Renowned Israeli Author and Poet Yehuda Atlas Dies at 89

Yehuda Atlas, a celebrated Israeli author, poet, translator, and children's literature researcher, passed away on Thursday at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv at the age of 89. Atlas was widely recognized for revolutionizing children's literature in Israel with his 1977 book "And This Child Is Me," which offered a unique and honest portrayal of a child's inner world.

His family described him as an "eternal child" who was driven by a desire to help others. Atlas's career spanned journalism, where he edited "Bamahaneh Givati" and served as deputy editor for "Yedioth Ahronoth's" "7 Yamim" supplement, publishing his column "Big Kid" for eight years. He also studied Oriental studies and philosophy at Tel Aviv University.

"And This Child Is Me," a collection of short poems from a child's perspective, achieved immense success, earning him the Ze'ev Prize and later inspiring a musical album. The book evolved into a five-volume series, cementing Atlas's status as a beloved Israeli creator.

Beyond his original works, Atlas was a significant researcher of children's literature. His 2003 project "Big Kids" explored the history of global children's literature. In his later years, he tackled sensitive social issues through his writing, including child violence in "I Want to Talk to You!" (2015) and at-risk children in "Nobody's Children" (2021). His final book, "Children's Tears," was published in 2025.

Atlas received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Prize, the Prime Minister's Prize for Hebrew Writers, and a lifetime achievement award for children's literature. He resided in Tel Aviv, was married twice, and had three children.