Leelo Tungal


Leelo Tungal is an Estonian poet, children's writer, translator, editor and librettist.

Life and career

Tungal studied Estonian literature at the University of Tartu. After her graduation, she has worked as a teacher, editor, drama and literature consultant for the Estonian Puppet Theatre, and as a freelance writer. In 1994, she founded the children's magazine Hea Laps, and worked as its editor-in-chief until January 2019. She has published over 80 books of prose and poetry for children and young adults, has written several libretti for Estonian composers, and has translated children's poetry and plays from Bulgarian, English, Finnish, Russian, and several other languages.
In 1994, "Nagu merelaine" of her lyric represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994.

Personal

Leelo Tungal was married to composer Raimo Kangro; their children are writer Maarja Kangro, artist and cultural critic Anna-Magdaleena Kangro.

Poetry (a selection)

  • 1966 Kummaliselt kiivitajad kurtsid
  • 1974 Õitsev kuristik
  • 1979 Veni, vidi, vidiit...
  • 1979 Raamat ja kask
  • 1981 Mullaketraja
  • 1982 Tedre mäng
  • 1986 Valguse aine
  • 1993 Ei nime, ei hinda
  • 1994 Ainus kangelastegu on naeratus
  • 2002 Käsi on valge, süsi on must
  • 2007 Täisminevik

Children's poetry (a selection)

  • 1976 Koera elu
  • 1978 Hundi lugemine
  • 1982 Väike ranits
  • 1983 Seltsis on segasem
  • 1983 Tondu
  • 1985 Tere-tere
  • 1988 Vana vahva lasteaed
  • 1991 Ema abilised
  • 1992 Aastaring
  • 1993 Põrsas Pamp
  • 1994 Põrsapõli
  • 2000 Marjajuur lume all
  • 2001 Kirjad jõuluvanale
  • 2004 Lepatriinu faksiga
  • 2006 Lätikeelne jäätis
  • 2009 Loomabeebits

Fiction (a selection)

  • 1978 Ilus vana naine
  • 1980 Neitsi Maarja neli päeva
  • 2008 Seltsimees Laps ja suured inimesed
  • 2009 Samet ja saepuru
  • 2018 Naisekäe puudutus ehk Seltsimees laps ja isa

Fiction for children (a selection)

  • 1983 Pool koera
  • 1986 Kartul, lehm ja kosmonaut
  • 1986 Kirju liblika suvi
  • 1989 Pille, Madis ja teised
  • 1989 Kristiina, see keskmine
  • 1991 Barbara ja suvekoerad
  • 1993 Vampiir ja pioneer
  • 1994 Barbara ja sügiskoerad
  • 1997 Kollitame, kummitame
  • 2010 Jõuluvana, kes kartis lapsi
  • 2013 Porgand töötab porgandina
  • 2014 Vanaema on meil nõid
  • 2014 Puudel Pedro ja igatsustasu
  • 2015 Jänesepoeg otsib sõpra
  • 2016 Lumemees Ludvigi õnn
  • 2017 Halloo!
  • 2017 Delfiin Delila suur sõber
  • 2018 Saba
  • 2018 Päkapikud askeldavad

Translations

Selected translations
Barbara and the Summer Dogs
  • Russian: Барбара и летние собаки, Издательство КПД 2012
Barbara and the Autumn Dogs
  • Russian: Барбара и осенние собаки, Издательство КПД 2012
Bundle the Piglet
  • Finnish: Porsas Pamp, Monokkel 1993
Comrade Kid and the Grown-Ups
  • Latvian: Biedrs bērns un lielie cilvēki, Liels un mazs 2018
  • Lithuanian: Draugė mergaitė ir suaugė žmonės, Gimtasis žodis 2013
  • Russian: Toварищ рeбенок и взрослыe люди, Издательство КПД 2010
Felix the Hedgehog series
  • Russian: Ёжик Феликс, Издательство КПД 2014
A Half of a Dog
  • Russian: Половина собаки, Детская литература 1991
Hello-Hello
  • Russian: В один прекрасный грустный день, Детская литература 1991
Juku, Kalle and Klabautermann in Tallinn
  • Finnish: Juku, Kalle ja laivanhaltia Tallinnassa, Huma 2002
Kristiina, the Middle One
  • Russian: Kристийна, или легко ли быть средней сестрой, Издательство КПД 2009
  • Finnish: Kristiina, se keskimmäinen, Tallinn: Avita 1994
Ludwig the Snowman´s Lucky Day
  • Latvian: Sniegavīra Ludviga laime, Jāņa Rozes apgāds 2018
  • German: Schneemann Ludwigs größtes Glück, Kullerkupp Kinderbuch Verlag 2017
The More the Merrier
  • Russian: Куча мала, Eesti Raamat 1984
Potatoes, Cows and Cosmonauts
  • English: Perioodika 1991
Tales of Miriam
The Tilk Family Goes to the Song Festival
  • Russian: Пошли смешинки на Певческий праздник, Menu Kirjastus 2011
Velvet and Sawdust
  • Russian: Бархат и опилки или Товарищ ребёнок и буквы, Издательство КПД 2012
The Virgin Mary´s Four Days
  • Russian: Четыре дня Маарьи, Детская литература 1986

Awards