THE WORLD’S CUTEST TOURIST (Innbundet)

Author:

Rune Belsvik

Norwegian title: Verdas søtaste turist
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2014
Pages: 192
Illustrator: Belsvik, Inger Lise
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Nynorsk
ISBN/EAN: 9788202450526
Age: 12 - 16
Overview Verdas søtaste turist

Times are good in Bløygen. A bus full of tourists have shopped and stayed at the hotel, and the council and people of Bløygen have bought a new lamppost, escalator and more Christmas decorations. But after a while everything’s back to normal and the mayor, Rosina Myrl, wonders how they might attract more tourists.

Bidger and Esmiluni live in Bløygen and love one another. But Bidger dreams of something more. He dreams of being a father. He goes to the Bin Tramp at Trouble Kiosk for advice. But no one knows where children come from. There are only 13 people in Bløygen and that’s all there’s been for a long time. The Bin Tramp finds a book with explanations and instructions for making children. Bidger and Esmiluni try and really enjoy it. They try again and again just in case a child doesn’t come.

Rosina Myrl is enthusiastic at first – now they can make their own tourists! But she thinks the method is disgusting and is quite unwilling to try it.

This is the third story from Bløygen. Rune Belsvik writes about something important and quintessentially human in a direct and concrete way. All children are interested in where they came from, and this book explains it in a way which is both beautiful and funny. Rune Belsvik uses poetic and vivid language and it is a great pleasure to read his books.

‘This book provides the cutest sexual education imaginable. An adult reader will be heartily amused, a child will learn about things that it might be useful for them to know, and a young adult will maybe be slightly embarrassed, but enjoy it nonetheless. ...
6 out 6

FÆDRELANDSVENNEN

‘Belsvik serves up the absurd cleverly combined with everyday situations in which we recognise ourselves. [...] Even very young children spend a lot of time thinking about and trying to understand what in the world is needed to make a baby, where they come from and what parents have to do to make it possible. In this book, we follow the entire process in a somewhat absurd yet also altogether serious manner.’
DAGBLADET

The press about the first books from Bløygen:
‘The strength of Belsvik’s text lies first and foremost in all the meetings and conversations between the inhabitants of Bløygen.’
BARNEBOKKRITIKK.NO

'The author plays with both the language and, not least, the reader.'
FÆDRELANDSVENNEN

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More books by Rune Belsvik:

Reviews Verdas søtaste turist

Slik lagar ein barn i Bløygen

"Boka gjev den søtaste seksualopplæringa som tenkjast kan. Ein vaksen lesar vil more seg kongeleg, eit barn vil få greie på ting som kan vere godt å vete, og ein ungdom vil kanskje verte litt brydd, men óg vere med på moroa. Dette er Belsvik på sitt beste, kreativt tøys med djupt alvor, stor varme og herleg underhaldning. Boka er vakkert illustrert av Inger Lise Belsvik."

 
Emil Otto Syvertsen, Fædrelandsvennen

Sjarmerende barnebok om sex

"Teksten er generøs og inkluderende, aldri avvisende. ... Det er ikke mange forfattere som skriver så liketil, tøysete og samtidig dyptloddende om menneskelivets erkjennelser som Rune Belsvik. "Verdas søtaste turist" bør få mange lesere, både blant oss som har en smule erfaring og blant de som er på vei inn i det frydefulle ukjente."

Anne Cathrine Straume, nrk.no

"Belsvik utporsjonerer det absurde i fin blanding med hverdagsligheter man lett kjenner seg igjen i. [...] Også små barn er jo levende interessert i å tenke på og prøve å skjønne hva i all verden det er som skal til for å lage barn, hvor de kommer fra og hva foreldrene må foreta seg for å gjøre det mulig. I denne boka følger man hele prosessen på en temmelig absurd, men samtidig seriøs måte.

Jon Rognlien, Dagbladet

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Author Rune Belsvik

Rune Belsvik (1956–) is a versatile, highly valued and popular writer of a long line of books for children, youth and adults. He has won numerous awards. He has also created the Dustefjerten (Foolfart) books, which have earned him the Ministry of Cultural Affairs literary award (1994) and the Critics' award (1996).

Translations
Kråkejakt (The Crow Hunting), 1990. Sold to Sweden.

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Foreign rights