The great storyteller Hoffmann was more than a writer. First and foremost, he was a gifted psychiatrist who did much useful work in his field. But it was through his restless son that he became known to the world as the author of a large number of meaningful cautionary tales.
These included the fictional story of Struwwelpeter, which was translated into Russian as Stories in Verse about Stepka the Rastrepka. Incidentally, in Germany, in Frankfurt am Main, there is a museum dedicated to this odious character of children's literature.
The museum is located in the Schirn cultural centre in the heart of the city. Visitors can see the various editions of the stories, including the first, original illustrations, translations and all sorts of toys dedicated to the fictional character. There are also items belonging to the author himself.
The museum is not very large, but it has about 44 copies of the Struwwelpeter books, translated into many languages. You can also dress up as one of the characters and put on your own theatre show. The museum also displays games that were very popular with children in the 19th century. Your child can also take part in these popular entertainments!
In fact, a visit to the Struwwelpeter is like visiting any modern museum. Pre-school and primary school children are treated to a 3-part interactive programme. It lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. In the first part, the children are told about the hero of the story and the author, discuss bad habits, disorder and other similar problems, and are given examples of how not to behave at home and in society. During the break, the children play interesting games based on the main character.
The last part of the session allows the children to become real participants in the Struwwelpeter story. With the help of outfits, masks and props, the children will re-enact scenes from the famous Struwwelpeter tales and, of course, improvise. The permanent exhibition is supplemented by special exhibitions on cultural history and children’s literature. The museum shop stocks a large selection of souvenirs and books.
