The famous poet, whose verses have been translated into more than 30 world languages.
He made his debut in 1957 (while still a student at the Pedagogical Institute “Ion Creanga” in Chisinau, Faculty of Philology and History) with his verses for children “Alarm”, highly appreciated by literary critics. He works as an editor for the children’s magazine “Scânteia Leninista”, now “Noi”, and for the newspaper “Tânărul Leninist”, now “Florile Dalbe”.
In 1960 he became editor of the magazine “Nistru”, now “Basarabia”. Between 1960 and 1963 he was editor of the publishing house “Cartea Moldovenească”.
He was a frequent guest of the “Poetry House” in the village of Cociulia. Here he also wrote the famous book for pre-school children “Albinuța”.
In 1988 he was awarded the most prestigious international distinction in the field of children’s literature – the Andersen Honorary Diploma.
In 1993 he was elected corresponding member of the Romanian Academy.
He died in a tragic road accident and was buried on 20 January 2009 in Chisinau, in the Central Cemetery on Armenească Street. Several tens of thousands of people attended the funeral. 20 January 2009 was declared a day of mourning in the Republic of Moldova.
The poet was posthumously decorated with the National Order “Steaua României” in the rank of Grand Cross.
Several high schools in the Republic of Moldova, a central avenue in Chisinau and a street in Iasi bear his name.
In 2010 a bust of the poet was installed on the Alley of Classics in Chisinau.