The Isar authors with Weßlinger participation: "Komm mit in die Berge" is a joint project of 25 children's and young adult authors. Among them is Anja Janotta. © Publisher
Anja Janotta from Weßlingen joins the Isar authors
Weßling – For Anja Janotta from Weßling, it was already clear as a child that she would one day write her way through life as an author of children's and young adult books. A dream that came true in 2014 – and turned out to be the right decision despite all the resistance in the "neglected industry", emphasizes the 53-year-old. This passion unites the 25 Isar authors, who have written colorfully illustrated short holiday stories about hiking and published them under the title "Come with me to the mountains" in the tailor's book.
In her play, Janotta lets Gustl off the leash, who "lies about the white-blue of the sky". Because the Gustl is always the smallest and always the last in the race. But "when it comes to flunking, he's the greatest. No one is bigger," says the woman from Weßlingen, describing her protagonist, whom she sends to camp in the mountains - and who gives himself the greatest scare with the whispering at the end. In other stories, a dragon is up to mischief at Lake Walchensee, Ida falls into the outhouse and "Marbling Animals" experience adventures.
In the first joint work of the Isar authors, an association of renowned children's and young adult book writers in and around Munich, it's off to the mountains. In paperback format and with a flex cover, so that it fits in any backpack while hiking and, as a read-aloud work, expands the hiking holiday with phenomenal fantasy figures, according to the publisher's press release. As one of two men, Oliver Pötzsch hit the keyboard and designed the knight Robert, whom he unleashes on the Black Knight – or vice versa. Known for his historical novels, he has dedicated himself to the rising generation with the series "Ritter Kuno Kettenstrumpf" – and has entered a profession that is often neglected, Janotta regrets. Be it in funding, because "children's and young people's book funding is rarer than adult book funding". The city of Munich, in particular, "could definitely do more," she thinks. "The cultural form of reading should be encouraged, because you need reading skills alone to fill out forms or understand the lessons at school more quickly." Incidentally, reading promotes the ability to imagine and trains empathy much more intensively than a film can. "Children are authentic," she experiences on her reading tours. They enrich their texts with open criticism – and are just as liberal with praise. And it sounds like this: "You are the greatest author and I love you." That's better than all the money in the world, says the Weßlingen-based author.
"Come with me to the mountains" is a book for children from four to nine years, costs 14 euros and has been published by Schneiderbuch Verlag.
Michèle Kirner
