Manfred Mai (writer)

Manfred Mai (born May 15, 1949 in Winterlingen ) is a German writer .

Life

Manfred Mai's autograph (2002)

Manfred Mai was born in Winterlingen on the Swabian Alb in 1949. He grew up on a farm, trained as a painter after school and then worked in a tool factory. At the age of 19 he was drafted into the armed forces. Through a new friend, he discovered the world of books during this time - and from then on he began to be particularly interested in history, psychology, theater and literature.

Through the second educational path he made up his Abitur, studied and finally became a teacher at a secondary school. His main concern as a teacher was to encourage his students to read independently. Because, according to Mai, "the greatest achievement of literature is to get people to see themselves and their environment anew over and over again".

In 1978 he published his first texts. Since then around 150 books - mostly for children - have been published, many of which have been translated into more than 25 languages. With German History , History of German Literature , European History and World History , Mai is also the author of highly acclaimed history books for young people and adults.

In 1984 Mai decided to devote himself full-time to writing.

In autumn 2007 he published his first adult novel, Winterjahre , which was followed in 2011 by the sequel to the messengers of spring .

In 2007 the collaboration with the singer and musician Martin Lenz began, for whom Manfred Mai writes German lyrics. In the spring of 2009 they presented their first CD: The big maybe . This was followed by musical readings for adults, later also for children. In the spring of 2014 they presented their first children's book together with a CD of songs: The big book of stories and songs .

On the occasion of his 70th birthday in 2019, he donated the “Manfred Mai Prize for Children's Literature”, which is to be awarded for the first time in 2020 and is endowed with 2500 euros and a reading in a school in his home town of Winterlingen. The jury consists of four children, two German teachers and himself.

Manfred Mai has two grown daughters and lives with his wife in Winterlingen, his birthplace.

Awards

• 1981 Dialect Poetry Prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg
• 1983 and 1985 sponsorship award from the state of Baden-Württemberg
• Children's book of the month from the German Academy for Children's and Young Adult Literature
  • October 1986 for 1000 wishes - poems for children of all ages
  • November 2004 for My Story Book for the 1st School Year
• October 1987 Owl of the Month for For One Day Only
• 1998 Bad Wildbad Children's and Youth Literature Prize
• 2000 Bologna Raggazzi Award Non Fiction for German History
• 2003 German Youth Literature Award (nomination) for world history
• The best 7 books for young readers
  • September 2004 for My Story Book for the 1st School Year
  • February 2004 and
  • March 2004 for Das Literatur-Lesebuch . German literature from 10 centuries
• Toad of the month
  • February 2005 for: The Literature Reader . German literature from 10 centuries
  • July and August 2007 for: It bounces around in my head . Collected poems for children
• 2009 place 1 of the best list "The most important books on the subject of rural areas" by Pro-Regio-Online for winter years
• 2009 Staufer Medal from the State of Baden-Württemberg
• 2012 Albschreiber of the 18th Baden-Württemberg Children's and Young People's Literature Days 2012.
• 2013 The best 7 books for young readers
  • August 2013 for Happiness sold. The long journey of the Swabian children .
• 2013 Reading Peter (November) for The History of Germany
• 2014 Emy's Non-Fiction Prize (December) for Do you know who?

Bibliography (selection)

prose

• Winter years . Novel from the Swabian Alb. 2007, ISBN 978-3-87407-761-3 .
• Heralds of Spring . Novel from the Swabian Alb. 2011, ISBN 978-3-8425-1146-0 .
• Half of life . A Baden-Württemberg thriller. 2013, ISBN 978-3-8425-1246-7 .
• What luck - send me Schwoba. With songs CD, 2019, ISBN 978-3-83922503-5 .

Books for children and young readers

picture books

• Linda and Hops . Pictures by Ursula Kirchberg . 1987, ISBN 3-7707-6274-6 .
• Nicodemus and the mouse miracle. 2010, ISBN 978-3-939944-44-7 .
• Ringo Rabe dares something. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-44571-4 .
• My most beautiful animal stories. 2018, ISBN 978-3-473-43793-1 .

stories

• For a day only , 1987, revised edition 2009, ISBN 978-3-473-38052-7 .
• Mama is free today , 1988, revised new edition 2009, ISBN 978-3-619-14458-7 .
• Anna and the Baby , 1991, revised new edition entitled: A Brother for Anna , 2011, ISBN 978-3-619-14457-0 .
• Leonie has a crush. 1997, revised new edition 2009, ISBN 978-3-473-38072-5 .
• The eerie underground . Anrich Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-89106-399-7 . New edition under the title: The mysterious door. 2012, ISBN 978-3-423-62509-8 .
• Jonas, the strong knight. 2008, ISBN 978-3-401-09332-1 .
• Amelie learns to witch, first edition 2008, ISBN 978-3-411-70804-8 . New edition under the title: Witches will be learned , 2019, ISBN 978-3-7373-3421-1 .
• A magical school day. 2010, ISBN 978-3-570-13948-6 .
• Stories of loving, arguing and dealing. 2011, ISBN 978-3-7941-7314-3 .
• Little fox on a big hunt . 2011, ISBN 978-3-473-36257-8 .
• Crime stories. 2012, ISBN 978-3-7855-7035-7 .
• That sold happiness. The long journey of the Swabian children. 2013, ISBN 978-3-473-52551-5 .
• The big book of stories and songs. With CD of songs. 2014, ISBN 978-3-570-15476-2 .
• An animal school day. 2014, ISBN 978-3-473-36423-7 .
• A nice secret. 2014, ISBN 978-3-473-36438-1 .
• The mysterious treasure map. 2015, ISBN 978-3-7373-3218-7 .
• Folks, I'm going to be a superstar! 2015, ISBN 978-3-473-36467-1 .
• A magical Christmas trip. 2015, ISBN 978-3-473-36923-2 .
• Adventure on a stormy sea. 2016, ISBN 978-3-473-36492-3 .
• Wonderful opportunities. 2016, ISBN 978-3-944788-40-1 .
• Lena reads for life. 2017, ISBN 978-3-944788-42-5 .
• Crush on Max. 2017, ISBN 978-3-473-36507-4 .
• There's always something going on in our street. With CD of songs. 2017, ISBN 978-3-407-74790-7 .
• All under one roof. 2017, ISBN 978-3-7373-3324-5 .
• Pokki -Pokki's dream. 2017, ISBN 978-3-944788-55-5 .
• Pokki - Adventure in Africa. 2018, ISBN 978-3-944788-58-6 .
• The first day of school - learn to read with pictures. 2018, ISBN 978-3-7373-3314-6 .
• Mouse alarm in school. 2018, ISBN 978-3-473-36537-1 .
• Two detectives and a dog. 2019, ISBN 978-3-473-36566-1 .
• The best stories for first-time readers. 2019, ISBN 978-3-473-36124-3 .

Narrative series

Minute stories

• My very first minute stories - playing, laughing, being friends. 2015, ISBN 978-3-473-43537-1 .
• My very first minute stories - laugh, cry, be brave. 2014, ISBN 978-3-473-43480-0 .
• My very first minute stories - cuddly bear and cuddly mouse. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-43363-6 .
• My very first minute stories - large and small vehicles. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-43364-3 .
• My very first minute stories - On the farm , 2018, ISBN 978-3-473-43804-4 .
• My first minute stories at Christmas time . 2007, ISBN 978-3-473-31403-4 .
• My first minute stories for good night. 2010, ISBN 978-3-473-32489-7 .
• My favorite 1, 2, 3 minute stories of wild dragons, bitches and real friends . 2008, ISBN 978-3-473-34727-8 .
• The most beautiful 1,2,3 minute stories of strong lions, wild pirates and brave children . 2010, ISBN 978-3-473-34779-7 .
• 100 new 1,2,3 minute stories from cloud sheep, wizards and smart children. 2011, ISBN 978-3-473-36814-3 .
• The 100 best minute stories of clever owls, castle ghosts and tired dwarfs. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-36841-9 .
• 1,2,3 minute stories for spring time. 2013, ISBN 978-3-473-36860-0 .
• 1,2,3 minute stories for winter time. 2014, ISBN 978-3-473-36881-5 .
• 1,2,3 minute stories - my great reading treasure. 2017. ISBN 978-3-473-36598-2 .

Football stories

• A team for Paul . 2013, ISBN 978-3-401-70482-1 .
• A class in football fever . 2004, ISBN 978-3-473-38061-9 .
• A class in cup fever . 2006, ISBN 978-3-473-36175-5 .
• A class in the soccer camp . 2007, ISBN 978-3-473-36210-3 .
• We become masters . 1994, ISBN 3-7855-2636-9 . Revised new edition in a double volume
• We'll get the cup . 1998, ISBN 3-7855-3165-6 . under the title: We are the champions , 2016, ISBN 978-3-8415-0415-9 .
• Only football in your head? New edition 2018, ISBN 978-3-401-60278-3 .
• Corner! 911! Goal! 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-36269-1 .
• Blitz, the soccer dog. 2012, ISBN 978-3-7891-1248-5 .
• Blitz, the soccer dog - wanted scorers. 2014, ISBN 978-3-7891-2353-5 .
• Football stories. 2018, ISBN 978-3-473-36530-2 .

Manfred Mai tells ...

• Manfred Mai tells Till Eulenspiegel . 2007, ISBN 978-3-86760-067-5 .
• Manfred Mai tells Münchhausen . 2009, ISBN 978-3-86760-075-0 .
• Manfred Mai tells Die Schildbürger . 2010, ISBN 978-3-86760-121-4 .
• Manfred Mai tells Nils Holgersson . 2012, ISBN 978-3-86760-159-7 .
• Manfred Mai tells Gulliver's travels. 2013, ISBN 978-3-86760-168-9 .
• Manfred Mai tells Robinson Crusoe. 2018, ISBN 978-3-86760-192-4 .
• Manfred Mai tells The Jungle Book. 2018, ISBN 978-3-86760-241-9 .
• Manfred Mai tells Ali Baba and the forty robbers. 2019, ISBN 978-3-86760-233-4 .

Tobi stories

• Tobi says what's up . 2000, ISBN 978-386760-002-6 .
• Tobi knows what is proper . 2008, ISBN 978-386760-096-5 .
• Tobi wants to know more about it . 2009, ISBN 978-386760-101-6 .

Classic sagas

• The adventures of Heracles .
• The Trojan horse .
• Odysseus' wanderings .
• The Minotaur's Labyrinth .
• Robin Hood, king of the woods. 2011, ISBN 978-3-473-36242-4 .
• Arthur and the sword in the stone. 2011, ISBN 978-3-473-36241-7 .
• Siegfried and the dragon. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-36271-4 .
• William Tell. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-36272-1 .
• The seven Swabians. 2012, ISBN 978-3-473-36289-9 .
• The most beautiful sagas for first-time readers. 2013, ISBN 978-3-473-36303-2 .

Non-fiction

for children

• Knights and castles . 2006, ISBN 3-570-13145-9 .
• Do you know the? Discoverers, inventors, rulers and artists and whoever has changed the world. Volume 1, 2014, ISBN 978-3-86429-200-2 .
• Do you know the? Scientists, artists, politicians and visionaries and whoever else has changed the world. Volume 2, 2015, ISBN 978-3-86429-224-8 .
• We all live under the same sky - The 5 world religions for children. 2016, ISBN 978-3-446-25300-1 .
• Why stories on popular children's questions. 2018, ISBN 978-3-86760-298-3 .

for teenagers

• German history. 1999, ISBN 3-407-75302-0 . Updated and expanded new edition 2019, ISBN 978-3-407-75782-1 .
• World history. 2001, updated and expanded edition. 2014, ISBN 978-3-446-24652-2 .
• Nothing but freedom! The German Peasants' War. 2004, ISBN 3-423-62185-0 .
• History of German Literature. 2001 (updated new edition 2006) ISBN 978-3-407-75525-4 .
• What makes a person into a person. The life story of Friedrich Schiller. 2004, ISBN 3-446-20520-9 .
• The dream of a better world - the great utopias of humanity. 2010, ISBN 978-3-446-23320-1 .

Discography

• The big book of stories and songs. CD. 2014, ISBN 978-3-570-15476-2 .
• There is always something going on in our street - children's stories and children's songs from Sonnenbachstrasse . CD. 2017, ISBN 978-3-407-74790-7 .
• What luck - send me Schwoba. CD with Swabian songs, 2019, ISBN 978-3-83922503-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Verena Kopp: Empathetic: Book author takes child worries seriously. Manfred Mai was first a painter and then a teacher - today he writes about loving, arguing and dealing. In: Schwäbische Zeitung . April 5, 2011.
2. ^ Manfred Mai Prize , online at manfred-mai.de
3. ↑ avj-online.de message of avj (Association of Youth book publishers) for imparting Staufermedaille Manfred in May
4. ↑ swr.de Message from the SWR on the awarding of the Staufer Medal to Manfred Mai plus a feature and audio sample of a reading concert

Web links

• Literature by and about Manfred Mai in the catalog of the German National Library
• Homepage of Manfred Mai