Ilmar Trull

Ilmar Trull
Trull in 2012
Born (1957-02-21) 21 February 1957[1]
Tallinn, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union[1]
OccupationPoet, children's writer, illustrator, caricaturist, crossword constructor[1]
LanguageEstonian[1]
GenrePoetry, children's literature, humour[1]
Notable worksTuvi jalutab (2012); Rähni ravi (2015)[1]
Notable awardsOrder of the White Star, V class (2023); IBBY Honour List (2014); Estonian Cultural Endowment awards[2][3][4]

Ilmar Trull (born 21 February 1957) is an Estonian poet and children's writer, also known as an illustrator and caricaturist.[1][5] He is particularly associated with humorous, rhythmic children's verse and with illustrating his own texts, alongside work in Estonian humour periodicals and crossword publishing.[1][6]

Trull has received major Estonian literary recognition, including multiple Karl Eduard Sööt children's poetry prizes, awards from the Estonian Cultural Endowment (Kultuurkapital), inclusion in the IBBY Honour List (for Tuvi jalutab), and a state decoration (the Order of the White Star, V class).[2][7][8][9][3][4]

Early life and education

Trull was born in Tallinn.[1] From 1964 to 1975 he attended Secondary School No. 7 in Tallinn (now, Tallinn English College), and from 1976 to 1978 studied English at the University of Tartu.[1]

Career

According to the Estonian Writers' Online Dictionary (University of Tartu), Trull began publishing in periodicals and anthologies in the late 1970s and issued his first poetry collection for adults in 1984.[1] He worked as a departmental and managing editor at the humour magazine Pikker from 1985 to 1995, and later edited the crossword magazine Ristik (1993–1996).[1] Since 1996 he has been a member of the Estonian Writers' Union and has worked as a freelance writer.[1]

Trull has been a long-time contributor to children's magazines such as Täheke and Hea Laps.[1][5] EWOD notes that since 1996 he has provided the children's page of the weekly newspaper Eesti Ekspress with poems for which he also draws the illustrations.[1] In a 2024 interview on ERR's culture portal, Trull discussed his long-running practice of writing poems for children and described his approach to keeping his work suitable for young readers.[10]

Works

Trull has published both adult poetry and children's poetry, though he is best known for humorous children's verse.[1] In a 2013 overview of Estonian children's literature in the literary journal Looming, critic Ilona Martson described Tuvi jalutab (2012) as containing Trull's poetry in his characteristic manner and noted its humorous, absurd tone.[11]

Selected bibliography

  • Millest mõtled, seljaaju? (1984)[1]
  • Kuumad käkid külmas öös (with Mart Juur, 1991)[1]
  • Lõbusad luuletused (1998)[1][7]
  • Iseloomuga loom (2005)[1][2]
  • Musta kassi mumba (2006)[1]
  • Järvevaht ja joogivesi (2007)[1][2][8]
  • Väike viisakas kärbes (2011)[1]
  • Tuvi jalutab (2012)[1][2][3]
  • Rähni ravi (2015)[1][9]
  • Metsa toodi kuuseke (2018)[1][2]

Reception and international presence

In 2015, Sirp reported the presentation of the bilingual children's poetry anthology Siilid ja pingviinid. Hedgehogs and Penguins, which included poems by Trull alongside other well-known Estonian authors.[12] The University of Washington's Department of Scandinavian Studies similarly described the anthology as presenting poems by nine well-known Estonian authors, including Trull.[13]

Awards and honours

  • Karl Eduard Sööt children's poetry prize (Luunja municipality): 1996 (periodical poems), 2005 (Iseloomuga loom), 2007 (Järvevaht ja joogivesi), 2012 (Tuvi jalutab), 2018 (Metsa toodi kuuseke).[2]
  • Estonian Cultural Endowment (Kultuurkapital), Literature awards: 1998 (Lõbusad luuletused) and 2007 (children's & YA literature prize for Järvevaht ja joogivesi).[7][8]
  • Estonian Cultural Endowment annual prize: 2015 (for the children's poetry compilation Rähni ravi).[9]
  • IBBY Honour List (2014): Estonia entry for Trull's Tuvi jalutab.[3]
  • Order of the White Star, V class (Estonia), 2023.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Ilmar Trull". Estonian Writers' Online Dictionary (University of Tartu). Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Karl Eduard Söödi lasteluuleauhind (laureaadid ja auhinnatud luulekogud)". Luunja vald. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d "IBBY Honour List 2014" (PDF). International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Riiklike autasude andmine (08.02.2023)". Riigi Teataja. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Ilmar Trull". Estonian Children's Literature Centre (ELK). Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Ilmar Trull: kui miski tuleb hästi välja, siis suurem huvi kaob". ERR. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "1994–2000 (Kirjanduse sihtkapitali aastapreemiad)". Eesti Kultuurkapital. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c "2001–2010 (Literature: annual awards)". Eesti Kultuurkapital. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b c "Elutööpreemiad ja peapreemiad 2011–2020". Eesti Kultuurkapital. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Ilmar Trull: ma ei kavatse lapsi muserdada". ERR. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  11. ^ Martson, Ilona (June 2013). "Eesti lastekirjandus 2012: keetjate nägu supp". Looming (in Estonian). Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  12. ^ Larm, Pille-Riin (17 April 2015). "Eesti lasteluule inglise keeles". Sirp. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Alumna Mall Pesti Publishes a Book of Estonian Childrens' Poems in English". University of Washington, Department of Scandinavian Studies. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  • Ilmar Trull at the Estonian Writers' Online Dictionary (University of Tartu)
  • Ilmar Trull at the Estonian Children's Literature Centre (ELK)
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