author
Wilhelm Hey
1789–1854
Best remembered for writing gentle songs and fables for children, this German pastor had a rare gift for making faith and everyday wonder feel warm and close. His verses, including the beloved "Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen," stayed in family life long after his own century ended.
1 Audiobook
Femtio fabler för barn
by Wilhelm Hey
About the author
Born in Leina near Gotha in 1789, Johann Wilhelm Hey studied theology at Jena and Göttingen and went on to serve as a Protestant pastor. He later worked in places including Töttelstädt, Gotha, and Ichtershausen, building a reputation not only as a clergyman but also as a writer whose language was clear, musical, and easy to remember.
Hey is especially known for his fables, hymns, and children's poems. His writing often joined simple imagery with moral feeling, which helped make his work popular with both children and adults. Among his most enduring texts is the lullaby and evening song "Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen," still widely recognized in German-speaking culture.
He died in 1854, but his work continued to live on in songbooks, classrooms, and family reading. What makes him memorable is the calm, humane tone of his writing: it speaks plainly, yet leaves a lasting impression.