Jutta Bauer was born in Volksdorf, a suburb of Hamburg, in 1955. She studied illustration at the Hamburg University for Applied Sciences from 1975 until 1981. In 1980 she became a member of a group of illustrators in Hamburg, the “Hamburger Illustratorengruppe”.
She published her first picture books in 1981, worked for various publishing houses and magazines, and began drawing for animated films in 1991.
Among her best-known works are her illustrations for the “Juli” series by Kirsten Boie. She has illustrated some 40 books and received many awards. In 2009 she was awarded the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for her complete works, and in 2010 she was honored with the Hans Christian Andersen prize. Today Jutta Bauer lives and works as an artist in Hamburg.
A selection of her books:
Selma
A little book about a very big question: What is happiness?
For Selma the sheep, the answer is easy. Happiness is eating grass, playing with her children, exercising, eating a little more grass, chatting with her neighbor, and a good night sleep. But what if Selma had more time? What if she won the lottery?
Shrill mother
When a mother penguin loses her temper and shouts at her child, the little penguin falls to pieces and disperses around the world, until his mother collects the parts and puts him back together with an apology.
Grandpa’s Angel
Grandpa loves to tell stories about his past. There was the time he was almost run over by a bus, the time he made a big dog cower with just one look, and all those scary street corners he passed by unscathed. From climbing the highest trees to surviving World War II and starting a family, Grandpa has led an unusually blessed life. But maybe it was more than mere luck that kept him safe.
The Queen of Colors
Matilda, the Queen of Colors, has a color for her every mood — she calls for Blue when she’s calm, Red when she’s wild, and Yellow when she wants to be warm. But when
Matilda and Yellow begin to quarrel, not even Blue and Red can stop the argument. And before long everything in the kingdom turns Gray, until Matilda cries tears — bright colorful tears.
Jutta Bauer’s simple yet evocative story and pictures convey a rainbow of emotions as The Queen of Colors plays and jousts with her primary subjects—Blue, Red, and Yellow.