(c) Stefan Tell
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Wolf Erlbruch has passed away. He died on 11 December 2022 at the age of 74. Wolf Erlbruch was the first German author/illustrator to win the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2017 and one of the most renowned picture book artists internationally.
The picture book The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it was None of his Business became the starting point of his career as a book illustrator in 1989, which also marked the beginning of the children’s book programme at Peter Hammer Verlag.
With 17 picture books, 20 editions of his children’s calendar and countless cover illustrations, Wolf Erlbruch shaped the face of the publishing house for decades and set artistic standards. Peter Hammer Verlag mourns the death of its author, illustrator and longtime companion.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Wolf Erlbruch, who was such an exceptional artist.