Erich Kästner (February 23, 1899 - July 29, 1974) is one of the most famous German authors of the 20th century.

He wrote many long time bestseller books for children like Emil and the Detectives and The Little Man and the Little Miss, but he was also a political author. He held pacifist ideals, and wrote for children because of his belief in the renewing powers of each generation of youth. He was opposed to the Nazi regime in Germany, and therefore his books were burnt under this regime. In 1960 he was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his lifetime contributions to children's literature.

A list of his works, by their German titles and publication dates, follows

• Herz auf Taille, 1928
• Emil und die Detektive, 1928; in English Emil and the Detectives - produced on Hollywood in 1964.
• Lärm im Spiegel, 1929
• Ein Mann gibt Auskunft, 1930
• Pünktchen und Anton, 1931; in English, Anna Louise and Anton
• Der 35. Mai, 1931; in English, The 35th of May, or Conrad's Ride to the South Seas
• Fabian. Die Geschichte eines Moralisten, 1932; in English, Fabian, the Story of a Moralist
• Gesang zwischen den Stühlen, 1932
• Das fliegende Klassenzimmer, 1933; in English, The Flying Classroom
• Drei Männer im Schnee, 1934
• Die verschwundene Miniatur, 1935
• Georg und die Zwischenfälle, 1938
• Das doppelte Lottchen, 1949; in English, Lottie and Lisa, adapted into film as The Parent Trap in 1961 and 1964.
• Die Konferenz der Tiere, 1949
• Die dreizehn Monate, 1955
• Als ich ein kleiner Junge war 1957; in English, When I Was a Little Boy , his autobiography.