Experience Erich Kästner: reading with music in the Gertrud Haß Library!

Experience Erich Kästner: reading with music in the Gertrud Haß Library!

On September 16, 2025, a special reading event took place in the Gertrud Haß Library in Berlin. At 5 p.m. Rosa and Jonathan Tennenbaum read works by the famous children's book author Erich Kästner. Kästner, known for classics such as “Emil and the Detectives” and “Pünktchen and Anton”, has had a significant influence on children's literature and is still appreciated by young and old today. The reading was musically accompanied by piano pieces by great composers, including Max Reger, Camille Saint-Saens and Scott Joplin.

The event was not only a tribute to Kästner's literary contribution, but also an example of how important literary education is in today's world. Despite the free participation, visitors had the opportunity to register by phone or email, which made organizing this cultural event easier. The venue was wheelchair accessible, ensuring an inclusive experience for everyone.

Erich Kästner's importance in children's literature

Erich Kästner was not only an important children's book author, but also a journalist, poet and screenwriter. His works are characterized by humorous, satirical language and often reflect deeper moral questions. This chosen style was particularly important during the Weimar Republic, when books were unaffordable for many families, while the educated middle class had access to literature. Other popular literary works of the time included the stories of Karl May and the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, which, together with Kästner's writings, made up a distinctive part of children's and young adult literature Zeitklicks reported.

Kästner was known for taking children seriously and giving them a voice with his stories. Works such as “The Flying Classroom” and “May 35th or Konrad rides into the South Seas” are examples of his creative storytelling that is both entertaining and educational. The author also remained true to his time and commented on social conditions in his texts Erich Kästner Society emphasizes.

A look at Kästner's impact

Kästner's contemporaries and subsequent generations analyzed and appreciated his works in many ways. He is considered a moralist who not only entertains with his literature, but also educates and stimulates thought. This is particularly visible in a historical context of the Weimar Republic, where the art education movement offered new rays of hope for society Zeitklicks reported about it.

His works have not only been popular since yesterday, but continue to shape children's literature today, as the discussions about his person and his work show. His stories are more than just entertainment; they are a reflection of their time and one of the valuable heirlooms of German cultural history.