Juris Zvirgzdiņš

Juris Zvirgzdiņš (1941-2023) is known for being one of the most productive writers of highly esteemed literature, having written more than 20 books for children. His works have received many awards, and have been translated into several languages. 11 radio plays were staged for his works between 1982 and 1992. This writer stands out namely with his educational books where children are introduced to various concepts in an engaging way, for instance, going on adventures in the Museum of the History of Riga, visiting the Latvian National Library, or the Riga Zoo, learning about the history of the United States of America, or Austrian music, etc. The author is best known for his books about the teddy bear called Tobias. Tobias is one of the bears from Juris Zvirgzdiņš' actual collection of toys, and as the author himself asserts – Tobias is the true author of at least 7 literary works attributed to Zvirgzdiņš. These works feature other animals from his collection – the little bear Eliot, rhinoceros Mufa, little dog Fu Fuu, and others. In his works, Zvirgzdiņš masterly intertwines documentary with fantasy, and for this reason, his works are dearly loved by children – the stories are not only well imagined, but also have elements of reality and actual experiences. His book Muffa: Story of the White Baby Rhinoceros was included in the prestigious White Ravens Catalogue in 2012. In 2020 Zvirgzdiņš was awarded the Annual Latvian Literature Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Esse un ... un ... [Esse and... and ...]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2020. 
Kapteiņa zirdziņš [Captain's Little Horse]. Riga: liels un mazs, 2020. 
Tobiass un rakstnieks [Tobias and the Writer]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2020.
Rasas vasara [Rasa's Summer]. Pētergailis, 2019.
Zvaigžņu tramvajs [Star Tram]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2018. 
Tobiass, Čārlijs un Neredzamais spoks [Tobias, Charlie and the Invisible Ghost]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2017. 
Ko nolaupīja gaisa balons jeb Tobiass, Paulīne un Kaķis ceļo uz Spāniju [What the Hot air balloon Stole or Tobias, Pauline and the Cat travel to Spain]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2016. 
Mazās bites lielais ceļojums [A Big Trip of a Small Bee]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2016.
Lauvas rūciens [Lion's Roar]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2015.
Enģelīša ceļojums [Trip of an Angel]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2015.
No Rīgas līdz Rīgai. Tobiass un Tama lielajā Eiropas bibliotēku ceļojumā [From Riga to Riga. Tobias and Tama on their Big Trip Around Europe's Libraries] Riga: Pētergailis, 2014.
Miega Pasaka [Sleep Fairytale]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2014. 
Ziemas pasaka [Winter's Tale]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2014.
Seši stāsti par ASV vēsturi [Six Stories About History of USA]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2013. 
Taro, Tama un Kicune [Taro, Tama and Kicune]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2013. 
Muzejā iespīd Mēness jeb Tobiass un draugi sargā Rīgas vēsturi [The Museum by Moonlight or Tobias and Friends on Guard of the History of Riga]. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2012.
Atgriešanās Itakā [The Return to Ithaca]. Riga: Dienas Grāmata, 2011.
Mufa. Riga: Liels un mazs, 2011. 
Tobiass un neparastais ciemiņš [Tobias and the Unusual Guest]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2010.
Rīgā, kādu nakti... [Riga One Night]. Riga: Zinātne, 2010.
Odu laiks [The Time of Odes]. With Vladis Spāre and Lienīte Medne-Spāre. Riga: Skarabejs, 2009.
Lāča Bruņa medības [The Hunt for Bruno the Bear] Riga: liels un mazs, 2009.
Pele, punkts un Gūtenbergs [The Mouse, the Dot and Mr Gutenberg]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2009.
Mūsu Latvija [Our Latvia]. Riga: Zinātne, 2008.
Knorke! jeb Tobiass un Fufū meklē Mocartu [Knorke! or Tobiass and Fu Fuu go Searching for Mozart]. Riga: liels un mazs, 2007.
Konteineru meitene Rudīte [Container girl Rudite]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007.
Pēdējais Pūķis un Artūrs Uū! [The Last Dragon and Arthur Ooh!] Riga: Pētergailis, 2006.
Bebru atgriešanās: stāsts par bebrēna Bruka un viņa ģimenes piedzīvojumiem [The Return of the Beavers]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2005.
Franklina cepure [Franklin's Hat]. Riga: Pētergailis, 2005.
Tobiass dodas pasaulē [Tobias Goes Out Into the World] Riga: Garā pupa, 2005.
Fon Mērkatces kunga memuāri [Memoirs of Von Meerkatze]. Riga: Karogs, 2003.
Tobiasa blēņu stāsti [Tobias' Mischief Stories] Riga: Garā Pupa, 2002.
Rīgas sapņugrāmata [The Dreambook of Riga]. Riga: Jaunā Daugava, 2002.
Bebru atgriešanās [The Return of the Beavers]. Wedemark-Elze: Harro v. Hirschheydt, 2001.
Reiz senos laikos Kurzemē [Once Upon a Time in Courland]. Riga: J. Roze, 1999.
Odu laiks [The Time of Odes]. With L. Medni and V. Spāri, Riga: Artava, 1995.
Esse un… [Esse and ...] Riga: Artava, 1993.

Žanete Vēvere. A Glimpse Into The Latvian Literature! // All about book publishing, February, 2023 [IN]

About Captain's Little Horse // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]

About Esse and... and... // Online magazine Satori, 2020 [LV]

Interview with Juris Zvirgzdiņš // Online magazine Punctum, 2020 [LV]

Extract from The Book of Riga // European Literature Network, 2018 [EN]

About The Hunt for Bruno the Bear // Liels un mazs publishing house website, 2009 [EN, LV]

About The Museum by Moonlight or Tobias and Friends on Guard of The History of Riga // Liels un mazs publishing house [EN, LV]

About The Museum by Moonlight or Tobias and Friends on Guard of The History of Riga // J. Roze publishing house website, 2012 [LV]

About Knorke! or Tobiass and Fu Fuu go Searching for Mozart // Liels un mazs publishing house website, 2007 [EN, LV]

Interview with Zvirgzdiņš // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 2011 [LV]

Juris Zvirgzdiņš, author // Zvaigzne ABC publishing house [LV]

Juris Zvirgzdiņš, author's profile // The Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia [LV]

Review of Rasa's Summer // Lastenkirjavuosi blog, 2020 [FI]

Guntis Berelis, review of The Return to Ithaca // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 2011 [LV]

Guntis Berelis, review of The Dreambook of Riga // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 2002 [LV]

Guntis Berelis, review of The Time of Odes // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 1994 [LV]

Guntis Berelis, review of Esse and... // Guntis Berelis literary blog, 1993 [LV]

2020, the Annual Latvian Literary Award of Lifetime Achievement 

2013, The International Jānis Baltvilks Baltic Sea Region Award

2013, Aleksandrs Čaks Award

2009, The International Jānis Baltvilks Baltic Sea Region Award 

2002, 1st place in the Karogs and R.Gerkens fiction competition for Memoirs of Von Meerkatze

2002, The Annual Children's Literature Award for The Return of the Beavers

2000, IBBY Latvia prize

2000, The Pastariņš Children's Literature Prize