Inese Zandere

Inese Zandere (1958) is a Latvian poet, editor, as well as an author and publisher of children's books celebrated by the young readers all across the country. She has graduated from the University of Latvia with a degree in philosophy. Zandere has written more than 20 books for children and is actively involved in projects connected to children's literature and cultural education. Besides creative writing, she frequently reviews works of others, and is present in the culture sphere with well balanced opinions. Her conceptual book of poems for children Medicine Maddy and Other Hospital Nursery Rhymes has been awarded the Annual Latvian Literature Award for the best original children's book, as well as recognised with the “Zelta ābele” prize as one of the most beautiful books of the category. Zandere's collections of poems for adult readers are equally successful. Her writing, considered honest, informed, warm-hearted and well-rounded, is often awarded important literary prizes. Her poems have been translated into many languages including Russian, English, Swedish, German, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Czech, Ukrainian, Polish, Bulgarian and Moldavian. Her works have inspired the creation of several animations, theatre plays and operas for children. Inese Zandere's short stories about the curious characters called Shammies – Sockie, Hankie, Mitten and Pillow – have earned wide recognition and love, and have been turned into 6 colourful, witty and musical animation films.

Poetry Collections
Stikla burtnīca [Glass Notebook]. Riga: Neputns, 2024. 
Mantojumi [Inheritances]. Riga: Neputns, 2021.
No mazā. Dzeja 1975-2015 [Part of the Small. Collected poems]. Riga: Mansards, 2015.
Putna miegā [In Bird's Sleep]. Riga: Neputns, 2014.
Melnās čūskas maiznīca [The Black Snake Bakery]. Riga: Neputns, 2003.
Laimīgie meli [Happy Lies]. Riga: Liesma, 1988.
Grāmatiņa [The Little Book] Riga: Liesma, 1983.

Children's Literature
Ceļotājs čemodāns [The Travelling Trunk]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2024.
Izdomā sev auto [Invent Your Own Car]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2023.
Neredzamie plāksterīši [Invisible Plasters]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2023.
Putni mūs redz [Birds Watch Us Too]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2023.
Divas Almas [Two Almas]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2021.
Kaķis uz klavierēm [Cat on the Piano]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2021.
Puika ar suni: Bunkurs [The Boy and His Dog. The Bunker]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2021.
Bērns, kas neiekrita [The Child Who Didn't Fall]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2019.
Puika ar suni: Bailes [The Boy and His Dog. The Fear]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2017
Zirgā [Riding High]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2017.
Kaķis brīvdienās [Cat On a Vacation]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2015.
Trīs draugi vienas upes krastā [One House for All]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2014. 
Līze Analīze un citi slimnīcas skaitāmpanti [All Better!] Riga: Liels un mazs, 2012. 
Lupatiņi [The Shammies]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2011.
Dieguburti [Letter-yarn]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2011.
Princešu piedzīvojumi [The Princess Adventures]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2010.
Karalis ezis [King Hedgehog]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2009.
Latviešu zvēri [Latvian Animals]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2008.
Brīnumbēbīša gads [The Year of the Wonderbaby]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2008.
Dzejoļi māsai un brālim [Poems for Brother and Sister]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2008.
Vārdurati [Word-cart]. Riga: Jumava, 2008.
Ceļojums ar lielo Šarloti [Travelling with Big Charlotte] Riga: Liels un mazs, 2007
Ko teica Gaiļa kungs [What Mister Rooster Said]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2007.
Pingus Posta piedzīvojumi [Adventures of Pingus Post]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2006.
Ja tu esi sivēns. 25 mīklu panti [If you're a piglet. 25 riddle rhymes] Riga: Liels un mazs, 2006.
Limonāde [Lemonade]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2005.
Iekšiņas un āriņas kalendārs [Inside and Outside Callender]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2004.
Lidojošie burti [Flying Letters]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2003.
Iekšiņa un āriņa [Inside and Outside]. Riga: Preses nams, 2002.
Jaunajās mājās [The New Home]. Riga: Aka Print, 2000.
Annas pasakas. [Anna's Tales] Riga: Karogs, 1994.
Kas aug manā dārziņā [What Grows in my Garden]. Riga: Balta, 1990.

Miscellaneous
Kuģa žurnāls. [Log Book] Riga: Neputns, 2015.

Kurosawa Ayumi. Introduction to Latvian literature // Eubungaku, 2023 [JP]

About Two Almas // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]

About Cat on the Piano // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]

About The Boy and His Dog. The Bunker // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]

About Inheritances // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]

Video reading of All Better! // Little Island Books Youtube channel, 2020 [EN]

Synopsis of One House for All // Outside in World, 2018 [EN]

Stories with a taste of summer. Two Almas // Agendalx, July 2025 [PT]

The first literary news of 2025: Orfeu Mini, “Duas Almas” // Deusmelivro, January 2025 [PT]

Raimonds Ķirķis, Zandere un aizsprosti, review of Inheritances // Online magazine Satori, 2021 [LV]

Anda Baklāne, Ābeles iestādīja tajā pašā mēnesī, review of Inheritances // Online magazine Punctum, 2021 [LV]

Review of One House for All // Latvia Weekly, 2021 [EN]

Agnieszka Smarzewska. Lights in the fog. Review of the anthology of Latvian poetry "All the birds that are in me..." translated by Olga Wiewióra // Przeglad Baltycki October, 2020 [PL]

Sara Keating, review of All Better // The Irish Times, 2019 [EN]

Rachel Moore, review of One House for All // The Booksellers New Zealand Blog, 2018 [EN]

Review of One House for All // The Sapling, 2018 [EN]

Review of One House for All // Planet Picture Book, 2018 [EN]

Review of One House for All  // My book corner, 2018 [EN]

Pauls Bankovskis, Un kuģi peld, review of Log Book // Online magazine Satori, 2016 [LV]

Aivars Eipurs, Un kuģi peld, review of Log Book // Online magazine Punctum, 2016 [LV]

Līvija Baumane-Andrejevska, "tik liela daļa no mazā", review of Log Book // Ubisunt, University of Latvia, 2016 [LV]

Anna Auziņa, Spārngalu sanoņa, review of In Bird's Sleep // Online magazine Satori, 2014 [LV]

Arvis Viguls, Putna ticībā, review of In Bird's Sleep // Online magazine Punctum, 2014 [LV]

2024, International Baltic Sea Region Jānis Balvilks Prize in Childrens Literature and Book Art for Invent Your Own Car, Invisible Plasters and Birds Watch Us Too

2022, the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Inheritances

2018, The Ministry of Culture Acknowledgment for her contribution to Latvian literature, children's literature and illustration

2016, The Egons Līvs Award for Log Book 

2014, Sudraba tintnīca [Silver Inkwell] Award for In Bird's Sleep

2014, Latvju Teksti [Latvian Texts] magazine Poetry Award for In Bird's Sleep

2013, The Annual Latvian Literature Award for All Better!

2007, The Award of the Ministry of Culture of Individual Growth for her contribution to the development of children's literature

2007, International Baltic Sea Region Jānis Balvilks Prize in Childrens Literature and Book Art for Sister and Brother and If You Happen To Be A Little Pig

2004, Diena newspaper Annual Award in Culture for Black Snake Bakery

2003, The Ojārs Vācietis Award for Black Snake Bakery

2003, The Pastariņš Award in Childrens Literature for Inside and Outside

2002, The Annual Latvian Literature Award for Inside and Outside