Amos Bar ( he, עמוס בר) (October 15, 1931 – March 15, 2011), also known as "Possa", was an Israeli author, teacher, and editor. Most of his books are for children and young adults.

Biography

Amos Bar was born to Sarah and Pinhas Barber in

moshav A moshav ( he, מוֹשָׁב, plural ', lit. ''settlement, village'') is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists between 1904 an ...

Tel Adashim Tel Adashim ( he, תֵּל עֲדָשִׁים, ''lit.'' Lentils Hill) is a moshav in northern Israel. Located between Nazareth and Afula, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council.Jezreel Valley The Jezreel Valley (from the he, עמק יזרעאל, translit. ''ʿĒmeq Yīzrəʿēʿl''), or Marj Ibn Amir ( ar, مرج ابن عامر), also known as the Valley of Megiddo, is a large fertile plain and inland valley in the Northern Distr ...

, Israel. At age 9, his family relocated to

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...

. His early life experiences are richly interlaced in his books. After graduating from high school in Tel Aviv, he enlisted in the

IDF IDF or idf may refer to: Defence forces * Irish Defence Forces * Israel Defense Forces *Iceland Defense Force, of the US Armed Forces, 1951-2006 * Indian Defence Force, a part-time force, 1917 Organizations * Israeli Diving Federation * Interac ...

and served in Nahlayim Mul Aza ("

Nahal Nahal ( he, נח"ל) (acronym of ''Noar Halutzi Lohem'', lit. Fighting Pioneer Youth) is a program that combines military service with mostly social welfare and informal education projects such as youth movement activities, as well as training ...

soldiers opposite Gaza"), the country's first

Nahal settlement Nahal settlements ( he, היאחזות נח"ל, ''Heahzut Nahal'') were settlements established by Nahal soldiers in Israel and Israeli-occupied territories Israeli-occupied territories are the lands that were captured and occupied by Isra ...

, which later became kibbutz

Nahal Oz Nahal Oz ( he, נַחַ"ל עֹז, ''lit.'' "Mighty Stream" or "Mighty Nahal") is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the northwestern part of the Negev desert close to the border with the Gaza Strip and near the development towns of Sderot ...

. In 1951, he joined Kibbutz

Revivim Revivim ( he, רְבִיבִים, , (rain) showers) is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located around half an hour south of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council. In it had a population of ...

in the

Negev The Negev or Negeb (; he, הַנֶּגֶב, hanNegév; ar, ٱلنَّقَب, an-Naqab) is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (pop. ), in the north. At its southe ...

. His first book ''The Little Tractor Driver'' was written in 1958, following his experiences as a farmer in the kibbutz fields. He continued to publish numerous children's books, stories and children's magazines,

radio plays Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...

and

teleplay A teleplay is a screenplay or script used in the production of a scripted television program or series. In general usage, the term is most commonly seen in reference to a standalone production, such as a television film, a television play, or an ...

s for children on radio and television. After graduating from the kibbutz seminary college and from

Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv University (TAU) ( he, אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטַת תֵּל אָבִיב, ''Universitat Tel Aviv'') is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. With over 30,000 students, it is the largest university in the country. Locate ...

, he was a teacher and an educator for many years. In 1978, he assumed the editor-in-chief role of "Pashosh", a nature magazine for children published by the

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel ( he, החברה להגנת הטבע, ''HaHevra LeHaganat HaTeva''), or SPNI, is an Israeli non-profit environmental organization working to preserve plants, animals, and natural environments that repr ...

, and remained its editor for 24 years. He also served as the editor of children's books in publishing houses:

Schocken Books Schocken Books is a book publishing imprint of Penguin Random House that specializes in Jewish literary works. Originally established in 1931 by Salman Schocken as Schocken Verlag in Berlin, the company later moved to Palestine and then the Uni ...

Hakibbutz Hameuchad -Sifriat Poalim Publishing Group
and

Kinneret Zmora-Bitan Dvir Kinneret Zmora-Bitan Dvir is one of Israel's largest book publishing companies. History The company's oldest imprint, Dvir, was founded in Odessa in 1919 by Hayim Nahman Bialik.

. Throughout the last two decades of his life he lived with his family in an Israeli community village, and held educational sessions with children and teenagers throughout Israel. Amos Bar (Possah) died on March 15, 2011. He was the father of six and grandfather of four.

His work

Amos Bar's books are inspired by his childhood experiences in the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine (see also Isra ...

, its landscapes, and animals. His writing is characterized by a personal, smiling, and rogue style – seasoned with nostalgia and optimism. His strong affection for his characters is highly apparent in his books:

"Sometimes, early in the morning, for the sound of birdsong, I go back to the days of my childhood, seeing the sights of the world through the eyes of a child, hearing the sounds with child ears, and feeling everything with a child's heart. I instantly empathize with everything I tell about, from a tree and a flower to a bird, a deer or a dwarf; while writing I see them alive and perform tricks, hear them talk as human beings, and there is nothing I can do but write or tell what I see and feel ", described Amos his work process. "My childhood stories are written quickly and without difficulty. I simply remember clearly what happened to since I started to walk."

Awards

* In 1972, his book "''I'm Running out of The Horse''" was included in the list of honor of

Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...

. * In 1978, he won the Lamdan Prize for his book "''Poretz Ha-Machsomim''" ("''Blockade Runner''"), Sreberk, 1977. * In 1993, he won the Ze'ev Award for his work "''HaMeshoreret MeKineret'" ("''The Poet of Sea of Galilee''").

Books

* The Little Tractor Driver ( he, הטרקטוראי הקטן, ''HaTractora'ee HaKatan'', 1958) * Fishing Fish ( he, דגים דגים, ''DaGeem DaGeem'', 1961) * Rotem and the Magic Hair ( he, רותם ושערת הקסמים, ''Rotem Ve Se'Harat HaKsameem'', 1961) – written for his oldest daughter's birthday * The Legend of the Awakening Sea ( he, אגדת הים המתעורר, ''HaGadat Ha'Yam Ha'Mitorer'', 1963) * The Ants Hill ( he, גבעת הנמלים, ''GiVat Ha'Nemaleem'', 1967) * I'm Running out of The Horse ( he, נגמר לי הסוס, ''Nigmar Lee HaSoos'', 1972) * Dews in the Negev ( he, טללים בנגב, ''Tlalim BaNegev'', 1972) * The Tales of TomerOdeDana ( he, עלילות תומרודדנה, ''Halilot TomerOdeDana'', 1975) * Blockade Runner ( he, פורץ המחסומים, ''Poretz Ha-Machsomim'', 1972) (Hebrew) * The Negev Patrol ( he, סיירת הנגב, ''Sayeret Ha'Negev'', 1978) * The rebellion at the Zoo ( he, המרד בפינת החי, ''Ha'Mered Be'Pinat Ha'Hai'', 1979) * Burning Ship at Tel-Aviv shore ( he, אניה בוערת בחוף תל אביב, ''Oneeya Bo'Eret Be'Hof Tel Aviv'', 1980) * Stories about Birds ( he, סיפורים על ציפורים, ''Sipurim Al TziPorim'', 1983) * The Jumping Champion and the Car Counter( he, אלוף הקפיצות וסופר המכוניות, ''Aloof HaKfitzot Ve Sofer HaMehoneeyot'', 1988) * The Poet of Sea of Galilee ( he, המשוררת מכנרת, ''HaMeshoreret MeKineret'', 1983) – included in Israel's Ministry of Educatio
Reading Recommndation List of 2010–11
* First 100 trips ( he, 100 טיולים ראשונים, ''Me'ah Teeyulim Rishoneem'', 1986) * One Dog, Two kids, Three chicks( he, כלב אחד, שני ילדים, שלושה אפרוחים, ''Kelev e'Had, Shney Yeladeem, Shloshah Efro'Heem'', 1996) * Legend Flowers ( he, פרחי אגדה, ''PirHai HaGadah'', 1995) * Legend Birds ( he, ציפורי אגדה, ''Tziporei HaGadah'', 1997) * Legend Land ( he, ארץ אגדה, ''Eretz HaGadah'', 1997) * Where Have You Come From, Pretty Butterfly? ( he, מנין באת פרפר יפה?, ''Me'na'yeen Bata, Parpar YaFe?'', 1999) * Where Have You Come From, Cute Bunny? ( he, איך באת לעולם, ארנבון נחמד?, ''Eih Bata La'Olam, Arnavon NehMahd?'',2000)

Editorial works

* Pashosh Children Magazine עיתון פשוש ( he, עיתון פשוש, ''Pashosh'') (by

SPNI Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel ( he, החברה להגנת הטבע, ''HaHevra LeHaganat HaTeva''), or SPNI, is an Israeli non-profit environmental organization working to preserve plants, animals, and natural environments that repr ...

– Chief editor for 24 years * They See, but Can't Be Seen by Pinhas Amitay ( he, הרואים ואינם נראים, ''HaRo'eem Ve Einam Nireem'', 1983) * Adventures with Plants by Pinhas Amitay ( he, הרפתקאות עם צמחים, ''HarPatka'ot Eem TzmaHeem'', 1983) * Insects at Home and in the Garden by Pinhas Amitay ( he, חרקים בבית ובחצר, ''HaRakeem Baba'eet Ve Ba'Hatzer'', 1983)

Translation works

* Spot's Birthday (Hebrew) by Eric Hill, translated and edited by Amos Bar ( he, יום הולדת לפינוקי, ''Yom Hooledet Le Pinookee'', 1984) * Spot's Noisy Walk (Hebrew) by Eric Hill, translated and edited by Amos Bar ( he, פינוקי יוצא לטיול, ''Pinookee Yotzeh Le Tiyool'', 1984) translated to Hebrew and edited by Amos Bar (Hebrew) in the publisher's website