Miriam Yalan-Shteklis

Miriam Yalan-Shteklis (also Miriam Yalan-Stekelis; ; 21 September 1900 – 9 May 1984) was an Israeli writer and poet famous for her children's books. Her surname, Yalan, was an acronym based on her father's name, Yehuda Leib Nissan.

Biography Miriam Wilensky (later Yalan-Shteklis) was born in the town of Potoki, near Kremenchuk in the Russian Empire (modern Ukraine). It was the first time this category was included. In their decision, the judges wrote: "…Whatever she wrote, she wrote for children, and whatever she wrote bore no hint of deliberate infantilization but rather of true childhood, genuine and realistic, that embraces joy and innocence but also sorrow and tears, life’s wisdom and life’s evils, disappointment and consolation. She flavored her poems for children with all the key ingredients that mark good children’s poetry. Her work possesses a wonderful sense of the world of children. Language that draws upon sources both ancient and modern, admirable poetic skills and perfect musicality are a rare phenomenon in any nation and language, and not every literature is so blessed" (Editorial, Davar li-Yeladim).

Musical collaboration Many of her poems were set to music and have become Israeli children's classics. In 1975 Israeli singers Shmulik Kraus and Josie Katz put out an album of songs based on her poems.

Published work

Hurry, Hurry Dwarfs!, 1939 [Atzu Ratzu Gamadim] Danny, 1943 [Danny] Rain, 1944 [Geshem] Tol-Tol and His Sand, 1944 [Tol-Tol Ba'al Ha-Hol] The Journey to the Maybe Island, 1944 [Ha-Masah La Ee Ulai] The Girl Millik and Aunt Phillik, 1945 [Ma'ase Ba-Yaldah Millik U Ba-Doda Phillik] Once There Was a Girl, 1946 [Ma'aseh Be-Yaldah] How Songs Come to the Heart, 1947 [Eich Ba'im Shirim Le-Lev Ha-Adam] The Story of a Curtain, Paris, 1952 [Ma'aseh Be-Parochet] Bimmi, 1953 [Bimmi] Birthday, Dvir, 1962 [Yom Huledet] Wheels, Hadar 1957 [Galgalim] Kid's Song, Dvir, 1958–63 [Shir Ha-Gdi] I Have a Secret, Dvir, 1958–63 [Yesh Li Sod] In My Dream, Dvir, 1958–63 [Be-Halomi] Lie?, Ekked, 1966 [Sheker?] Two Legends, Dvir, 1972 [Shtei Agadot] Brave Danny and Other Poems, 1975 [Danny Gibor Ve-Shirim Aherim] A Paper Bridge, 1978 [Gesher Shel Niyar] Life and Words, Kiryat Sefer, 1978 [Hayim Ve-Milim] The Soap Cried Loudly, [Hasabon Bakha Me'od]

Translated Selected Poems French: Jerusalem, Departament de la Jeunesse du Keren Hayesod, 1946 Russian: Tel Aviv, Am Oved, 1966

A Paper Bridge Spanish: Jerusalem, Miriam Yalan-Shteklis & Esther Solay-Levy, 1978

The Journey to the Maybe Island Arabic: Jerusalem, Al-Sharq, 1972