Syria Poletti

Syria Poletti (10 February 1917 – 11 April 1991) was an Argentine writer who specialized in children's literature.

Personal life

Syria Poletti's parents, José Poletti and Juana Pasquali, emigrated to Argentina from Italy when she was nine years old, leaving her in the charge of her grandmother, who fulfilled the role of mother. During her adolescence, she lived in an orphanage. At age 21 she graduated and decided to travel to Argentina, but the spinal deformity scoliosis which she suffered from was an impediment to emigration. Her sister Beppina traveled to Buenos Aires and was able to obtain a permit, allowing Syria to make the trip to the country where she would become a writer.

Career Between 1939 and 1944 she was director of the Dante Alighieri school in Cañada de Gómez. The novel was translated into German, Czech, English, and Italian.

In 1965, Poletti was awarded the Doncel Prize in Madrid for her short story book Botella al mar. For her book Historias en rojo, she again received the Municipal Prize of Buenos Aires in 1969. In addition she received the Ribbon of Honor from the Argentine Society of Writers, and the Grand Knight of the Star of Solidarity, given by the Italian government for her cultural work in Italy and Argentina.

Poletti's work often dealt with the challenges faced by Italian immigrants in rural Argentina and in Buenos Aires. Along with Ernesto Sabato, she is regarded as one of the most influential Italo-Argentine writers. 1972 Reportajes supersónicos (children's book) 1977 Taller de imaginería 1978 El misterio de las valijas verdes (children's novel) 1981 Amor de alas (novel) 1981/1982 El rey que prohibió los globos (children's story), Ediciones de Arte Gaglianone 1985 Alelí y el payaso Bum Bum (children's book) 1987 Cien cuentos de Syria Poletti (selection of children's stories) 1988 Las hadas hacen dedo 1989 ...Y llegarán Buenos Aires 1991 El terror de la selva 1991 Una ventana a la vida 1992 Las siete hermanitas

Prizes and honors Losada International Award, 1961 Second Municipal Prize, 1962 First Municipal Prize, 1967 Doncel International Prize for children's stories, Spain, 1965 IBBY Prize (UNESCO) for children's work, Germany, 1972 Sixto Pondal Ríos Award for established authors, 1984 Award of the Argentine Chamber of Publications, 1984 Award of the Argentine Association of Reading, 1984 Platinum Konex Award for Children's Literature, 1984 Diploma of Merit (Konex) for Children's Literature, 1984 UNESCO Prize, Japan, 1985 Distinction of Cavaliere Ufficiale, given by the Italian government, 1988