Ayla Çinaroglu was born in Ankara in 1939. She graduated from the State Fine Arts Academy in the Department of Graphics Arts and subsequently worked as a commercial graphic artist for many years. In her spare time, she volunteered in orphanages to teach painting. Since 1972, she has written a variety of books for children, including short stories, poems, plays and novels. Ayla is also an illustrator who produces original artwork, and adorns some of her books with a novel collage technique she herself pioneered. The method, in which all picture elements are derived from a basic square, is somewhat reminiscent of Japanese origami. Her books, which demonstrate her illustrative techniques, are currently used as source books for painting lessons in some kindergardens. Her tales and poems are published regularly in magazines and samples of her poetry and stories are included in Turkish language lesson books geared towards Turkish children in foreign countries who wish to develop their mother tongue. Ayla Çinaroglu works to foster children's love for books and promote literacy in the community by speaking at libraries, schools, and universities. She has 33 titles in circulation and several other books in preparation for publication. Her theatrical works have been produced for the Izmir State Theatre and at several private theatres in Istanbul. She has also been involved as costume designer for the play "I, Anatolia" by Gungor Dilmen, staged both in the Istanbul State Theatre and abroad. Ayla Çinaroglu has two children including her elder daughter Ayse, who like her mother is an artist and resides in San Francisco, USA. AWARDS : Children's Literature Awards: 1979- MUT TEYZE'NİN BAHÇESİ (THE GARDEN OF AUTNT MUT) T.R. Ministry of Culture Awards-Sory- 2. prize 1982- MİĞFER (HELMET) TOBAV Plays For Children Awards- success prize 1984- KARA YUSUF (KARA YUSUF) DE Publishing House Tale Awards- 2. prize 1988- BEYAZ BENEKLİ AT (WHITE SPOTTED PONY) Enver Naci Gökşen Awards- Stories- 2. prize 1998- UZAY GÜZELİ (SPACE BEAUTY) T.R. Ministry of Culture Scenario For A Children Film Awards- 2. prize Design Awards: 1994- For to decorate and appreciate old Turkish handlooms. T.R. Ministry Of Tourism, Award for contribution To Turkish Handcraft Arts TRT special prize 1998- KÜÇÜK MOR BALIK (LITTLE PURPLE FISH) T.R. Ministry of Culture- Awards For Best Design and Layout- 2. prize 1998- YAŞASIN KAR YAĞIYOR (HURRAY IT'S SNOWING) T.R. Ministry of Culture- Awards For Best Design and Layout- 3. prize Honourary Awards Certificate of Honour for Writing "2005 - Çocuk ve İlkgençlik Edebiyatı Onur Ödülü (ÇİKEDAD "Çocuk ve İlkgençlik Kültürü ve Edebiyatı Araştırmacıları Derneği", "Marmara Eğitim Kurumları", "Maltepe Üniversitesi") Certificate of Honour for Writing "2006 - For the story "Veli'nin Kurabiyesi" - "Veli's Cookie" (CGYD "Çocuk ve Gençlik Yayınları Derneği" IBBY "International Board on Books for Young People")