Jef Aerts (born 26 May 1972) is a Belgian writer of children’s and youth literature.

Life and career

After publishing four novels, poetry and theater, Jef Aerts has been writing for young readers since 2012. For the picture book ''Bigger than a Dream'' he worked with the Swedish-Dutch illustrator Marit Törnqvist. In 2014 this book was awarded the Book Lion (

Boekenleeuw The Boekenleeuw is a Flemish literary award for the best book in children's literature by a Flemish author. History The ''Referendumprijs voor Vlaamse kinder- en jeugdboeken'' award was established in 1962. In 1986 this award was replaced b ...

, prize for the best Dutch-language children's book. Jef Aerts received three

Zilveren Griffel The Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) is an award given to authors of children's or teenagers' literature in the Netherlands. History Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Prop ...

awards: for ''Bigger than a Dream'', ''Fish don’t melt'' and ''The Blue Wings'' (illustrated by

Martijn van der Linden Martijn van der Linden (born 1979) is a Dutch illustrator. Career Van der Linden illustrated the book ''Stem op de okapi'' written by Edward van de Vendel and they both won the Woutertje Pieterse Prijs in 2016 for this work. For this book he ...

). Aerts’ children’s and youth books have been translated and sold in 15 languages, including English, German, Swedish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Persian. Jef Aerts lives and writes in a small farm close to

Leuven Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic ...

."De ruimte en rust vind ik hier fantastisch"
De Morgen (in Dutch, Belgian newspaper). 29 juni 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2020.

Works (selection)

* The Little Paradise (''Het kleine paradijs'', 2012) * Bigger than a Dream (''Groter dan een droom'', 2013) * Fish don’t Melt (''Vissen smelten niet'', 2013) * Horse in Boots (''Paard met laarzen'', 2015) * Cherry Blossom and Paper Planes (''Kersenhemel'', 2017) * The Blue Wings (''De blauwe vleugels'', 2018) * Ronke's Night (''De nacht van Ronke'', 2021)

Awards and nominations (selection)

* 2014:

Zilveren griffel The Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) is an award given to authors of children's or teenagers' literature in the Netherlands. History Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Prop ...

, ''Groter dan een droom'' * 2014: White Raven, ''Groter dan een droom'' * 2014:

, ''Groter dan een droom'' * 2014:

, ''Vissen smelten niet'' * 2018: Vlag en Wimpel, ''Kersenhemel'' * 2019:

, ''De blauwe vleugels'' * 2020: Laureat
IBBY Honour List
''De blauwe vleugels''

References

External links

*
Jef Aerts · dbnl
(in Dutch), Digital Library for Dutch Literature
Jef Aerts
(in English), Flanders Literature {{DEFAULTSORT:Aerts, Jef Belgian children's writers 1972 births Living people Belgian male novelists Belgian male poets 21st-century Belgian male writers 21st-century Belgian poets 21st-century Belgian novelists