author
Claus Stamm
A little-known writer whose books brought Japanese folklore to young English-language readers with warmth, humor, and a taste for the fantastic.
1 Audiobook
The marrying monster
by Claus Stamm
About the author
Claus Stamm is best known for children's books inspired by Japanese tales. Confirmed works include The Very Special Badgers: A Tale of Magic from Japan (1960), Three Strong Women: A Tall Tale from Japan (1962), and The Dumplings and the Demons (1964), all published by Viking.
A surviving note on a poetry archive also links him to the poem "To Kazuko—1947," which appeared in the 1959 anthology Japan: Theme & Variations: A Collection of Poems by Americans. That same source suggests his interest in Japan reached beyond retelling folklore and into poetry as well.
Reliable biographical details about his life appear to be scarce online, so much of the person behind the books remains unclear. Even so, the work that can be confirmed points to a writer who helped introduce English-speaking children to lively Japanese folk traditions through playful, memorable storytelling.