature Prize (2007). Award César was awarded in March 2013 a cartoon based on the scenario of D. Pennak.