Sven Nordqvist

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Sven Nordqvist (born 30 April 1946) is a Swedish writer and illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his series about an old farmer, Pettson, and his talented cat Findus.

Nordqvist was born in Helsingborg and grew up in Halmstad, Sweden. He originally wanted to be an illustrator but was rejected by several art schools. Instead he studied architecture in Lund, and worked for a time as a lecturer in architecture in the university. At the same time he continued to look for work as an illustrator working on advertisements, posters and picture books. In 1983 he won first prize in a children's book competition and since then has worked exclusively as an author and illustrator of children's books.

He is married and has two grown sons.

During his career, he has been given awards in both Sweden and Germany. His Pettson and Findus books are especially popular in Germany, where the characters are known as Pettersson and Findus. In Danish they are called Peddersen and Findus, and in English, Festus and Mercury (though English translations of the books exist with the original names kept).

In 2007 he won the literary award Augustpriset in the children's books category, for his book Var är min syster? ("Where is my sister?").

Persondata
NAME	Nordqvist, Sven
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Swedish author and illustrator
DATE OF BIRTH	30 April 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH	Helsingborg, Sweden
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH