Mom and Dad in Heaven (Innbundet)

Author:

Alf Kjetil Walgermo

Norwegian title: Mor og far i himmelen
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2009
Pages: 68
Illustrator: Torseter, Øyvind
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Nynorsk
ISBN/EAN: 9788202305895
Age: 8 - 12
Overview Mor og far i himmelen

Mor og far i himmelen is a unique book; poetic, bold, warm, wise and beautifully composed.

A young girl has lost both her parents in a car accident. With a deeply serious subject as a starting point, the book dares to ask fundamental questions, formed as a prayer to God.

This is a book about a great sorrow, but also a great faith: in angels, in eternal life, in God. And a book about a child’s religious wonder and doubt. How can God let terrible things happen?

Reviews

A little jewel
“This is simply a pretty book (…) Øyvind Torseter cuts, glues, draws and builds his illustrations. Maria, the sorrowful girl we meet, lives in a beautiful world, surrounded by colors (…) The text provides space enough so that also the reader can include his or her own emotions while reading. The language is clean and poetic, and although the book does not provide simple or clear answers, it gives hope (…)”
Pernille Bineau, VÅRT LAND

About grief and loss in a Christian universe
Mother and Father in Heaven always keep the child’s perspective – and there is something liberating about the child’s way of relating to the world, grief and God (…) The illustrations have a childish, simple and naive line, which fits well with the child’s perspective in the text. They contribute to Mother and Father in Heaven being a beautiful, contrasting book about God, death, sorrow and loss, but equally important: about friendship, fellowship and comfort.”
Hilde Dybvik, BARNEBOKKRITIKK.NO

Emotive and beautiful about death
“The book is beautiful, both in text, image and layout. The author addresses major and difficult topics in this book. He does so in an emotive and understanding way. He should be thanked for that. The book can be read in half an hour, but the content stays with the reader for a long time afterwards. At least that was the case with me.”
Bård Hauge, DAGENMAGAZINET

“The text is thoughtful, with the intention of asking the difficult questions: Why do we say that someone has an guardian angel? What about those who perish, who cares for them? The tone of the book is characterized by seriousness, wonder and understanding. Torseter’s illustrations are of the same type that he has had great success with in several books in recent years.”
Morten Haugen, ADRESSEAVISEN

“It opens (…) for conversations, crying, melancholy smiles, empathy, comfort and confidence. No matter who reads it, actually. It fits just as well as a read-together book, as for self-reading (but with an adult nearby if the child has any questions) (…) You don’t have to be a believer in order to benefit from this beautiful book, as the text draws more questions than it answers. Like life itself does.”
Anita Hartviksen Ravn, RANA BLAD

The unimaginable grief
“Since the language is so simple and easy, the text opens up well for conversation and reflection. In an impressive way and with few words, the author creates a rich atmosphere, with room for both Winnie the Pooh and existential pain.”
May Grethe Lerum, VG (Norway)

"(...) a well-suited read aloud book and a starting point for discussions with children. It is also a good read for grown-ups."
LITTERATURAVISEN BOKSTAVER

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More books by Alf Kjetil Walgermo:

Reviews Mor og far i himmelen

Liten juvel

"Dette er rett og slett en sjeldent pen bok (...) Øyvind Torseter klipper, limer, tegner og bygger illustrasjonene sine. Maria, den sorgfulle jenta vi møter her, lever i en vakker verden, omgitt av farger (…) Det er rom nok i teksten til at leseren kan dikte inn følelser selv. Språket er renskåret og poetisk og selv om boka ikke gir enkle eller klare svar, så gir den håp"

Pernille Bineau, Vårt Land

Om sorg og savn i et kristent univers

"Mor og far i himmelen beholder hele tida barnets perspektiv – og det er noe befriende konkret over barnets måte å forholde seg til verden, sorgen og Gud på (…) Illustrasjonene har en barnslig, enkel og naiv strek, noe som passer godt til barnets perspektiv i teksten. De bidrar til at Mor og far i himmelen er en vakker, kontrastfylt bok om Gud, død, sorg og savn, men like viktig: om vennskap, fellesskap og trøst."

Hilde Dybvik, Barnebokkritikk.no

Vart og fint om døden

”Boka er vakker, både i tekst, bilete og oppsett. Forfattaren tek opp store og vanskelege tema i denne boka. Han gjer det med var hand og stor skjønsemd. Det skal han ha takk for. Boka kan lesast på ein halvtime, men innhaldet arbeider med lesaren i lang tid etterpå. I alle fall var det slik med meg.”

Bård Hauge, DagenMagazinet

”Teksten er tenksom, med vilje til å stille de vanskelige spørsmålene: hvorfor sier vi at noen har englevakt? Hva med de som omkommer, er det ikke noen som passer på dem? Tonen i boken er preget av alvor, undring og fatning. Torseters illustrasjoner er av samme type tegninger-i-tredimensjonal-collage som han har hatt suksess med i flere bøker de siste årene.”

Morten Haugen, Adresseavisen

”Den åpner (…) for samtaler, gråt, vemodige smil, empati, trøst og betroelser. Uansett hvem som leser den, faktisk. Den passer like godt som lese-sammen-bok, som for egenlesning, men da gjerne med tilgjengelige voksne i nærheten hvis poden har spørsmål (...) Man trenger slett ikke være troende på verken det ene eller andre viset, for å få utbytte av den vakre boka, da teksten tegner opp flere spørsmål enn den gir svar. Slik som livet selv gjør.”

Anita Hartviksen Ravn, Rana Blad

Den ufattelege sorga

"Sidan språket er så enkelt og vart, opnar teksten godt for samtale og refleksjon. Forfattaren skaper med imponerande få ord ei rik stemning, med plass for både lun Ole Brumm-kos og himmelropande eksistensiell smerte."

 
May Grethe Lerum, VG

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Author Alf Kjetil Walgermo

Øyvind Torseter (1972–) is one of Norway's most well-known and award-winning authors and illustrators. He has produced books such as Detours (Avstikkere), The Hole (Hullet) and Mule Boy (Mulegutten). He has won a number of Norwegian and international prizes. For Detours he was awarded the Year’s Most Beautiful Book Prize and the most distinguished honour for children’s books, The Bologna Ragazzi Award. The Hole earned him the prestigious French Prix Jeune Alber, and also won him the Norwegian prize for The Year’s Most Beautiful Book in 2013. Mule Boy was nominated to the Nordic Councils Childrens Book Prize in 2016.

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