Horst Eckert, the German author and illustrator known worldwide under the pen name Janosch and celebrated for the classic Panama children’s story “Oh, How Beautiful Panama Is,” died Monday at the age of 95. His editor, Bernhard Feil, confirmed the death to EFE on Tuesday, citing a message from Eckert’s wife. The author had lived on the Spanish island of Tenerife since the 1980s.
Eckert’s career spanned five decades and produced more than 150 books translated into roughly 50 languages. He retired from active writing in 2010, though his catalog continued to reach new readers. German media outlets, including the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Der Spiegel, reported the loss as the passing of a figure who shaped generations of young readers.
Tal vez nadie le importe esto pero el señor de la foto hizo más promoción que cualquier autoridad panameña en Alemania 🇩🇪 Gracias a esta obra literaria miles de alemanes hoy eligen a Panamá 🇵🇦 como un destino turístico. @CCAPanama https://t.co/BzyNRECmc1
— Luis Fernando Norato (@noratopty) November 4, 2026
Legacy of the Panama Children’s Story and Other Works
The Panama children’s story arrived in 1978 and became Eckert’s first major international success. The book follows the adventures of Little Tiger and Little Bear, two characters who defined his imaginative universe. Spanish publishers Alfaguara and Kalandraka later brought the title to Spanish-speaking audiences, cementing its place as a staple of children’s literature across Europe and Latin America.
Eckert launched his literary career in 1960 with “The Story of Valek the Horse,” published in Spain by Lumen in 1963 and later by El Jinete Azul. But it was the idyllic world of the tiger-duck, Little Tiger, and Little Bear that earned him lasting recognition. Bild, Germany’s most widely read newspaper, credited him with giving children an idyllic world through his distinctive watercolor illustrations and direct humor.
Editor’s Tribute and International Reach
Feil shared a condolence message reflecting on Eckert’s impact since joining the editor’s publishing house in 2012.
“You have moved people, you have thrilled generations, and you have created something that will endure” [Translated from Spanish]
The tribute continued with a note about his unmistakable humor and unique personality, accompanied by a caricature illustration of the author declaring, “I was Janosch.”
Born in 1931 in what is now Zabrze, Poland, Eckert built a reputation as a relevant international figure in children’s literature. Der Spiegel noted that books like the Panama children’s story “amazed children and adults around the world.” His work transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, a rare achievement for an author who spent his later decades far from Germany’s literary centers.
Enduring Influence on Children’s Literature
The author’s decision to retire in 2010 did not diminish his presence in bookstores or classrooms. His stories continued to sell, and his characters remained fixtures in German-speaking households and beyond. The blend of whimsy and philosophical simplicity in the Panama children’s story gave it a timeless quality that publishers continued to promote years after its initial release.
Eckert’s death marks the end of an era for a generation of readers who encountered his books as children and later shared them with their own families. His editor’s message captured the sentiment succinctly: a creator whose work will outlast the man himself.