Sweden
190
Althoff, Johan (text)
Nyberg, Robert (illus.)
Ordförrådet (The book of words)
Stockholm : Alfabeta, 2003. – 288 p.
ISBN 91-501-0229-x
Swedish – Vocabulary – Wordplay
This book of words, which should rather be called »word-play-book«, cannot
be recommended for translation but can certainly be used as inspiration. With
some other books to their credit, Johan Althoff and Robert Nyberg already are
experienced ‘language educators’. They easily manage to present the
characteristics and peculiarities of the Swedish language to children in a
highly entertaining way. Readers can leaf through this book with curious eyes,
play with the words, and – what is most important – enlarge their
vocabulary. (10+)
191
Enquist, Per Olov (text)
Wirsén, Stina (illus.)
De tre grottornas berg (The mountain with the three caves)
Stockholm : Rabén & Sjögren, 2003. – 139 p.
ISBN 91-29-65875-6
Grandfather – Grandchild – Mountain – Hiking – Adventure – Fear –
Courage
To recommend a book that immediately attracts attention because it is the
first children’s book written by a famous author might be carrying coals to
Newcastle. So what? It is not Per Olov Enquist’s intention to add
a new dimension to children’s literature, he merely writes a gripping
adventure story about a hiking trip planned by a grandfather for his
grandchildren. But how he writes it! He creates suspense, includes humorous
allusions that children can understand, and also adds some irony for the
grown-ups. Because reading it aloud to children (namely his own grandchildren)
is certainly what the author had in mind. True, other authors also write
humorous texts, but in Enquist’s stories even bold metaphors seem rather
original and not at all far-fetched. (6+)
192
Lindström, Jonathan (text/illus.)
Allt från början : från urcell till människa (Everything from the beginning : From the primordial
cell to man)
Stockholm : Bonnier Carlsen, 2003. – 61 p.
ISBN 91-638-2657-7
Humans – Evolution
You can create a book with many beautiful photographs and still fail to say
anything much. Yet, you can also explain something, paint a few pictures to go
with it, and leave out all the superfluous stuff – and that’s exactly what
the author of this book about the creation and evolution of life on earth
does. The illustrations that accompany the concise text of this non-fiction
picture book were drawn by the author himself and explain the important facts.
With their caricature-like style and some entertaining interludes, they make
reading and understanding this book an entertaining task. (6+)
193
Nilsson, Ulrika (illus.)
Brum pling hallå! (Buzz ding hello!)
[Stockholm] : Eriksson & Lindgren, 2003. – [16] p.
ISBN 91-87803-75-5
Electrical appliances
This book can be seen as a typical example of contemporary Scandinavian books
for toddlers in general, which are modern in both content and illustration. It
introduces an ‘up-to-date’ family who is equipped with all the modern-day
electronical appliances imaginable, such as computer, microwave, mobile
telephone, etc. The pictures show simple shapes with strong black outlines.
The bright basic colours, used in slight variations of the standard norm, are
printed onto the paper not as smooth plain fields, but as vibrant and wild
scribbles imitating the style of children’s drawings. (2+)
194
Stark, Ulf (text/illus.)
När jag besökte himlen
(When I visited heaven)
Stockholm : Bonnier Carlsen, 2003. – 60 p.
ISBN 91-638-2667-4
Heaven
A critic once wrote: »When you see Ulf Stark’s name on the cover of a book,
just grab it.« And indeed, the author always manages to fascinate his readers
with his stories that consist of a characteristic mixture of humour and
profundity. And so does this book: In his dreams, the author travels up to
heaven to find out how his parents, whom he hasn’t seen for ages, are doing.
When he does really meet them, he learns that they simply go on with their
comfortable middle-class life and seem to be very happy. Ulf’s father turns
into the boy he used to be and plays with his grown-up son. Eventually, he
gives him an advice that might as well have been uttered by the famous German
author Erich Kästner: »Never forget to play!« In the end, Ulf whispers his
goodbyes, saying: »We will meet again!« (6+)
195
Thydell, Johanna
I taket lyser stjärnorna (The stars shining in the ceiling)
Stockholm : Natur och Kultur, 2003. – 222 p.
ISBN 91-27-08705-0
Mother – Cancer – Death – Daughter – Self-assertion
The single mother has to tell her daughter Jenna that she is suffering from
breast-cancer. Overwhelmed, the 13-year-old tries to come to grips with the
situation. At the same time, she is struggling along in school. In one of her
classes she writes a poem about her mother. If she is to die, Jenna will
commit suicide, it reads. When the mother really dies, Jenna discovers that
the mother of her greatest enemy in school is an alcoholic. Because suffering
unites, she can suddenly empathise with the girl. In the end, Jenna changes
her poem: When you die, Mama, I shall live – for you. The young author has
written a touching debut novel remarkable both in subject matter and language.
(12+)
Special
Mention
196
Wahl, Mats
Svenska för idioter (Swedish for idiots)
[Stockholm] : Bromberg, 2003. – 311 p.
ISBN 91-7608-932-0
Adolescence – School – Everyday life – Puberty crisis – Sexual
behaviour – Social status – Fear of the future
Following a successful pattern of youth literature, Mats Wahl lets his
protagonist tell the story as first-person narrator and inserts long
dialogues, which – like most of Wahl’s writings – are larded with slang
yet have a convincingly realistic touch to them. The author demonstrates his
extraordinary skill with an unusual progression of scenes and his uniquely
imaginative turn of events. The novel describes an integrated high school
class in which lower-class pupils are packed together with pupils who have
learning difficulties. It seems that the teenagers aren’t interested in
anything at all, no matter how fervently the new Swedish teacher tries to
fight against their indifference. Henk, the first-person narrator and son of a
kiosk owner, is the only one who takes the teacher’s suggestion of writing a
book seriously. In his clumsy and faulty language, he starts writing the novel
Swedish for idiots, single chapters of which are woven into this
excellent book. (14+)