Iceland
Special
Mention
183
Áslaug Jónsdóttir (text/illus.)
Eggið (The egg)
[Reykjavík] : Mál og Menning, 2003. – [28] p.
ISBN 9979-3-2446-5
Egg – Pursuit – Escape
An egg falls out of the bird’s nest onto a hungry cat’s furry back. The
egg flees and is threatened by many obstacles during its escape, either
because of its fragility or its substance – by the bus, a mad group of
dancers, a cook, of course, whose bowl of cracked-open fellow sufferers hints
at the fate awaiting the egg, an older couple cuddling on a park bench, a golf
player who raises his club. It is stolen by a crow and falls back down to the
ground – directly in front of the cat’s mouth. At the last second, the
newly-hatched little bird flies away evading the cat’s teeth. The cat just
calls after it: I’ll eat you later then! This witty picture book with its
various allusions (suggestive advertisements with a fried egg, a plucked
chicken, or a bald man whose head looks like a huge egg) is illustrated in
pale colours and with elements of collage. It stands apart from other
Icelandic books because of its grotesque style. (5+)
184
Kristin Steinsdóttir (text)
Halla Sólveig Þorgeirsdóttir (illus.)
Engill i vesturbonum (An angel in the western part of the city)
[Reykjavík] : Vaka-Helgafell, 2002. – [104] p.
ISBN 9979-2-1642-5
Child – Household
Most adults consider high-rise housing a nightmare of facelessness and
anonymity. For Askur, the boy with the old Germanic name, however, the tenants
are mysterious or weird creatures who turn into angels, werewolves, or witches
in his imagination. His everyday experiences are told in short episodes that
include a snowstorm, a flaming sunrise, and a cosy evening spent reading with
his mother. The illustrator has designed each double spread in a distinct
colour and mood. In a style typical for modern painters she creates appealing
pictures with bold brushstrokes, several layers of colour, and collage
elements, so that every page turn becomes an exciting adventure. (8+)