Gerda's wonderful world: a review of post-war children's dreams

Gerda's wonderful world: a review of post-war children's dreams

in the heart of Cologne, in the historic Veedel Nippes, the eight -year -old girl Gerda lives, who explores the world around him with overwhelming imagination. Driven by an intimate wish to understand the reality of their surroundings and make a little more exciting, she invents stories about a father who drives through Europe with his truck. In reality, however, her father is a commercial employee in a factory, and the adventures of her everyday life appear quite banal in comparison. Gerda, who has no siblings as a single child, uses ingenuity and imagination to close this gap in her life. In her new book "The Bizarre Beauty Beauty of Rümmerlumen" by Gerda Laufenberg, which was published by Dittrich Verlag, she provides a loving and humorous insight into her world, which is shaped by the Cologne characters of the post -war period, as the WZ reported.

The book not only addresses the challenges of a child who lives in a workers' district, but also the conflicts in the family. Gerda's mother is a secretary and has great dreams of a better life, but this is reflected in the dissatisfaction of the family. Her plans to save money to move to a better residential area make Gerda think and make them unhappy. In addition, she meets various families in her four -story house, including the Eschbachs who regularly have police visits, and a neighbor from Alsace, who speaks a strange language. These colorful characters offer Gerda an exciting backdrop while trying to explore the secrets of the adult world.

The development of children's literature in post -war Germany

Gerda's stories are part of a greater tradition in children's literature that was created in West Germany and Austria after the Second World War. The post -war period was a blossoming of creative children's literature, which was strongly different from the traditional stories. The writings of numerous authors focused on illuminating the child's perspective and offering a room for their wishes and fantasies to the young readers. Time was characterized by a departure from authoritarian narrative structures, which is also reflected in the topics and styles of the books. According to [Children's and Youth Media] (https://www.kinderundjugendmedien.de/geste-und-termini/570-kinder-und-jugend-der-after-the-after-west Germany-and-Oesterreich) this phase was characterized by a growing awareness of childlike perspectives.

The influence of international works, especially from the English -speaking world, Alla Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, was enormous and motivated many German authors to also take new ground. It was often told by children whose curiosity and ingenuity were the focus without having to bow to authoritarian structures. This is how a new picture of childhood was created that also reflects Gerda's experiences.

insight into Gerdas Welt

In the book, the gap between the child's curiosity and the problems of adults becomes clear. Gerda's mother often uses terms that are confusing for her - like the derogatory name of a friend. The child tries to decrypt the language of the big ones and wrote down words to gain a better understanding of the world around them. These aspects make the book a special discovery for many readers and illuminate the peculiarities of post -war society.

"The bizarre beauty of the rubble flowers" is a remarkable work that should not be missing in any children's book collection with its 156 pages for 18 euros. There are insights into the life of an eight -year -old who grows up at a time that is shaped by the aftermath of the war and the challenges of returning normality. As exciting and complex as Gerda itself, it is a tribute to the resilience and creativity of the children in troubled times, which in the end may have the key to a better future.