In 1994, Swiss author and publisher Barbara Kindermann founded her own publishing company, Kindermann Verlag in Berlin. That was long before everybody talked about the PISA study and the boom in literary canon. And even today her publishing company occupies a unique niche: With her unmatched series ›World Literature for Children‹ Kindermann realizes her dream to arouse the interest of youngsters – six years and older – in classical literature. Her concept is both easy and gripping: She uses kid adequate language and tells thrilling stories which the young readers absorb and remember for the rest of their lives. Goethe’s »Faust« or Schiller’s »Wilhelm Tell« are among the favorites.
The success of that first series lead to the second, named ›Poetry for Children‹. Here, even younger kids – five years and up – are getting acquainted with famous poems and lays, both beautifully illustrated. In her latest series, ›World Musicals for Children‹, Kindermann renarrates popular pieces of this genre, thereby preparing the kids for their next exciting musical visit.
Finally, Kindermann also launched a series entitled ›Children Discover Art‹. Art educationalist Britta Benke takes children of six years and older with her on a discovery trip to meet with world famous artists, talking about their lives, introducing the kids to their works, colors and materials the artists used as well as explaining their styles and artistic themes.
Today, ›World Literature for Children‹ includes 16 volumes from Goethe’s »Goetz from Berlichingen« to Schiller’s »The Robbers« or Shakespeare’s »Romeo and Juliet«. All volumes are half-linen bindings of high quality and illustrated by well-known artists – at times magical-dramatic fairytale-like or even really funny, but always gripping and full of wisdom.
Meanwhile, the series ›Poetry for Children‹ has grown to 15 fascinating volumes, lovely illustrated by renowned artists – including Schiller’s »The Cranes of Ibycus«, Goethe’s »Erl-King« or Rilke’s »Carousel«.
The series ›World Musicals for Children‹ features so far »Anatevka« (»The Fiddler on the Roof«) and »My Fair Lady«.
And the series »Children Discover Art« gives insight views on the life and work of such artistes like Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse or Wassily Kandinsky.
To honor the occasion of the 500th anniversary of The Reformation 2017 we have published a book for children: »From Martin Luthers Wittenberger Theses«. On October 31 in the year 1517 Martin Luther was nailing his theses to the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg. In our book not only the exciting life of Martin Luther is grippingly retold, but also some of his most important theses will be explained. The illustrations are by the outstanding, award-winning picture-book artist, Klaus Ensikat.
In January 2017, the new series “Children Discover Famous People” will launch with its first title: “Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press”.