Author Nominee: Turkey

Ayla Çinaroğlu
Turkey, Author

Ayla Çinaroğlu was born in Ankara in 1939. She graduated from the State Fine Arts Academy in the Department of Graphic Arts and subsequently worked as a commercial graphic artist for many years. Since 1972, she has written a variety of books for children, including short stories, poems, plays and novels. Many of her stories and poems are published regularly in magazines, and in books for Turkish children in foreign countries who wish to develop their native tongue. Her plays have been produced for the Izmir and Ankara State Theatre and at several private theatres in Istanbul.

Çinaroğlu is also an illustrator who produces original artwork, and she adorns some of her books with a novel collage technique that she pioneered. Her method is based upon the utilisation of squares and triangles as picture elements, all of which are derived from the basic square. Titles such as Küçük Mor Balik, aimed at the 2–6 age group, are simple in concept but in words and image convey a telling message. Küçük Mor Balik encourages children to understand that, like the eponymous little purple fish, no one is unique, everyone has something in common with others.

Her books, demonstrating her illustrative techniques, are currently used as source materials for art classes in primary schools. She has 52 titles in circulation and several books in preparation for publication. She is a regular speaker in schools, universities and libraries about the importance of literacy in the community and encouraging children to enjoy books.

Ayla Çinaroğlu has won many awards in Turkey for her writing, and also for her work as an illustrator.