An interview with the subversive genius, Tomi Ungerer

As Tomi Ungerer approaches his 80th birthday this November, the author and illustrator shows no sign of retiring. Instead, as part of the celebrations for his milestone birthday, Ungerer will appear at his first official speaking engagement: Tomi Ungerer Subversive Genius: The 80th Birthday Interview, at the Free Library of Philadelphia, a public interview with Tony Auth, editorial cartoonist for the The Philadelphia Inquirer, next Tuesday (14 June).

Since the publication of his first children's book The Mellops go flying in 1957, Ungerer has published more than 140 books. Between 1957 and 1962 classics such as Moon Man, Adelaide and The Three Robbers were published. In 1968 Ungerer donated many of his manuscripts and artwork from these early books to the Children's Literature Research Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia making this the perfect setting for an interview about the life and work of the man behind the witty illustrations and timeless tales.

His immense talent and creative genius is widely acclaimed and he has been awarded numerous prizes, including the Hans Christian Anderson Award for illustration in 1998, and the Erich Käistner Literary Prize in 2004. Although he writes in French, English and German and has been published in many languaes, it was only in 2008 that Phaidon started to reissue the back-catalogue of his children's books in English.

An exhibition of Tomi Ungerer's work for his children's books will be on show at the Eric Carle museum in Amherst, USA; Tomi Ungerer: Chronicler of the Absurd will display the bulk of Ungerer's career as author and illustrator of children's books, selected from archives and private collections (18 June – 9 October).

Tickets are not required for Tomi Ungerer's 80th Birthday Interview and the event is free to attend. For further information call 215-567-4341.