Acclaimed Israeli Children's Author Yehuda Atlas Dies at 89

Acclaimed Israeli author, poet, and translator Yehuda Atlas, best known for his groundbreaking children's book "And This Child Is Me," has passed away at the age of 89. Atlas was celebrated for his unique approach to children's literature, writing from a child's perspective with direct and honest language, revolutionizing the field in Israel.

His work dared to use everyday language and capture the authentic experiences of childhood, including frustrations, jealousy, shame, and fears, without being condescending or didactic. Atlas, who was born in 1937 in the moshav Ein Iron to a farming family, served in the Golani Brigade, was a member of Kibbutz Mazra, and worked as a children's counselor. He studied Oriental studies and philosophy at Tel Aviv University.

Atlas also had a significant career in journalism, including an eight-year regular column titled "Big Kid" in the "7 Days" supplement of Yediot Ahronot, focusing on children's books and their authors. He was a vast repository of knowledge on children's literature and frequently engaged with young readers, sharing stories from his own childhood.

His 1977 book "And This Child Is Me" achieved immense success, winning awards and being adapted into a popular album with music by Avner Kenner. This was followed by similar successful children's books, including "This Child Is Me Too" (1979), "But Not Me" (1981), "I Suddenly Want" (1983), and "The Girl I Love" (1988). Atlas also authored "Big Kids," a three-volume research project on children's literature, and translated works like William Saroyan's "The Human Comedy."

In his later years, Atlas focused on issues concerning at-risk children. His writings gave generations of Israeli children a sense of being seen and heard. He resided in Tel Aviv and is survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren. His archive has been entrusted to the Gnazim Archive of the Association of Hebrew Writers in Tel Aviv.