Bibi Dumon Tak


Margaretha Anna Dumon Tak is a Dutch writer of children's literature. After completing her degree in Dutch Literature, in 2001 Bibi Dumon Tak began her career as a children's non-fiction author with Het koeienboek.

Career

Dumon Tak made her debut in 2002 with the book Het koeienboek. She won the Zilveren Griffel award for this book. She went on to win the Zilveren Griffel award several more times in the years that followed: in 2004 for Camera loopt... Actie!, in 2007 for Bibi’s bijzondere beestenboek and in 2010 for Fiet wil rennen.
Her book Camera loopt... Actie! takes a look behind the scenes of the 2003 film Polleke which itself is based on children's books written by Guus Kuijer.
In 2006 she wrote the book Laika tussen de sterren which was the Kinderboekenweekgeschenk on the occasion of the annual Boekenweek, based on the life of Laika, the first animal in space.
In 2012 she won the Gouden Griffel award for her book Winterdieren.
Several of Dumon Tak's books have been translated into English by Laura Watkinson. Watkinson's publisher won the Mildred L. Batchelder Award in 2012 for the book Soldier Bear and 2015 for the book Mikis and the Donkey.
In 2018 she won the Theo Thijssen-prijs for her entire oeuvre.
In 2019 her book Laat een boodschap achter in het zand was on the shortlist for the Jan Wolkers Prijs.
Dumon Tak's books have been illustrated by various illustrators including Fleur van der Weel, Fiel van der Veen and Fiep Westendorp. Her books have been published by Querido.

Personal life

Dumon Tak is married to Jan Paul Schutten who is also an award-winning writer of Dutch children's literature.

Awards