Denmark


180
Andersen, Knud Erik (text)
Bergström, Lucy (illus.)
På sporet af vikingerne : nye fund, ny viden (On the trails of the Vikings : new discoveries, new insights)
Copenhagen Valby : Borgen, 2000. 109pp
ISBN 87-21-01002-1
Vikings - Discovery
This book not only informs young readers in a comprehensible and interesting way, but it also follows the progress of the latest archeological discoveries. The focus is on excavations and discoveries made in Denmark giving new insights into the Danish Vikings' style of living. Nonetheless, these observations readily apply to other Viking societies. The many monochrome photographs and drawings are carefully selected for their informative qualities. Moreover, the book gives good insight into archeological research. (12+)


181
Blay, Charlotte (text)
Bech, Bente (illus.)
Prins Purk og troldene (Prince Purk and the trolls)
København : Alinea, 2000. – [32pp]
(Dragebøger)
ISBN 87-23-00787-7
Troll - Child - Abduction
This publishing house has produced quite a number of booklets featuring little stories in large print for beginning readers. The pictures play a very prominent role – and if at times they may lack in taste, they certainly don't miss their purpose of arousing attention. The renowned Danish illustrator Bente Bech has collaborated in this booklet. Her trolls are sure to delight all children: they are rebukingly ugly, making no concessions to picture book standards of beauty. (7+)


182
Hohle Hansen, Henrik (text)
Pardi, Charlotte (illus.)
Pigen der ikke ville på potten (The girl who didn't want to go on the pot)
[København] : Forum, 2000. – [32pp]
ISBN 87-553-2949-7
Constipation
Scandinavian authors of children's literature seem to have a sense for selecting rather less delicate topics: following titles on worms, poop, etc., here we go with constipation. According to the subject, the protagonist (unless one would like to consider the vividly anthropomorphised folk functioning as bulkhead as the true protagonists) is not a sweet baby-doll, but one of those childlike »monsters« populating an increasing number of Scandinavian children's books. The whole book is refreshingly funny, showing generous pencil drawings in a style reminiscent of Ralph Steadman. As for the colours – what else can you expect? – lively, but mainly brown. (4+)


Special Mention

183
Karrebæk, Dorte (text/illus.)
Mesterjaegeren : en bog om arv og miljø; dedikeret til jer der hele tiden overtager verden
(The master-hunter : a book about inheritance and the environment, dedicated to you, who continually take over the world)
København : Forum, 1999. – [32pp]
ISBN 87-553-2762-1
Environment - Education
A hunter – a primordial character of great authority – takes away the son from his wife as soon as he is born and brings him up in the wilderness. They come upon a cat-mother whose milk-producing organs have a striking similarity with well-formed human female features, nurturing sweeter dreams in the little boy than the miserable teats of previous foster animal mothers. Happiness reigns for some time, but Tannhäuser-like, the hunter is drawn home from his feline Venus mountain. In place of his son, he takes a kitten along, which is brought up by his resigned wife. Unfortunately, puberty hits the kitten in the first school year, manifest to all with eight rapidly growing breasts, which have to be squeezed into a specially designed bra. The exchange is reversed, the further development subject to parental arbitrariness: while the cat-girl terrorises her mates with human mating-calls, the matured boy finds a wife, happily sinking into her generous bosom.
The excellent quality of Danish picture books is largely due to Dorte Karrebæk's important contributions. In this book, she renders her characters once more with absurd and grotesque elements, thus opening up new and highly original dimensions of children‘s book illustration. (10+)


184
Rasmussen, Bent
En godt bryst hænger ikke på træerne (A decent breast doesn't grow on trees)
København : Høst & Søn, 2000. – 207pp
ISBN 87-14-19778-2
Puberty - Character development
Niko got a camera for his birthday – the perfect medium to focus on an »outstanding« part of the female body which attracts all his attention – in fact, it seems to have a life of its own. The author, a well experienced writer of young adult fiction, may lead some equally obsessed readers to understand that the individual personality counts more than all physical facts in a relationship. Author and publishing house seem well aware of the young adults' reluctance to pick up a book – this slender volume and the accordingly reduced amount of text might help to overcome these reservations. (14+)


185
Rasmussen, Søren (text)
Tom-Petersen, Jesper (illus.)
Manden som gravede ned til kineserne (The man who dug himself all the way to the Chinese)
København : Carlsen 2000. – [28pp]
ISBN 87-562-8708-9
Cultural exchange - Friendship
This unbelievable tall tale comes along in the guise of rather conventional illustrations: A curious and witty man begins to dig a hole through the earth in his backyard. Almost half way, he meets a Chinese (naturally standing on his head) with a drill, who had come up with the same idea. They decide to let their fellow countrymen jump through the hole to the other side for a small fee. This is their – truly profitable – contribution to international understanding. Because mainly the Chinese seize this opportunity (Danes seem to be less curious), the Chinese problem of overpopulation is relieved. 
(6+) <>


186
Schnack, Asger (text)
Karrebæk, Dorte (illus.)
Bløde punkter (Sensitive points)
København : Høst, 2000. – [40pp]
ISBN 87-14-19794-4
Everyday life - Expression
This book is for those who read little but think a lot. 28 expressions frequently used by adults and the seven days of the week are explored for their philosophical content and explained from an unexpected point of view accessible to children. The choice is unusual for a children's book: alarm clock, funeral, divorce, insomnia, summer-nights in August, democracy, cleaning and more. The book design with its convenient format, half-glossy cover featuring a well placed, intriguing illustration, the discrete but original vignettes in the main text on grounds of soft hues and framed by a white border, certainly meets bibliophile standards. (10+)


187
Winding, Thomas (text)
Brøgger, Lilian (illus.)
Nattekjolen (The nightdress)
[Frederiksberg] : ABC, 1999. – [28pp]
ISBN 87-7916-012-3
Feverish dreams - Imagination - Chicken pocks
The little girl cannot put on her beloved blue dress, because she has fallen ill with fever. In her dreams, she flys across a fantastic world wearing her dress. Lilian Brøgger evokes this world with muted colours, avoiding any oppressing visions. The chicken pocks covering the girl's body the next morning seem starry remains of this fantastic dream. (5+)

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