Nov 17, 2016
Elisabeth "Ellis" Kaut's 96th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Who's that little goblin lighting the birthday cake? The impish Pumuckl, created by Elisabeth "Ellis" Kaut, has been playfully causing mischief since 1962. Pumuckl is a kobold, a kind of sprite based in German folklore. He constantly gets into trouble but never intends any real harm. Kaut, who would be 96 today, wrote more than 100 Pumuckl stories. She received several awards and honors for her work, including the prestigious Bavarian Poetentaler literary award.
Today's Doodle was created by Barbara von Johnson, who became the primary Pumuckl illustrator in Kaut's books after winning a competition at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts in 1963.
Here are some of Mrs. von Johnson’s early sketch ideas for how Pumuckl could have celebrated Ellis Kaut’s birthday:
In this sketch, Pumuckl appears around a birthday candle with seven different expressions.
In true kobold spirit, Pumuckl plays with the Google letters as if they were gymnastics equipment.
Pumuckl opens a Google curtain to present a birthday cake, carefully balanced over his head.
Pumuckl and his friend, master carpenter Eder, celebrate with a cake and several wrapped gifts.
Pumuckl lights an L-shaped birthday candle in honor of the author.
Pumuckl lights a candle on top of a birthday cake amidst several wrapped presents.
Barbara von Johnson at work.
Where this Doodle appeared
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