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Lygia Bojunga Nunes

リジア・ボジュンガ・ヌネス

Lygia Bojunga Nunes

Pen Names: Lygia Bojunga（Used as publishing name / author name）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1932-08-26 （Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil）
Nationality
Brazil
Languages
Portuguese

Career

Occupations
children's author, playwright, actress, radio and television worker
Active Years
1950-

Awards

Hans Christian Andersen Medal (Writer)
1982
Category: 生涯貢献
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Result: 受賞
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
2004
Category: 生涯貢献
Organization: Swedish Arts Council (ALMA)
Result: 受賞
Jabuti Award
1973
Organization: Brazilian publishing community
Result: 受賞
Rattenfänger Literaturpreis
1986
Organization: German awarding body
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Companions (Os Colegas)

1972 Children's literature, fantasy

An early work featuring anthropomorphized animals; blends humour and psychological insight from a child's perspective.

friendshipchild's viewpointidentity
Translations
  • The Companions — translated into English (1989)

Angélica

1975 Children's literature, fable

A fable about a pig that wishes to be a swallow; explores self-acceptance and the conflict of desires.

self-acceptancewish for transformationgrowth

The Yellow Bag (A Bolsa Amarela)

1976 Children's literature, coming-of-age

Follows a young girl; deals with self-expression and inner conflicts, blurring imagination and reality.

self-expressionimaginationgrowing up

The Godmother's House (A Casa da Madrinha)

1978 Children's literature, utopian tale

Through the dreams and fantasies of an abandoned street child, the story explores hope and redemption.

lonelinessfantasyredemption

Corda Bamba

1979 Children's literature, psychological narrative

A girl comes to terms with the death of her parents through fantasies; themes of loss and healing.

lossgriefhealing

My Friend the Painter (O Meu Amigo Pintor)

1987 Young adult, psychological novel

A boy reflects on the inexplicable suicide of an adult friend; a meditation on death and loss.

suicidelossunderstanding
Translations
  • My Friend the Painter — translated into English (1991)

Seis Vezes Lucas

1995 Realist fiction

Written in a more realistic style; portrays multiple facets of the protagonist Lucas.

realitymultiplicity of personality

Retratos de Carolina

2002 Meta-novel, coming-of-age

Follows the main character from childhood to adulthood, using meta-fictional techniques in an experimental narrative.

growing upself-creationboundaries between story and reality

Bibliography

  • Os Colegas (1972) — The Companions
  • Angélica (1975)
  • A Bolsa Amarela (1976) — The Yellow Bag
  • A Casa da Madrinha (1978) — The Godmother's House
  • Corda Bamba (1979)
  • O Meu Amigo Pintor (1987) — My Friend the Painter
  • Seis Vezes Lucas (1995)
  • Retratos de Carolina (2002)

Translations of Works

  • The Companions — English translation (1989)
  • My Friend the Painter — English translation (1991)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
narration emphasizing the child's point of vieworal, poetic proseblend of magical realism and fantasy elements
Recurring Motifs
dreams and fantasyloss and healingsearch for identityfreedom and empathy

Legacy

Lygia Bojunga Nunes is one of Brazil's leading children's authors, internationally acclaimed for addressing weighty themes such as loss and identity through a child's viewpoint and fantastical techniques. She has received major international awards including the Hans Christian Andersen Medal and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

Museums

  • Casa da Lygia Bojunga

Trivia

  • She began her career as an actress and worked in radio and television before publishing children's books.
  • Winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1982) and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2004).
  • Her works have been translated into many languages including English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
  • Frequently uses the child's viewpoint and fantastical elements to address loss and identity.