Reading and chat series: A homage to Benno Pludra in Weimar

Reading and chat series: A homage to Benno Pludra in Weimar

A very special afternoon awaits visitors to the “Childhood Books” reading and chat series on July 9, 2025 at 4 p.m. in the LiteraturEtage in Weimar. The focus is on Benno Pludra, who is considered one of the most successful children's book authors in the GDR. Over five million copies of his works found their way to reading-loving children and young people. This event promises not only a look back at his impressive work, but also exciting insights into his creative world. Loud Radiolotte Anja Tuckermann and Sabine Arndt will organize the afternoon and pay particular attention to Pludra's popular book “Lütt Matten and the White Shell”.

Benno Pludra, born on October 1, 1925 in Mückenberg, spent his childhood in a working-class family. He went through an eventful life story that took him from the merchant navy to the GDR literary scene. These diverse experiences predestined him to write about the special features of children's and young adult literature. Pludra's works often deal with home and nature and are clear and haunting. Many of his stories are rooted in eastern Germany, which particularly appeals to readers. As already Wikipedia explains, Pludra published over 40 books for children and young people, which were very popular not only in the GDR, but also in the West as licensed editions.

From literature to awards

His story “Seven Stork” received the German Youth Literature Prize in the children's book category in 1992, after previously being successful in the 1951 competition to promote socialist children's literature. How on Jugendliteratur.org can be read, Pludra's style shows his sympathy for the weak and outsiders without drifting into social romanticism. Instead, his writing is humorous and to the point, which has made him a significant influence on young people's reading socialization.

Pludra's path to becoming one of the most influential voices in GDR children's literature was not always easy. His upbringing and his experiences in the merchant navy shaped him. He survived the sinking of a ship, which gave him a special perspective when writing. After the war, he trained as a new teacher and began to find meaning in children's literature.

An evening full of memories

On July 9th, the literary afternoon will provide an opportunity to engage with Pludra's legacy. The event aims to reach both the younger generations and adults who associate memories of their own childhood with its stories. Anyone interested is invited to be transported into the literary world of Benno Pludra under the motto “Childhood Books”. Don't miss this chance to take a look into the soul of an author who had a decisive influence on children's literature in the GDR.