Sharing stories of writer Judith Kerr’s kindness, energy, and love for cats.
Judith Kerr, author of beloved children’s books including The Tiger Who Came To Tea and the Mog series, has died at 95, her publisher HarperCollins confirmed. Kerr fled Nazi Germany as a Jewish refugee with her family in 1933 and eventually landed in Britain before becoming one of the most cherished children’s authors in the world, publishing more than 30 books over the course of five decades.
On Thursday, thousands of people shared their memories of Kerr on Twitter and praise for her storytelling legacy, from those who paid tribute to her work educating young people about the Holocaust:
Judith Kerr OBE, refugee from Nazism, and author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit has died. Read a statement from our Chief Executive, @OliviaRMW. pic.twitter.com/em3mkn9mSG
— Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (@HMD_UK) May 23, 2019
Judith Kerr was one of nicest people to come to tea when I lived in Berlin. When she was awarded OBE, she said, “As a refugee from Hitler, I owe everything to this country, & I am delighted if I am thought to have given something back”. And how: Holocaust education & fun… #RIP pic.twitter.com/rLOd4NHWHz
— Simon McDonald (@SimonMcDonaldUK) May 23, 2019
To personal memories of her generosity and energy:
My eyes swallowed Judith Kerr's drawings whole when I was small – Owp!
I was so lucky to be invited to her house in April. She made tea and we sat on her sofa talking about making books. Her legacy will reverberate in the imaginations of many small children yet to be. #JudithKerr pic.twitter.com/81ta2BiRXSArticle continues after advertisement— Benji Davies (@Benji_Davies) May 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/salihughes/status/1131501915739758592
Last year at the #nibbies she presented an award early doors and I thought "They've done that so she can go home early. No need." She was there to the bitter end, celebrating when HC won publisher of the year. An incredible woman.
— Lauren Ace (@LaceyPR) May 23, 2019
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Judith Kerr once told me that her husband made a tiny mouse hospital for all the maimed rodents their cat dragged in.
— Nadia Shireen (@NadiaShireen) May 23, 2019
Also, some very gracious corrections:
I remember asking #JudithKerr Kerr if the tiger symbolised the 1960s sexual revolution where normal mores and suburban life became upended by this wild and exotic creature. She told me no, it was about a tiger coming to tea.
— emily m (@maitlis) May 23, 2019
Heard a great Judith Kerr radio interview a while back where the interviewer suggested that the Tiger who came to Tea was in fact the Nazis coming for the Jewish people.
Kerr paused and then slowly said: "The Tiger… is very much a tiger… who wants some tea."
— Rob Williams (@Robwilliams71) May 23, 2019
i went to a judith kerr talk where she said that when mog was translated into german she was stubbornly rendered in the text as a male cat "because feminism hadn't really hit there yet". pause. small smile. "so i waited some years and gave mog kittens and let them sort it out."
— rosalie (@tiltwithlips) May 23, 2019
And a writing schedule that many of us can only aspire to:
Aged 91, Judith Kerr was interviewed by Radio Times after designing one of our loveliest Christmas covers. This is how she described her daily routine… https://t.co/LcFJdObVHZ pic.twitter.com/OHZhbw4Uwj
— Susanna Lazarus (@SusannaLazarus) May 23, 2019
Along with, most importantly, some truly delightful photos of Kerr and her cats through the years.
Sad to hear Judith Kerr has passed away, I loved her books, and look at these delightful photos of her and her cats <3 pic.twitter.com/RSSpOgMte5
— Siobhán (@SlugInkPress) May 23, 2019
