Acclaimed Israeli Author and Poet Yehuda Atlas Dies at 89

Yehuda Atlas, the celebrated Israeli author and poet known for his beloved children's book "And This Child Is Me," passed away on Thursday at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv. He was 89 years old.

Atlas's family remembered him as "an eternal child until his last moments," adding that in his later years, he wrote about at-risk children out of a sense of mission. He was described as an editor, children's author, and translator who acted out of a desire to help others.

Born in 1937 in Ein Iron, Atlas worked in journalism, including as an editor for Yediot Ahronot, before gaining fame as a children's author. His first children's book, "And This Child Is Me," published in 1977 with illustrations by Dani Kerman, resonated with generations of Israeli children by giving voice to their everyday thoughts, fears, and emotions, including those often absent from children's literature of the time. The book's success led to four sequels.

Atlas often drew inspiration from his own childhood memories and his children's experiences, acknowledging the challenges of childhood and the dependence of children on adults. He stated in past interviews, "I write about the moment a child has a problem; small or large, complex or simple."

In addition to his children's books, Atlas translated and studied children's literature. He authored the "Big Children" series about international authors and illustrators and published a memoir. His extensive work earned him accolades such as the Ze'ev Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature, the Leah Goldberg Prize, and the ACUM Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2021, Atlas released "Children of Nobody," a collection of approximately 170 poems about at-risk children and youth, created in collaboration with the Haruv Institute. The book aimed to give a voice to silenced children, reflecting his continued focus on vulnerable youth.