Meet the author

Werner Holzwarth.

Writer · Germany · b. 1947

Werner Holzwarth: author of The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business, the deadpan, toilet-humour picture book that became a translated-everywhere read-aloud institution.

Werner Holzwarth (born 1947 in Winnenden, Germany) is a German author best known in children's books for one gloriously unrepeatable idea. His The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business, first published in 1989 with Wolf Erlbruch's expressive illustrations, follows a mole hit on the head by a mystery poo as he marches from animal to animal demanding to know who did it. Deadpan, repetitive and unafraid of its subject, it became an international picture-book institution, translated into dozens of languages and selling in the millions. A professor of visual communication by profession, Holzwarth built the story on a single silly premise that doubles as a sly introduction to animals and their very different habits. It remains a guaranteed read-aloud giggle for the 3-6 crowd and the grown-ups reading it.