Future Germanists Explore the World of German-SpeakingChildren’s Literature

On November 12, 2026, students enrolled in the bachelor’s degree program “Philology (Germanic languages and literatures (including translation), English major, German minor)” attended a guest lecture “Contemporary Perspectives on German-Speaking Children’s and Young Adult Literature.”

The event was held as part of the observance of World Science Day for Peace and Development, organized by the Department of Foreign Languages ​​at A. S. Makarenko Sumy State Pedagogical University.

The lecture was delivered by Larysa Kovbasiuk, Candidate of Philological Sciences and Associate Professor in the Department of Romance and Germanic Languages ​​and Intercultural Communication at Kherson State University.

During the session, participants explored modern scholarly approaches to the study of German-speaking literature for children and young adults, examined current development trends, and analyzed the specific features of the literary process. The discussion focused, in particular, on the works of prominent authors such as Michael Ende, Lena Hach, Cornelia Funke, and Kerstin Gier. An analysis of their works provided a deeper understanding of the thematic and genre diversity found in contemporary children’s and young adult literature. The meeting provided an opportunity to deepen professional knowledge, broaden literary horizons, and renew interest in researching the German-speaking literary landscape.

Participation in such scholarly and educational events helps expand the academic horizons of future philologists, introduces them to current research developments, and strengthens inter-university academic collaboration.

We thank our colleagues from A. S. Makarenko Sumy State Pedagogical University for the opportunity to join this professional scholarly dialogue!