Oded Burla

Oded Yehuda Burla (Hebrew: עודד בורלא‎; June 23, 1915 – July 26, 2009) was an Israeli writer, poet, and artist. He is considered as one of the founders of children's literature in Hebrew.

Early years

Oded Burla was born on June 23, 1915 in Jerusalem to a Sephardic Jewish family. His father Yehuda Burla, was a famous Hebrew novelist. Burla's young brother, Yair, was also a writer and translator. His early years were spent moving between Jerusalem, Haifa and Zikhron Ya'akov. At 13, he transferred to the school at Kibbutz Beit Alfa and then Mikveh Israel, an agricultural school near Holon.

Career

From 1949 to 1955 Oded Burla lived in the USA where he taught in Hebrew schools, worked as an announcer and speechwriter for a radio station "Kol America". In addition, he started his artistic career. When he came back to Israel, Oded Burla had been admitted into Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in which he majored in graphics.

His first book, Letters to Liora, was Oded Burla's letters collection addressed to his niece when he was in the USA. He had never stopped drawing and his pictures were presented in many art exhibitions around the world. Oded Burla composed music for some children's songs.