Arne Rautenberg: A master of children's poetry inspires in Frankfurt!

Arne Rautenberg: A master of children's poetry inspires in Frankfurt!

Arne Rautenberg is a versatile contemporary poet who plays a prominent role in the German literary scene. Born on October 10, 1967 in Kiel, he made a name for himself through his poetry, especially poems for children. His works span a variety of forms, including haikus, limericks, and innovative language games such as phonetic and circular poems. Rautenberg not only plays with language, but also with writing and typography in order to provide new food for thought.

Rautenberg lives as a freelance writer and artist in his hometown of Kiel and has taken on teaching positions at various renowned institutions, such as the Muthesius Art Academy and the University of Hildesheim. His poems range from humorous children's poems to profound works for adults, which have earned him several awards. Among other things, he was honored with the Culture Prize of the City of Kiel in 2020 and the Rome Prize of the German Academy Rome Villa Massimo in 2022.

Children's poetry and awards

Rautenberg is particularly known for his children's poems, which often address various topics in a playful way. His most successful books include “There’s a Skeleton Under the Bed” and “Fifteen Kilo Hummingbird”. These volumes of poetry were often published by Peter Hammer Verlag, supplemented by illustrations by well-known artists. He has received several awards for his works, including “this day is my friend” and “courage is something good”, most recently in 2023.

One of his notable achievements was acceptance into the German Academy for Language and Poetry in 2017. In addition, Rautenberg is an active participant in the (children's) poetry scene, as his upcoming lecture on June 3 shows. Under the title “Be an ant of children’s poetry!” He will speak from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on the Westend campus of Goethe University. In this lecture he will examine central themes of children's poems, humor in poetry and the current development and canonization of children's poems.

A versatile artist

Rautenberg knows how to reflect language and childhood experiences in his poems, often combining themes such as animals and personified things with a playful approach. His poems are known not only for their humorous tone, but also for the use of lowercase letters and lack of punctuation, which gives his works a unique style.

In summary, it can be said that Rautenberg is considered one of the most renowned representatives of current children's poetry. With a large number of publications and constant experiments in language and form, he has established himself as an important voice in German poetry. His commitment to literature and continuous engagement with language make him an important figure in the contemporary scene of children's and adult poetry.