White Ravens: cappelen
Books 1-10 of 27 Next
Norway (Norwegian) - 1997 - 199
Sæther, Wera
Maisbarnebarna
(The grandchildren of maize)
Oslo: J.W. Cappelen, 1996. 54 p.
ISBN 82-02-15802-8
Guatemala - Maya - Corn
In this documentary report about the rural life of Maya children, the author presents the fate of the Maya peoples since the age of Columbus and also describes their traditional customs and myths. The photographs are not merely dry sources of ethnographic information, but convey a lively, atmospheric impression of the lives of these village children. (10+) ☆
Norway (Norwegian) - 1996 - 196
Asbjørnsen, Peter Christen (text)
Moe, J. E. (text)
Granhaug, Silje (illus.)
Hanen og reven
(The Rooster and the Fox)
Oslo: J. W. Cappelen, 1995. [24] p.
ISBN 82-02-14862-6
Fox - Threat - Rooster - Cleverness
The tale of the rooster who is caught by the fox but then uses his cleverness to free himself is presented here as a picture book with modern illustrations in a pictorial style - in images take on expressive character through their almost grotesquely deformed proportions, but which with their use of extreme perspectives at times resemble comic art. (6+)
Special Mention - Norway (Norwegian) - 1996 - 200
Halstvedt, Tor (text)
Hansen, Thore (illus.)
Elvtyven
(The river thief)
Oslo: J. W. Cappelen, [1995]. 152 p.
Tramp - Transformation - Adventure travels
Kåre, the stutterer, and Johan are absolutely bored to death. But not for long, because they soon are captured by a tramp and turned first of all into fish. They have to wander around the world searching for a stolen river before they finally arrive home again safely. This is an adventure story, amusingly told, illustrated with comical cartoon illustrations that take all the trouble out of reading. (10+)
Norway (Norwegian) - 1997 - 191
Ekman, Fam
Kaffebønneslekten
(The coffee bean family line)
Oslo: Cappelen, 1996. [32] p.
ISBN 82-02-15835-4
Coffee - Imaginary world
This story is as surrealistic as the illustrations. It tells how some people have descended from apes, while others - who love coffee very much - are obviously descendents of a coffee bean. Even though the pictures resemble free-style graphics, they are indeed perfectly matched with the text and form the most fascinating part of this book. The artist has mixed together very different techniques - scratchboard, drawing, collages of self-made patterned papers, prints from paper and lino-cut. (10+)
Norway (Norwegian) - 1995 - 151
Mitchell, Ingelil
Tårnbjørnen: Spillet om tiden
(The tower bear: a play about time)
Oslo: J.W. Cappelen, 1994.
ISBN 82-02-14383-7
Time - Days of week - Name giving - Marionette theater
This is a lyrical elaboration of the names of the week (the Germanic version), embedded in a marionette theater play performed by a bear. It can be enjoyed for itself, but also as an excuse to create very poetic pictures, extravagant pictures of unusually intensive and extraordinarily harmonious colorfulness. (6-8)
Norway (Norwegian) - 2000 - 199
Vik, Walter (text)
Granhaug, Silje (illus.)
Freddrik
(<Proper name>)
[Oslo]: Cappelen, 1999. 44 p.
ISBN 82-02-188300-6
Police - Fear
This is a bizarre story about a small, timid police officer who transfers into the secret police force because of his non-visibility and chases down non-existent spies and crooks. Its particular charm is derived from the equally bizarre illustrations. Clearly drawing on certain styles of modern painting, Silje Granhaug achieves a stimulating, expressive visual structure by inserting fragments of garishly overpainted photos, that seem to be cutout of magazines. (8+)
Norway (Norwegian) - 1997 - 196
Loe, Erlend (text)
Hiorthøy, Kim (illus.)
Den store røde hunden
(The big red dog)
Oslo: Cappelen, 1996. [38] p.
ISBN 82-02-15834-6
Family conflict - Self-assertion
Putting Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel and Jonas together in one story has rarely been done up to now. During a car trip with her grandparents, a little girl runs off into the woods to take a pee. In a solitary cottage she meets an old man who gives her shelter. The next day she is eaten up by a great red dog, frees herself and tames him with a megaphone. Then she does the same to her long-lost grandparents and brother William. Just as crazy as the story itself are also the illustrations - a wild and humorous mixture of caricature, hobby painting and Tachist spots on every single page. (8+)
Norway (Norwegian) - 1998 - 195
Johnsen, Kjell Erik (text)
Düzakin, Akin (illus.)
Herr Siml prøver å finne seg selv
(Mr. Siml tries to find himself)
Oslo: J. W. Cappelen, 1997. [26] p.
ISBN 82-02-16601-2
Bibliophile - Fiction/Reality
Since Mr. Siml cannot find anything anymore among his many books, in the end he cannot even find himself. His image appears only as a phantom between books and pictures - the great occasion for the very original illustrator to invent picture puzzles. When Mr. Siml becomes so desparate that he begins to cry, he begins to recall that he is a human being and he takes steps back into life again. This is a gentle admonition to young and old book lovers about the dangers of loosing one's self in the illusory world of books. (8+)
Norway (Norwegian) - 1998 - 193
Bonde, Heidi
Flamingohøsten har begynt. Skisser og samtaler i et forfatterverksted
(The autumn of flamingoes has begun. Sketches and conversations from a writing workshop)
Oslo: J. W. Cappelen, 1997. 119 p.
ISBN 82-02-16756-6
Writer - Poetry - Family life
A mother tries to reconcile her profession as a poet with her duties toward her family. The prosaic nature of everyday life (lost socks, unbalanced household accounts, scorched pans, etc.) which she takes as her subject matter leads to a fruitful dialogue about the issues of poetry. And yet there is a need for inspiration. »Inspiration is when I get no lunch«, comments the young son, in this thoroughly original and humorous contribution to a discussion of the nature of poetry writing. (12+)
Special Mention - Norway (Norwegian) - 2001 - 200
Vatle, Sylvelin
Ville liljer
(Wild lilies)
[Oslo] : Cappelen, 2000. 215 p.
ISBN 82-02-18869-5
Bulemia - Love
What should not happen in reality, is what makes a novel really interesting. Young bulemic Rebekka falls in love with her psychiatrist – and her love is returned. Far from feeling any scruples, they run off to an island. It is common (literary) knowledge that the normal state of affairs may be temporarily suspended on islands. A lover, a product of Rebekka's childish fantasies, makes his appearance, and the scene verges on the mystical. In the end, there is a welcome return to sobriety which does not threaten their love, however. Scandinavian young adult fiction gives the readers what they ask for; but more importantly, it refrains from constraining educational ambitions, taking the audience more serious than many others. (16+)