Gunilla Wolde

Barbro Gunilla Kristina Brorsson Wolde (July 15, 1939 – April 15, 2015) was a Swedish writer and illustrator.[1]

Wolde went through the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack) in Stockholm, and then worked as a caricaturist and satirical political illustrator for newspapers and magazines including Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, Aftonbladet and the men's magazine Lektyr.[2]

Starting in the late 1960s, Wolde wrote and illustrated several series of books for small children, including the picture books about Totte ("Tommy" in the English translations) and Emma ("Betsy"). The books are centered around everyday situations in the life of a small child. The boy Totte was based on Wolde's son Per, and Emma was based on Wolde herself as well as on her daughters.[2] The books about Totte and Emma have been frequently republished in Swedish, and translated into 14 languages.[3]

When Wolde's children had grown up she stopped writing about Totte and Emma, changing her focus to books about horses, written for an older audience.[2]

Wolde died in April 2015 after an illness.[3]