Yannets Levi

Yannets Levi (Hebrew: ינץ לוי‎, born 14 June 14, 1975) is an Israeli writer of books and drama, a TV host and a lecturer. Levi is one of Israel's most popular and acclaimed writers for children and adults^[1] with 9 best sellers published in a row. Books by Levi were translated into English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Czech and Arabic. In 2010 Levi won the Public Library Award, the most prestigious prize for children’s literature in Israel.

Personal life

Levi was born in Herzliya, Israel, to a family of story-tellers in 1975 and grew up in Kfar Saba. His father was a journalist, and his mother had been an orthodox Jew, who'd become secular. Levi says that his writing was initially influenced by stories his father and other family relatives used to tell him when he was a child.

His first passionate interest was painting and even as a young child he felt destined to become a painter.^[2] But as a teenager he began writing and since then he has explored a variety of media: fiction and non-fiction, drama for TV and stage, journalism etc. He studied at Tel Aviv University in a program for outstanding students. During his life, Levi lost his brother, Regev Levi, who died of Aids.^[3] Levi is the brother of Israeli writer and film director Reshef Levi. He is married to Israeli choreographer Inbal Oshman.

Levi is a frequent visitor to India, studied its culture and used to lecture about Indian culture.

Literature

Uncle Leo's Adventures (Hebrew: הרפתקאות דוד אריה) by Yannets Levi is one of Israel's most popular book series for children. The sixth book of the series was published May 2014. The series is published in Arabic, Czech, Korean, English (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan), Japanese and Chinese. Uncle Leo’s Adventures chapter reader books are part of the official curriculum of the Israeli ministry of education. The first book won the Public Library Award, 2010, the most prestigious prize for children’s literature in Israel.^[4] It also won an award for its illustration (by Yaniv Shimony) from the Museum of Israel.^[5] An Uncle Leo's Adventures' reading play in Arabic, based on the 1st book in the series, will premier in January 2016 in the Elmina Theater (Jaffa) that promotes tolerance and co-existence in Israel.^[6] An original Uncle Leo's Adventures' Hebrew play for stage, written by Levi, will premier November 2016 in Haifa Theater, one of Israel's most exclusive repertorial theaters.

Levi’s best-selling book, Tales of the Forest Man (2010, illustrated by Liora Grossman), is a collection of 9 retold fables about plants accompanied by botanical information.

Levi’s best-selling novel for children titled Mrs. Rosebud is No Monster, dealing with school days' adventures, was published in 2014. It tells the story of Michael, an excellent, obedient nonetheless frightened school pupil, who tends to cry a lot. During summer vacation he promises himself that next year he'll be braver and less anxious, but then he discovers his teacher is the most monstrous teacher since the dinosaur's era.^[7]

Levi’s best-selling and critically acclaimed novel for adults, Living Hope (Hebrew: תוחלת החיים של אהבה), was published in August 2015. It tells the story of a family with 6 siblings who discovers one day that their brother is HIV positive. The novel deals with the way each family member copes with the new situation and how it influences their lives and relationships.^[8]

Levi published two other books for adults to a critical acclaim: Subterranean Water Stories and Himalaya Flesh and Blood.

Television

Levi hosts a talk show on Channel 2 and the Israeli Educational Television.^[9] Based upon his talks with pupils, in this show, he discusses children's and Middle Grade literature with young readers.

As a script writer he wrote for a variety of drama and documentary TV series in Israel.

Published Works

• Subterranean Water Stories (Hebrew: סיפורים מי תהום), short stories collection.
• Himalaya Flesh and Blood (Hebrew: הימאליה בשר ודם), a novel.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures in the Romanian Steppes, a children's book - published in English, Japanese, Chinese, Czech, Korean and Arabic.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures in the Siberian Jungle, a children's book - published in English, Chinese, Czech and Korean.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures in the Swiss Desert, a children's book - published in English, Chinese, Czech and Korean.
• Tales of the Forest Man, a children's book.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures in the West Pole, a children's book - published in English, Chinese, Czech and Korean.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures in the Sahara Forests, a children's book - published in English, Chinese and Korean.
• Mrs. Rosebud is No Monster, a middle grade novel.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures in the Tibetan Ocean, a children's book.
• Living Hope (Hebrew: תוחלת החיים של אהבה), a novel.

External links

• Uncle Loe's Adventures Hebrew website.
• Yannets Levi's Facebook Page.
• Uncle Leo's Adventures official Facebook Page.
• About Uncle Leo's Adventures in The Hindu.

Interviews in English

• M. Venkatesh interviews Yannets Levi in Mint, June 2015.
• Saimi Sattar interviews Yannets Levi in The Telegraph.
• 'It All Happened by Mistake', an interview in The Statesman, February 2015.
• Interview on Indian Moms Connect Website, Indian Moms Connect, 2015.

References