Helmut Spanner

Helmut Spanner (born 1951 in Augsburg) is a German children’s author and illustrator. After graduating from a music-focused secondary school in Marktoberdorf, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where he co-founded the “Gruppe Bilderbuch,” a group concerned with picture-book concepts and analysis. His thesis, “Rund ums Pappbilderbuch,” and the illustrated work “Meine ersten Sachen,” subsequently published by Ravensburger, shaped his career. From 1976 onward, he focused primarily on picture books for very young children and on depicting familiar everyday objects in an accessible way. His best-known works include “Ich bin die kleine Katze” and “Erste Bilder Erste Wörter.” He received the “Premio critici in erba” in Bologna for “Ich bin die kleine Katze.” He also composed and produced music for films.