Wolf Erlbruch was a German illustrator and writer of children's books, born on June 30, 1948, and passed away on December 11, 2022. He was known for his unique style that combined various artistic techniques, including cutting and pasting, drawing, and painting. His work often had a surrealist touch and was widely copied both inside and outside of Germany.

Erlbruch's storybooks frequently tackled challenging themes such as death and the meaning of life. His work was highly acclaimed, earning numerous awards, including the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1993 and 2003. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his "lasting contribution" as a children's illustrator. Notably, in 2017, he became the first German to win the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

Beyond his contributions to children's literature, Erlbruch served as a professor at several universities, influencing a new generation of illustrators.