Children's book author Janosch at 90

... Janosch once said of the little yellow and black striped toy duck on wheels, beloved by children all over the world. The artist doesn't even own a Tiger Duck. He says he simply doesn't need one.

More than 300 Janosch books have been published in 40 languages. A series of films feature the most popular characters — Little Tiger, Little Bear and their Tiger Duck — and many kids have cuddly stuffed animal versions of their favorite picture book heroes. The Filmpark Babelsberg theme park in Potsdam also has a Panamaland, featuring the trio.

"If you have a friend who can find mushrooms, you don't have to be afraid of anything, do you, Tiger?" Little Bear asks his best pal in one of the writer's most popular books, "The Trip to Panama." Janosch's tale about two best friends who decide to go to Panama to find the land of their dreams was made into a film several times (above, a scene from the 2006 movie).

"The Trip to Panama" made Janosch world-famous when it was published in the late 1970s. In the story, Little Tiger and his friend Little Bear end up finding the land of their dreams right on their own doorstep. The two characters are part of many Janosch stories: tales that always revolve around lasting friendship and enjoying the simple things in life.

Janosch illustrates picture books, but he also paints on a larger scale. The above work for an exhibition at the Ludwig Museum Koblenz is entitled "Using the power of thought, my father lures a blue bird into a trap." It was based on an unhappy memory: When he was drunk, Janosch's birdcatcher father regularly beat him.

Here's Janosch holding "My wife with curls." Asked why the women he paints are usually quite ugly, he once said perhaps that's because he doesn't like women — except his wife Ines "who is intelligent." His grandmother also regularly beat him as a child. Proceeds from the sale of the above artwork went to a children's charity.

A witty homage to the children's book author: Janosch's best stories, poems and illustrations were compiled under the title: "Perhaps everything I say is nonsense."