Aino Tigane
Aino Tigane (12. V 1912 – 12. X 1991) was a children’s author.
She was born in Tartu into an artisan family and attended the Girls’ Gymnasium run by the Estonian Youth Education Society, where she collaborated on the school’s literary almanac. After matriculating from the Gymnasium in 1930, she worked until 1941 as a proof-reader for the Loodus publishing house. From 1941 to 1946 she was a dancer and actress at the Vanemuine theatre, and from 1947 to 1948 she worked at the Tallinn Youth Theatre. From 1948 she lived as a freelance writer in Tallinn. From 1948 Tigane was a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union. The writer Leida Tigane was her older sister. She was married to the children’s author Elar Kuus.
Aino Tigane published short stories and topical satires in the press from the thirties onwards. Her debut in books occurred in 1941 when her book Külaline metsast (‘A Guest from the Woods’) appeared, and went on to win third place in the Loodus publishing house’s children’s book competition for 1940. After the Second World War Tigane produced numerous children’s books, which reflected contemporary conditions and assumptions. Her works are characterised by an optimistic tone, and are easy to read. The author writes everyday stories about children, nature and animals. Some ordinary misunderstanding in the home or school provides the intrigue in the stories. Aino Tigane’s most productive period was from 1946 to 1963.
L. P. (Translated by C. M.)
Books in Estonian
Children’s stories
Külaline metsast [loomajutt]. Tallinn: Pedagoogiline Kirjastus, 1941. 46 lk.
Esimene veerandaasta. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1946. 72 lk.
Keerdsõlm: lugu pioneeridest. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1948. 148 lk.
Lugu väikesest Annest. Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst, 1949. 23 lk.
Klassi noorim [jutustus]. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1950. 147 lk.
Meid kutsub signaal. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1953. 204 lk.
Aino Tigane, Elar Kuus, Meie Ott. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1959. 164 lk.
Eeskuju ja tagakuju. Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus, 1963. 40 lk.
Siledad omad, karvane võõras [jutud]. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1972. 119 lk.
Siledad ja karvased [jutustused]. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1987. 109 lk.
