Norwegian children’s literature is diverse and characterised by imagination, independence, and autonomy.
The first Norwegian books for children were written in the late eighteenth century. At the end of the nineteenth century, Norwegian children’s literature entered a golden age, and in the post-war period, Thorbjørn Egner, Anne-Cath. Vestly,and Alf Prøysen wrote books for children that have monolithic status in Norwegian children’s literature to this day. The books When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town (1955), the Twigson series (1962–2001), and the Mrs Pepperpot stories (from 1957) are traditional stories for children in which the child’s security is of central importance, while it remains clear that little ones are also capable of accomplishing great feats.
During the last few decades, Norwegian children’s literature has flourished like never before. In 2017, 391 new Norwegian books for children and young people were published, and more authors are being translated into different languages than ever before. Best-known among internationally renowned Norwegian authors of books for children and young adults is Jostein Gaarder.His novel Sophie’s World (1992) was the bestselling fiction title in the world for the year of 1995. This novel has been translated into 60 different languages, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. With the success of Sophie’s World, Norwegian literature made its international breakthrough.
Since the turn of the new millennium, Maria Parr has taken both Norway and the world by storm with her three books Waffle Hearts: Lena and Me in Mathildewick Cove (2005), Astrid the Unstoppable (2009) and The Goalie and the Sea (2017). What these books share is a large dose of humour, resourceful children as main characters, serious themes and, not least, stable adult characters. Parr is often compared to Sweden’s Astrid Lindgren.
Another Norwegian author who has had great success with novels for children is the world-famous crime-fiction author Jo Nesbø, with his books about Doctor Proctor, Lisa and Nilly.
In 2013, the Nordic Council established a prize for children and young people’s literature, aspiring to promote literature for children and young adults in the Nordic region. In 2014, the prize went to the duo Håkon Øvreås and Øyvind Torseter, for Brown (2013). The book has received great international praise and other awards such as the German Luchs des Jahres and the Dutch Zilveren Giffel, as well as being included in the Top 10 Teachers’ Choice in China. By day, Brown’s protagonist Rusty is ‘Rusty’, but by night Rusty becomes ‘Brown’: the superhero who fears nothing. Armed with a brush and brown paint, Brown sneaks out and paints the bicycles of the older boys who have been bullying him. Brown is a book about friendship, courage, and standing up for oneself. Brown is the first title in a trilogy, followed by Black (2015) and Blue (2018).
Øyvind Torseter, who illustrated Brown, is an important figure in the field of Norwegian picture books. The picture-book genre is continuously developing and Torseter is responsible for a number of award-winning picture-book publications. His trademark character Mule Boy features as the main character in several of the releases. For the book Detours (2007) he won the fiction category of the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award in 2008.
The previous year, another significant Norwegian picture-book artist had won this prize, none other than Stian Hole, for his book Garmann’s Summer (2006). A patent feature of Hole’s books is a gripping poetic lightness that communicates life’s big questions with profound creativity. He is responsible for critically acclaimed publications such as The Old Man and the Whale (2005), the series about Garmann (2006–10), Anna’s Heaven (2013), and Morkel’s Alphabet (2015).
Another important picture-book artist is Lisa Aisato. Her magical and unique style has made her into one of the most beloved artists in Norway, and in 2015 she was named one of the best Norwegian artists under the age of 35 by the esteemed Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet. Her major breakthrough abroad was as illustrator of the book The Girl Who Wanted to Save the Books (2017), from the pen of Klaus Hagerup. This book has so far been sold for translation into 22 languages.
The young-adult novel genre is attracting increased interest from abroad, particularly after Jostein Gaarder’s success with Sophie’s World. Another book for slightly older readers that has been sold for translation into many languages is Johan Harstad’s horror tale 172 Hours on the Moon (2008). This is a chilling sci-fi tale about three ordinary teenagers who win the chance to spend 172 hours on the moon. The question soon turns out to be whether they will make it back alive. In 2014, 172 Hours on the Moon was declared the best Norwegian book for young adults of all time by a professional jury of experts, in one of Norway’s largest newspapers.
Fantasy is an important genre for young adults, and Siri Pettersen has attracted significant international recognition in this area. Her trilogy The Raven Rings is partly set in our world and partly in a mythical Nordic medieval universe. The Odin’s child Hirka, the main character in The Raven Rings, has followers all over the world.
Crime fiction and thrillers for children are also a popular genre, and Bjørn Sortland and Jørn Lier Horst have had success with their series of crime books for children and young adults.
As for non-fiction, Marta Breen and illustrator Jenny Jordahl have recently had a big international breakthrough with Women in Battle (2018), which has now sold to 17 countries. It is an account in cartoon form of the history of feminism over the last 150 years, and has been a hit with both young and more grown-up readers.
Literature for children and young adults has a high status in Norway and many established novelists also write for children. This has led to a broad range of books of a high literary quality, and ensures that young readers have access to many forms of expression across different genres. This is a reflection of the huge breadth found in Norwegian literature, for readers both young and old.