Gülten Dayıoğlu was born in 1935 in the Emet district of Kütahya. She completed her primary education at Kütahya Otuz Ağustos Primary School. Her mother was a traditional Anatolian woman, and her father was a craftsman engaged in hat-making. Gülten Dayıoğlu is still alive, married, and has two children. She has participated in numerous literary events both within Türkiye and abroad, and has delivered lectures and talks at schools and universities. Her name has been given to various venues in Türkiye.
Following the economic hardships in Kütahya after the Second World War and the greater prevalence of her father’s trade in Istanbul, her family moved to Istanbul. Dayıoğlu continued her education at Nişantaşı Middle School. At the age of eight, encouraged by her teacher, she began writing short stories. At just fifteen years old, in 1950 her first story, “The Gardener’s Son,” was published in a local newspaper in Afyon. Her earliest writings were not children’s stories, but later, influenced by circumstances, she turned toward children’s literature. In 1956 she graduated from Istanbul Atatürk Girls’ High School. Her high school literature teacher recognized her talent and provided her with a list of world literary classics to read, encouraging her to deepen her reading. Dayıoğlu has stated that reading is the fundamental requirement of writing, and she has made it the center of her life.
While beginning her studies at Istanbul University Faculty of Law, she married and left her education incomplete. In 1962 she completed the Çapa Teacher Training College through external examinations and became a primary school teacher. Her first assignment was at Piyalepaşa School in Istanbul’s Kasımpaşa district, followed by postings in the villages of Silivri, Talatpaşa Primary School in Şişli, and Selim Sırrı Tarcan Primary School.
In 1963, while teaching, she noticed the lack of adequate children’s books and began sharing the stories she told her son with her students. Inspired by the children’s interest, she started writing stories specifically for children, thus embarking on a significant career in children’s and young adult literature. The relationships she built with children through her roles as a teacher and a mother positively influenced her writing. After fifteen years of teaching, in 1977 she resigned to focus entirely on writing.
Dayıoğlu published her first book, “The Gardener’s Son,” in 1963. She has also published articles on education in various newspapers and magazines. Dayıoğlu believes that literature cannot remain indifferent to social issues. In her novels, she observes the social transformations of her time and incorporates them into her works. Her novels trace a journey from traditional rural life to the challenges of urban living, and subsequently to the issues of a scientific and technological society.
Gülten Dayıoğlu’s works are significant both for their literary quality and their pedagogical value. She addresses themes such as social awareness, love of nature, universal peace, scientific curiosity, and intercultural understanding. Her works attract attention through their simple, fluent language and powerful narration. At the same time, she successfully blends fantasy and science fiction elements in many of her books, offering children new ways of thinking.
Novels and Short Stories: In works such as “Fadiş,” “Ben Büyüyünce,” “Dört Kardeştiler,” “Yeşil Kiraz,” “Kıyamet Çiçekleri,” and the “Mo’nun Gizemi” series, she highlights family relationships, social classes, cultural identities, and scientific elements.
Science Fiction/Fantasy: She is one of the writers who popularized this genre in Turkish children’s literature through works such as “Işın Çağı Çocukları” and “Mo’nun Gizemi.”
Travel Books: Since the 1970s, Dayıoğlu has turned her international travels into books. Travelogues such as “Journey Beyond the Kaf Mountains,” “Journey to America,” “Journey to China,” and “Journey to Antarctica” are noted both for their informative content and their engaging storytelling.
Animal Stories: She has written numerous illustrated books for preschool and primary school children, using short stories to encourage reading habits.
Many of Dayıoğlu’s works have been translated into German, Hungarian, Russian, Arabic, and English. Her book “If the World Belonged to Children” was included among the 300 books offering hope to youth by the German Publishers Association. Her works have been presented by international organizations such as IBBY, affiliated with UNESCO, and Japan’s JBBY. Additionally, her children’s books have been adapted into television dramas by TRT.
1974–1975 Arkın Children’s Literature Awards
1984 German Publishers Association Award
1987 Koç Foundation Short Story Award
1989 İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Novel Award
2000 Turkish Writers Association Honor Award
2001 Lifetime Service Award in Children’s Literature
2009 Behçet Necatigil Literature Award
2012 TÜYAP Istanbul Book Fair Honorary Author
2013 International Antalya Rotary Club Lifetime Service Award
2015 Ankara University ÇOGEM Artist of the Year Award
Early Steps in Writing and Education
Teaching Career and Children’s Literature
Literary Career and Thematic Content
Main Genres and Themes
National and International Recognition
Some of Her Awards
