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Yannets Levi (Hebrew: ינץ לוי, born 14 June 14, 1975) is an Israeli writer of books and drama, a TV host and a lecturer. Levi is one of Israel's most popular and acclaimed writers for children and adults with 9 best sellers published in a row. Books by Levi were translated into English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Czech, Arabic and Macedonian. In 2010 Levi won the Public Library Award, the most prestigious prize for children’s literature in Israel. In 2016 Levi won the Dvora Omer Award for children's literature.
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Inbal oshman yannets levi
Personal life
Levi was born in Herzliya, Israel, to a family of story-tellers in 1975 and grew up in Kfar Saba. His father was a journalist, and his mother had been an orthodox Jew, who'd become secular. Levi says that his writing was initially influenced by stories his father and other family relatives used to tell him when he was a child.
His first passionate interest was painting and even as a young child he felt destined to become a painter. But as a teenager he began writing and since then he has explored a variety of media: fiction and non-fiction, drama for TV and stage, journalism etc. He studied at Tel Aviv University in a program for outstanding students. During his life, Levi lost his brother, Regev Levi, who died of Aids. Levi is the brother of Israeli writer and film director Reshef Levi. He is married to Israeli choreographer Inbal Oshman.
Levi is a frequent visitor to India, studied its culture and used to lecture about Indian culture.
Literature
Uncle Leo's Adventures (Hebrew: הרפתקאות דוד אריה) by Yannets Levi is one of Israel's most popular book series for children. The sixth book of the series was published May 2014. The series is published in Arabic, Czech, Korean, English (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan), Japanese, Chinese and Macedonian. In China the series is received with great enthusiasm and success. Uncle Leo’s Adventures chapter reader books are part of the official curriculum of the Israeli ministry of education. The first book won the Public Library Award, 2010, the most prestigious prize for children’s literature in Israel. It also won an award for its illustration (by Yaniv Shimony) from the Museum of Israel. The 3rd book of the series won the Devora Omer's award for the most popular children's or youth book in the public libraries. An Uncle Leo's Adventures' reading play in Arabic, based on the 1st book in the series premiered in January 2016 in the Elmina Theater (Jaffa) that promotes tolerance and co-existence in Israel. An original Uncle Leo's Adventures' Hebrew play for stage, written by Levi, will premier November 2017.
Levi’s best-selling book, Tales of the Forest Man (2010, illustrated by Liora Grossman), is a collection of 9 retold fables about plants accompanied by botanical information.
Levi’s best-selling novel for children titled Mrs. Rosebud is No Monster, dealing with school days' adventures, was published in 2014. It tells the story of Michael, an excellent, obedient nonetheless frightened school pupil, who tends to cry a lot. During summer vacation he promises himself that next year he'll be braver and less anxious, but then he discovers his teacher is the most monstrous teacher since the dinosaur's era.
Levi’s best-selling and critically acclaimed novel for adults, Living Hope (Hebrew: תוחלת החיים של אהבה), was published in August 2015. It tells the story of a family with 6 siblings who discovers one day that their brother is HIV positive. The novel deals with the way each family member copes with the new situation and how it influences their lives and relationships.
Levi published two other books for adults to a critical acclaim: Subterranean Water Stories and Himalaya Flesh and Blood.
Theater
In February 2016 a play in Arabic, based on the first book of Uncle Leo's Adventures book series, premiered in Elmina - Multicultural Theater for Children and Youth, Jaffa, Israel. Directed by Norman Issa, the play, titled "Amu Osama" (Uncle Leo), was written by Levi who knows Arabic. Levi said that the play is "a dream come true. In such crazy days, when hatred and segregation dominate our lives, I'm glad there's an Uncle Leo play in Arabic that makes children laugh. This laughter is the sound of sanity." In November 2016 a Hebrew musical play of Uncle Leo's Adventures, written by Levi, is due to premier in 2017.
Television
Levi hosts a talk show on Channel 2 and the Israeli Educational Television. Based upon his talks with pupils, in this show, he discusses children's and Middle Grade literature with young readers.
As a script writer he wrote for a variety of drama and documentary TV series in Israel.