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PICTURE BOOKS ILLUSTRATED FICTION BACKLIST FICTION FANTASY YOUNG ADULT Children’s SAGAS AND MYTHOLOGY SCIENCE SPORT books KOLBRUN THORA EIRIKSDOTTIR [email protected]
VALGERDUR BENEDIKTSDOTTIR [email protected]
· 3 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
HALLDOR A. ELVARSSON: TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
HALLDOR A. ELVARSSON (b.1968) is the author of several popular non-fiction books for children. He has received a special award from the Icelandic section of IBBY for his entertaining and original books for young children.
All the Colours of the Animals Litróf dýranna, 2014
This gorgeous book brings the colour spectrum to life with the assistance of vibrant animals from every corner of the world.
HI! MY NAME IS CARLO THE
CHAMELEON AND I CAN CHANGE COLOUR. IF YOU LOOK CLOSE, YOU‘LL FIND ME ON EVERY SPREAD IN THE BOOK. SEE
YOU AROUND!
HARDCOVER 20,5 x 20,5 cm 28 pp
0+ YEARS · 3 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
ASLAUG JONSDOTTIR TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
ASLAUG JONSDOTTIR (b.1963) received The Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize for her work as illustrator in 2000, and was nomi- nated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award the same year. Her illustrations have been se- lected for the IBBY Honor List: Children’s Verses with text by Bodvar Gudmundsson in 2004 and The Story of the Blue Planet with text by Andri Snaer Magnason in 2002, for which she received the West-Nordic Children’s Book Prize and the UKLA Award 2014 along with the author. She was nominated to the 2015 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for her work. aslaugjonsdottir.com
KALLE GÜETTLER RAKEL HELMSDAL TEXT RAKEL HELMSDAL lives in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands. She is an author of chil- dren’s books, plays, and short stories.
KALLE GÜETTLER lives in Häverö in the Uppland province in Sweden. Kalle is an author of fiction for children and teenagers, as well as textbooks and educational mate- rial.
Monsters in Trouble Skrímsli í vanda, 2017
Oh no! Furry monster has come back to visit little monster. Big monster hopes that it will be a short visit, but it turns out to be something else. Furry monster says he never wants to go home again! Monsters in Trouble is the ninth book about little monster and big monster. The series has been translated into many lan- guages and has won all kinds of awards and acknowledgements.
• The Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and Young People‘s Books 2017 • Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People‘s Litera- ture Prize 2018 HARDCOVER 30 pp, 15,5 x 29,5 cm Sold to: Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Sweden (Opal); Norway (Skald) · 4 · 2–6 YEARS · 5 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS 2–6 YEARS
HARDCOVER 30 pp, 15,5 x 29,5 cm
Monster Kitty Skrímslakisi, 2014 • Nominated to the IBBY Honour List 2016 Sold to: Sweden (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); China (Maitian Culture); United Arab Emirates (Hudhud). English translation available
Monster Squabbles Skrímslaerjur, 2012
• Nominated to the Nordic Council Children and Young People´s Literature Prize 2013 Sold to: Sweden (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); China (Maitian Culture); Norway (Skald). English translation available
Monster at the Top Skrímsli á toppnum, 2010
Sold to: Sweden (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); China (Maitian Culture). English translation available
Monster Visit Skrímsli í heimsókn, 2009
Sold to: Sweden (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Denmark (Torgard); China (Maitian Culture); United Arab Em- irates (Hudhud); Norway (Skald). English translation available
· 4 · · 5 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
HARDCOVER 30 pp, 15,5 x 29,5 cm Monster Flu Skrímslapest, 2008
Sold to: Sweden (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Denmark (Torgard); France (Circonflexe/Millepages); Norway (Skald); Spain/ Galicia (Sushi Books) English translation available
Monster in the Dark Skrímsli í myrkrinu, 2007
Sold to: Sweden (Bonnier Carlsen); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Denmark (Torgard); France (Circonflexe/Millepages); China (Maitian Culture); Norway (Skald); United Arab Emirates (Hudhud); Spain/ Galicia (Sushi Books); Russia (Mescherya- kov). English and German translations available
Big Monsters Don’t Cry Stór skrímsli gráta ekki, 2006 • Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize • Nominated to Le prix des Incorruptibles, France
Sold to: Sweden (Bonnier Carlsen); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Denmark (Torgard); Spain/Cata- lonia/Galicia/Basque Country (Sushi Books); France (Circonflexe/Millepages); Norway (Skald); China (Maitian Culture); Lithuania (Burokelis); United Arab Emirates (Hudhud); Czech Repu- blic (Argo) ; Russia (Mescheryakov). English and Spanish translations available
No! Said the Little Monster Nei! Sagði litla skrímslið, 2004 • The Icelandic Illustration Award
Sold to: Sweden (Bonnier Carlsen); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Denmark (Carlsen); Finland (Pieni Karhu); Spain/Catalonia/ Galicia/Basque Country (Sushi Books); France (Circonflexe/ Millepages); Finland (Pieni Karhu); Norway (Skald); China (Maitian Culture); Lithuania (Burokelis); United Arab Emirates (Hudhud); Czech Republic (Argo); Latvia (Liels un Mazs); Russia (Mescheryakov). English translation available
· 6 · · 7 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
I Want Fish Ég vil fisk, 2015
Unnur knows what she wants. She wants FISH! Mum and Dad think they know what Unnur wants and bring her all kinds of fish, but not the right one. I Want Fish is a lively, fun book for kids who know what they want!
• Shortlisted for the Gourmand Award as the Best HARDCOVER YEARS Scandinavian Cuisine Book and Best Children Food 32 pp, 20,5 x 21,5 cm 3–6 Book. Sold to: Denmark (Milik); Sweden (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (BFL); Greenland (Milik); AbuDhabi Good Evening (AlFulk); Galician (Editora Alvarellos) English, French and Spanish translations Gott kvöld, 2005 available When dad pops out to collect mom, a boy is left alone at home, in the sole company of his defenceless teddy bear. But reassuring a teddy bear is easier said than done. The play based on the book received the Icelandic theatre award Griman for the best children’s play in 2008.
• The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize as the Best Chil- dren’s Book of 2005 • The Icelandic Illustration Award • Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize • Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize HARDCOVER 26 pp, 24,5 x 21,5 cm Swedish translation available The Egg 3–9 YEARS Eggið, 2003
One stormy night the egg falls out of its nest and rolls away. It narrowly escapes the clutches of a wild cat, tango dancers, and a chef, and faces many other mishaps before the shell finally cracks open and the young bird takes to the sky. An original and exciting story, beauti- fully illustrated.
HARDCOVER 32 pp, 20 x 20 cm • Selected and listed on White Ravens: Special English and Spanish translations mention 2004, at the International Youth Library available 3–7 YEARS (IYL), in Munich, Germany
· 7 · Index ┘
BJORK BJARKADOTTIR TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
BJORK BJARKADOTTIR (b.1971) received special recognition from the IBBY in the spring of 2006 for her contribution to children’s culture, as well as The Icelandic Illustration Award the same year for her book Granny Goes on Summer Holiday. bjorkbjarka.no
Darling Dad Elsku besti pabbi, 2008 Dad is number one on Emilia’s list. She has the best dad in the entire world, as funny as a clown, as lithe as a monkey, and as strong as a bear. But when dad gets ill, Emilia has to act responsibly and do her bit to help him get well again quickly. Darling Dad is a companion
HARDCOVER volume to the popular Mom is Best. The short 26 pp, 20 x 20 cm and simple text is brought to life by the lively Sold to: Norway (Skald); Egypt (Boustany) and inspired illustrations which make an English and German translations available instant hit with children.
• Selected for the IBBY Honour List 2010 Mom is Best Mamma er best, 2005
Tommy likes sitting in his mom’s lap. But when mom develops a balloon belly there’s hardly any room for him anymore. This makes him wonder if another type of mom might not be better. HARDCOVER 26 pp, 20 x 20 cm Maybe an elephant mom or a fish mom or even Sold to: Austria/Germany (Picus Verlag); a flying dragon mom? But in the end Tommy Norway (Skald); Egypt (Boustany) English translation available comes to realise that his own mom is best.
1–5 YEARS · 8 · · 9 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
The Super Granny Series Oli‘s grandmother is a Supergranny who flies about at night capturing thugs and thieves. Once in a while Oli gets to go with her and that‘s when the fun begins. Oli and Supergranny‘s exciting adventures are told in en- chanting text and delightful illustrations.
Granny Goes on Summer Holiday Amma fer í sumarfrí, 2006
HARDCOVER 32 pp, 20,5 x 25 cm English and German translations available
Granny’s Secret Leyndarmálið hennar ömmu, 2003
HARDCOVER 32 pp, 20,5 x 25 cm English translation available
Granny and the Thief in the Gallery Amma og þjófurinn í safninu, 2004
HARDCOVER 32 pp, 20,5 x 25 cm English translation available
Supergranny and the Pirates Súperamma og sjóræningjarnir, 2009
HARDCOVER 32 pp, 20,5 x 25 cm
YEARS · 9 · 3–7 Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
KRISTJANA FRIDBJORNSDOTTIR TE X T BERGRUN IRIS SAEVARSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS
KRISTJANA FRIDBJORNSDOTTIR (b.1976) has a degree from the Teachers University of Iceland. She has worked as primary school teacher in Reykjavik, besides organizing social activities for children and young people. She received the IBBY Spring Breeze award 2013 for her contribution to children’s culture in Iceland. Her title The Travel Log of Olafia Arndis was selected for the 2014 IBBY Honour List.
BERGRUN IRIS SAEVARSDOTTIR (b.1985) received the IBBY Iceland’s Children’s Literature Prize 2016 for her contribution to children’s culture in Iceland.
Freyja and Frodi Get a Pet Freyja og Fróði eignast gæludýr, 2018
Even though there are already two cats in the household, Freyja and Frodi want their own pet – one they can look after and play with. The siblings have all sorts of ideas, but some of them might be a little bit dangerous.
Freyja and Frodi YEARS Fight and Make Up 3–6 Freyja og Fróði rífast og sættast, 2018
Freyja and Frodi are usually good friends, but they don’t always get along. They know anyone could find themselves bickering sometimes, even Mom and Dad! That’s why it’s good to know how to calm down and make up. HARDCOVER 32 pp, 15 x 15,5 cm
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PICTURE BOOKS
Freyja and Frodi Go To the Store Freyja og Fróði fara í búðir, 2017
Freyja and Frodi Get Sick Freyja og Fróði eru lasin, 2017
Freyja and Frodi Get a Haircut Freyja og Fróði fara í klippingu, 2016
Freyja and Frodi Can’t Sleep Freyja og Fróði geta ekki sofnað, 2016
Freyja and Frodi Go Swimming Freyja og Fróði í sundi, 2015
Freyja and Frodi Go to the Dentist Freyja og Fróði hjá tannlækni, 2015
HARDCOVER YEARS 32 pp, 15 x 15,5 cm · 11 · 3–6 Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
BIRGITTA HAUKDAL TEXT ANAHIT ALEQSANIAN ILLUSTRATIONS
BIRGITTA HAUKDAL (b.1979) is a celebrated pop singer who has represented Iceland in the Eurovision song contest. The Lara-series is ever popular and now counts ten titles.
Lara Goes to the Doctor Lára fer til læknis, 2018
Lara is a cheerful child who loves learning new things. Her stuffed animal Leo is with her every step of the way, and together they have all sorts of adventures.
After Lara falls off her bike on the way home from soccer practice, she can’t move her foot, and Leo is also injured. Mom says Lara has to go to the doctor, but Laura is a bit scared. What will the doctor have to do?
Lara and the Birthday Party Afmæli hjá Láru, 2018
Lara is a cheerful child who loves learning new things. Her stuffed animal Leo is with her every step of the way, and together they have all sorts of adventures.
It’s Leo’s birthday, and Lara decides to have a party for him. She gets her friend Atli to help her plan the party. Atli’s little sister, the spirited Glodis, comes with him. When Glodis and Leo suddenly disappear, Atli is worried. Where have they gone? HARDCOVER 40 pp 15x21 cm
· 12 · · 13 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Lara and Ljonsi Lára og Ljónsi, 2017 6M+
The story books about Lara and the stuffed lion Ljonsi have been very popular with Icelandic chil- dren between the ages of 3-6. Now these beloved characters are also accessible to the very youngest readers. Happy, colourful pictures make these books fun to look at for children who are learning their first words with Lara and Ljonsi.
BOARD BOOKS 12 pp, 15,8 x 15,8 cm
Lara Goes to the Pool Lára fer í sund, 2017
Lara always likes going to the pool with grandpa because he comes up with fun games to help Lara practice swimming. Then comes the day that Lara is brave enough to go down the slide.
Christmas with Lara Jól með Láru, 2017
With all the excitement of getting ready for Christ- mas, it’s hard for Lara to control her temper. She decides to write Santa Claus a letter promising that she will do better.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 14,9 x 21 cm · 13 · 3–6 YEARS Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Lara’s Ski Trip Lára fer á skíði, 2016
Fun loving Lara enjoys learning new things. Ljonsi the teddy bear follows her everywhere she goes, and together they take on various tasks. Lara is now looking forward to a ski trip with her parents.
Lara’s Cosy Night Kósýkvöld hjá Láru, 2016
Friday nights are cosy nights at Lara’s. That means baking pizzas with mum and dad, and watching an interesting film. This evening Lara receives some surprising news.
Lara Learns to Ride a Bike Lára lærir að hjóla, 2015
Lara got a bicycle from her parents for her birth- day. She also has a helmet and cycling gloves – but she doesn’t know how to ride a bike. With the help of her best friend Atli, her dad and Ljonsi the teddy, Lara learns to ride a bike.
Lara Goes on an Aeroplane Lára fer í flugvél, 2015
Lara and her parents are going to visit Granny and Grandpa in France. Lara has never been on an aeroplane before and feels a bit nervous. Of course, Ljonsi comes with her and the flight turns out to be a fun experience.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 14,9 x 21 cm · 14 · 3–6 YEARS · 15 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
SIGRUN DANIELSDOTTIR TEXT BJÖRK BJARKADOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (author information on page 8)
SIGRUN DANIELSDOTTIR (b.1975) is a psychologist specializing in body image and eating issues. She believes all bodies are created equal and kids should be supported in being happy in their own, unique skin.
Your Body is Brilliant Kroppurinn er kraftaverk, 2014
Bodies do all sorts of amazing things, like move around, grow bigger, and heal themselves. Bodies also come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and we need to take care of them so that they stay healthy and strong. If we listen to our bodies they tell us exactly what they need.
The colourful illustrations in this unique picture book will encourage children to love their bodies from an early age. By learning about all the wonderful things bodies do, and how each body is different and unique, children will be inspired to take good care of their YEARS bodies throughout their lives. HARDCOVER FROM 3 34 pp, 24,6x 24,6 cm Promoting respect for body diversity among English translation available children will also encourage kindness and Sold to: World English (Singing Dragon); Denmark (Turbine); Brazil help prevent bullying. (Nova Alexandria); South Korea (Prunsoop) This book is ideal for children aged 3 and upwards to read at home or school, either alone or with a parent, family member, teacher, or other caring professional.
• Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards 2015: Silver in the category of Mind- Body-Spirit/ Self-Esteem
· 14 · · 15 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
BRIAN PILKINGTON TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
BRIAN PILKINGTON (b.1950) is very well known for his brilliant book illustrations. He has written and illustrated many books for children, which have been published in a number of countries.
3–6 YEARS An Icelandic Winter Tale Stúfur og snjókarlinn, 2015
A heart-warming Icelandic winter’s tale featuring the smallest of the 13 Icelandic Yule Lads. Aimed at children 3–6 years old, or anyone who has ever built a snowman. Every page is as pretty as a Christmas card.
SOFTCOVER 28 pp, 23 x 20 cm ALSO INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ICELANDIC CHRISTMAS FAMILY AND THE UNIQUE CUSTOMS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN ICELAND. The Yule Cat – A Seasonal Makeover Jólakötturinn, 2017
According to Icelandic folk law the Yule Cat is an overgrown ferocious feline that stalks the wintry Icelandic landscape and eats children!
In this considerably more charming story, Brian Pilkington has lightened the character up some- what by imagining what the Yule Cat is like today, now that he has become a moth eaten, flea bitten, lazy old geriatric that is in need of a seasonal makeover. SOFTCOVER 32 pp, 23 x 20 cm
Available in English • Nominated for the Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize for Best Illustrations 2017
· 16 · · 17 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
GUDRUN H ELGADOTTIR TEXT (author information on page 46) ANNA CYNTHIA LEPLAR ILLUSTRATIONS
ANNA CYNTHIA LEPLAR (b.1953) is among the best known illustrators and children’s book designers in Iceland.
A Little Story About a Lazy Chick Lítil saga um latan unga, 2010
Little Chick is so happy in his nest with his mummy that he doesn’t ever want to leave it. It is, therefore, very appropriate for his mummy to call him Nestor! And mummy does every- thing NestorHún var um asks, það bil sheað gefast finds upp þegar his húnfavourite rak annan fótinnworms í eitthvað mjúkt. Hún beygði sig niður og hélt fyrst að þetta væri and insectssofandi hagamús. for him En þettaand var keeps hann. Unginn the nesthennar. tidy. Hann lá þarna eins og hann væri dáinn. En þegar hún hristi One day,hann however, kom í ljós að þaðmummy var hann alls has ekki. had Það hafði enough. bara liðið yfir hann af skelfingu. Og þegar hann rankaði við sér og hann An entertaininguppgötvaði að hann tale lá áabout jörðinni, beingaleinn, ískaldur independent. og svangur, og engin mamma neins staðar, steinleið yfir hann aftur. Hann hafði enga krafta til að fljúga og varð ekki lítið glaður þegar hann sá mömmu sína lifandi komna. Mömmuna sem alltaf hafði verið svo ótrúlega góð við hann.
HARDCOVER 26 pp, 20x 26,5 cm English translation available
YEARS FROM 4
16 · 17 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
JONA VALBORG ARNADOTTIR TE X T ELSA NIELSEN ILLUSTRATIONS
JONA VALBORG ARNADOTTIR (b.1973) has a degree in Human Resources and a M.Paed. in Icelandic and Pedagogy from the University of Iceland. She has worked as a teacher, copywriter, marketing manager, and has directed an inde- pendent theatre group. Jona started writing the moment she got hold of a pen.
ELSA NIELSEN (b.1974) is an illustrator and senior graph- ic designer. She graduated from the Iceland Academy of Arts and has received various nominations and awards for her work.
The Hero Book Hetjubókin, 2016
Sunny has started school and is enjoying it. That is, until she gets into trouble. Then she needs to take a hard look at her insecurities and her fear of being dif- ferent.
The Hero Book is the fourth and last story about Sunny. These colorful and enjoyable books strengthen kids’ understanding of their own feelings and how to put those feelings into words. The Sunny books also help kids learn to empathize with other people.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 17,5 x 23,5 cm
3–6 YEARS
· 18 · · 19 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
The Friends Book Vinabókin, 2015
Sunny wishes she had a friend to talk to and have fun with. Her dad thinks she’s so little. When Sunny meets the mysterious Skorri, there are unforeseen consequences and her dad sees her in a new light. The Friends Book is an exciting, vibrant tale which shows us how we can make the world a friendly place.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 17,5 x 23,5 cm The Hug Book Knúsbókin, 2014
When Sunny is offered to stay at Grandma’s, she jumps at the chance. Once there, though, she is thrown into a world that is not without its dangers. Grandma has gone missing, and Sunny will have to show what she is made of. The Hug Book is an enchanting contemporary adventure, thought-provoking for children and grown- ups alike.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 17,5 x 23,5 cm The Smile Book Brosbókin, 2013
One day Sunny‘s smile disappears mysteriously. Mum and dad are devastated. Did Sunny loose her smile in her sleep? Did somebody steal it? The Smile Book is a modern fairytale where anything can happen. The illus- trations are lifely and playful and set the imagination soaring. The Smile Book was nominated to the Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and Young People’s Books and received the IBBY Iceland’s Children Literature Prize.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 17,5 x 23,5 cm English translation available · 19 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
HULDA TÖLGYES TE X T ALLIE DOERSCH ILLUSTRATIONS
Hulda TÖLGYES (b.1986) is currently studying for her Master’s degree in clinical psychology and A LLIE DOERSCH (b.1990) is an illustrator and singer in a punk band. They’re both big animal lovers and are especially in- terested in friendly relationships between dogs and people.
Hekla Understands Dog- Speak Hekla skilur hundamál, 2016
Hekla and Hugi are best friends and under- stand each other really well, even though Hek- la’s is a girl and Hugi is a dog. That’s because Hekla understands Hugi’s language, that is, the way he expresses himself with his body. Do you know how a dog says that it’s scared? Or how he shows happiness? Take a walk with Hekla and Hugi in this delightful book and you’ll learn to understand Dog-Speak, too, and take your love of animals to the next level.
HARDCOVER 40 pp YEARS 23,5 x 17,5 cm 3-6
· 20 · · 21 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
KRISTIN STEINSDOTTIR TEXT HALLA S. THORGEIRSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS
KRISTIN STEINSDOTTIR (b.1946) is one of Iceland’s best known authors of children’s books and has received numerous recognitions for her work. Her first book, pub- lished in 1987, received the Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize that year. Her book, An Angel in the Neighbourhood, won the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Lit- erature Prize in 2003. Steinsdottir has received the highest order of the Republic of Iceland, the Order of the Falcon, for her contribution to Icelandic literature. HALLA S. THORGEIRSDOTTIR (b.1965) is an award- winning artist and illustrator. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books and received The Dimmalimm Prize for Illustration in 2002 for her artwork in the book An Angel in the Neighbourhood.
Who Eats Polar Bears? Hver étur ísbirni? 2006
Young Rissa and her family have spent their winter on the western cost of Greenland. There are many animals that can be seen in the sea, but unfortunately no polar bears. Rissa and her sister, Skegla, set off on a long journey to find some. An educational and entertaining story, which shows us how both men and animals live during the winter in Greenland.
HARDCOVER 40 pp, 20 x 27,5 cm YEARS Sold to: 3–7 Denmark/Greenland (Milik)
· 21 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
HALLFRIDUR OLAFSDOTTIR TEXT THORARINN M. BALDURSSON ILLUSTRATIONS
HALLFRIDUR OLAFSDOTTIR (b.1964) is principal flautist of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and an experienced music teacher. THORARINN MAR BALDURSSON (b.1977) is a violist in the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. maximusmusicus.com
Maximus Musicus Visits the Orchestra Maxímús Músíkús heimsækir hljómsveitina, 2008
Maximus Musicus really hit the jackpot one day, when he wandered into a concert hall where a symphony orchestra was rehearsing. This lively tale leads the reader into the magical world of music. The musical instruments are introduced one by one, as Maxi’s story progresses and readers learn to recognize the sounds each of them produces. The book includes a CD telling the story with animated sound effects and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra plays the passages HARDCOVER of music it includes. 48 pp, 21,5 x 26,5 cm Sold to: Australia (alto books); Korea (Daekyo); • Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2008 Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Germany (Schott Music); USA/Canada (Music Word • The Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize 2008 Media); China (99 Shanghai Readers’ Cul- ture); Brazil (Melhoramentos) • Nominated for the Frettabladid Community Award English, German and Finnish 2010 translations available
4–9 YEARS · 22 · · 23 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Maximus Musicus Visits the Music School Maxímús Músíkús trítlar í tónlistarskólann, 2010
Maximus Musicus lives in an old bass in the corner of a large concert hall and enjoys his happy and melodious life. Embarking on an unexpected journey one day, he discovers that children can also play musical instruments, even in concerts! The music-loving Maximus HARDCOVER YEARS made his début in the book Maximus Musicus 48 pp, 21,5 x 26,5 cm 4–9 Sold to: Visits the Orchestra, and became an instant Germany (Schott Music); China (99 Shanghai Readers’ Culture); Brazil favourite with young children in Iceland. Now (Melhoramentos) English and German translations there is a new tale of Maxi and his adventures. available The book is accompanied by a CD with the story narrated by actor Valur Freyr Einarsson, while young soloists play the musical chapters of the story accompanied by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, directed by Daniel Bjarnason.
· 23 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Maximus Musicus Saves the Ballet Maxímús Músíkús bjargar bal- lettinum, 2012
Maximus Musicus is a musical mouse and when he returns one morning after an invigorating walk, some interesting guests are arriving at the concert hall – large groups of children! The youngsters are there to rehearse a ballet with the symphony orchestra and they dance so well that Maxi becomes curious. Where did they become so good? Maxi decides to find out and has a great day at the ballet school. On re- turning to the concert hall, Maxi manages to save the performance just in time for curtain- up. The story revolves around the music of the Mother Goose Suite by Maurice Ravel with its many different fairy-tale characters: Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, Beauty and the Beast, a Chinese Princess, and a Fairytale Garden, as well as Glazunov’s Winter, Tchaikovski’s Sleeping Beauty Ouverture, and Pas de deux. The story ends with Fire by Icelandic composer Jórunn Vidar. HARDCOVER YEARS 48 pp, 21,5 x 26,5 cm 4–9 Sold to: Germany (Schott Music); Mainland China (Shanghai 99 Reader‘s Culture); Brazil (Melhoramentos) English and German translations available
“Maximus Musicus Saves the Ballet is a wonderful and imaginative book, fantastically illustrated and a delightful introduction to the world of Ballet. Bravo!”
HELGI TOMASSON, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
· 24 · · 25 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Maximus Musicus Meets the Choir Maxímús Músíkús kætist í kór, 2014
As the trees start bearing fruit, Maximus Musicus begins to miss his home pastures; he would love to be back in the country, picking berries. When Maximus hears a group of chil- dren singing in the concert hall, and realises that they are about to go on a trip, he impul- sively joins them.
Maximus Musicus Meets the Choir is the fourth book about the music-loving mouse, who has become a household name amongst Icelandic children. This time he joins a children’s choir leaving for a weekend of rehearsals in the coun- try — and finds himself in a tight spot with the local farmer’s cat. He then saves the day for two young choristers who are feeling very homesick.
HARDCOVER 48 pp, 21,5 x 26,5 cm Sold to: YEARS Mainland China (Shanghai 99 Reader‘s 4–9 Culture)
· 25 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Maximus Musicus Explores Iceland Maximús fer á fjöll, 2018
Maximus Musicus is surprised when two strange mice pop out of a visiting conductor’s suitcase. Viva and Moto are excited having landed in Iceland, and when Maxi overhears a musician talking about a journey to the glaciers, they jump at the opportunity. Together, the mice enjoy days of adventure in the mountains, experiencing both nature and culture of Ice- land.
The tales of Maximus Musicus, the musical HARDCOVER 48 pp mouse, are tremendously popular around the 21,5 x 26,5 cm English translation available world, charming children and adults alike. The stories have been performed by symphony • Nominated for the Europien YAMaward, Young Audiences and chamber orchestras multiple times, in all Music Awards for “Best Large corners of the world. The new story was com- Ensemble for young children” missioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and was premiered in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in spring 2017.
The book includes audiofiles telling the story with animated sound effects and The Icelandic Symphony Orchestra plays the passages of music it includes.
4–9 YEARS · 26 · · 27 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Maximus Musicus Visits the Orchestra Activity Book Maxímús Músíkús heimsækir hljómsveitina – þrautabók, 2015
When Maximus Musicus accidentally finds himself inside the concert hall, he becomes very interested in all the things he sees and hears. Would you also like to know more about music and musical instruments? You will enjoy solv- ing all the fun puzzles with Maxi the musical mouse. In this activity book you can ...
- help Maxi get through dangerous labyrinths
- create various home instruments
- get acquainted with musical signs and instru- ments
- make music by writing and sticking notes on a musical staff
- draw, colour and glue ... and many more fun activities!
Maximus Musicus Visits the Orchestra - Activ- ity Book is for all the children who enjoy music.
SOFTCOVER The authors are music teachers and performing 32 pp,20,8 x 25,8 cm Two pages of stickers included musicians in the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
4–9 YEARS
· 27 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
INGIBJORG SIGURDARDOTTIR TE X T BRIAN PILKINGTON ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 16)
INGIBJORG SIGURDARDOTTIR (1953–2010) studied arts and crafts at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, and at Konstfackskolan in Stockholm, Sweden.
Flowers on the Roof Blómin á þakinu, 1985
A funny story of Granny Gunn who used to live in the country in an old farmhouse with grass and flowers on the roof. Then she moved to town with everything she owned. But what should she do with her animals and her flowers? When she got bored, a boy from the neighbourhood helped HARDCOVER YEARS 24 pp, 20 x 26 cm 4–8 her move a little bit of the countryside to town. Sold to: Korea (Jaeum & Moeum Publishing); Japan (Sa-e-la Shobo); United Arab Emirates (AlFulk); Slovakia (Atticum) Published in German, French and English, by Mal og menning. A Puffin Called Fido Lubbi lundi, 2009 TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRIAN PILKINGTON
Gina lives in the Westman Isles. Every spring she looks forward to the return of the millions of puffins that visit the island to mate and raise their families. One of them becomes her special friend. A puffin called Fido!
HARDCOVER 24 pp 21 x 24 cm Sold to: United Arab Emirates (AlFulk) Available in English 3-6 YEARS · 28 · · 29 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
SIGRUN ELDJARN TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
SIGRUN ELDJARN (b.1954) has written and illustrated high on 50 children’s books. She was the first author to receive the Sogusteinn Children’s Book Award for her literary career in 2007, having received up to that point several awards and recognition for her work, among others Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize three times and nominations to the H.C. Andersen Award, the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s literature Prize, the Icelandic Optimism Prize and the West-Nordic Children’s Literature Prize.
The Birthday Gift Afmælisgjöf, 2017
It’s Kuggur’s birthday! Malfridur and her mother give him an unusual birthday gift – a trip into town on the national holiday, which also happens to be his birthday! There he meets the President as well as a statue by the name of Jon. Can stat- ues have birthdays?
Sigrun Eldjarn’s stories about Kuggur and the lively Malfridur and her mother have entertained Icelandic bookworms for thirty years, always taking readers by surprise. The Birthday Gift is
Softcover the sixteenth book about this dynamic trio. 32 pp, 20 x 21 cm
4-9 YEARS
· 29 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Go Victoria! Áfram Sigurfljóð! 2017
Victoria flies far across the world, over moun- tains and fjords, countries and seas, over for- ests and deserts. On the way, she sees airplanes and air balloons, the sun, moon, and stars. She sees volcanic eruptions and floods, rich chil- dren and poor. Finally she sees Amira and Elias – they’re not feeling well. They finished the last of their food a long time ago, their clothes are torn, and their homes are in ruins. But with Victoria’s help, their lives will improve a lot! Sigrun Eldjarn has written and illustrated dozens of books for children. This is her second book about Victoria. HARDCOVER 40 pp 19,5 x 27 cm
Victoria Saves the Day Sigurfljóð hjálpar öllum, 2016
When Victoria wakes up bright and early one day, she knows that today is going to be ex- traordinary. She gives her mom and dad a great big kiss goodbye, grabs a green apple, and gets going!
HARDCOVER 40 pp 19,5 x 27 cm English translation available
4-9 YEARS · 30 · · 31 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
Betwo Bétveir, 2012
One sunny day a pink spaceship lands in the garden of Aki and his siblings. Out of it emerges a strange being with two heads who claims his name is Betwo. The being is curious regarding life on Earth, especially regarding a puzzling phenomenon he has observed from outer space. Betwo spends an entire day with the siblings; encounters a lady who sometimes writes stories, gets to know grandpa‘s hot cocoa and granny‘s woolly socks. Last but not least he gets to know all about the mysterious phenomenon – books – and they do not disappoint him in the HARDCOVER least! 42 pp, 20 x 27,5 cm 3+ English and German translations available Betwo is one of Sigrun Eldjarn’s first titles and played an important role in establishing her as the favourite author of numerous Icelandic children. This is an updated edition with new and fun illustrations by the author.
· 31 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
BERND OGRODNIK TE X T KRISTIN MARIA INGIMARSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS
BERND OGRODNIK (b.1961 in Germany) works as a performer, designer, builder, teacher and director. His approach is strongly influenced by his background as a classical musician, illustrator, woodworker, and martial artist, and his work has best been described as “food for the soul, not chewing gum for the eyes”. figurentheater.is KRISTIN MARIA INGIMARSDOTTIR (b.1962) studied art and animation, first in Iceland and later in the USA where she lived between 1984-1994. After a return back to Iceland, where she lives now, she has worked making animation, illustration, and graphic design as well as teaching.
The Troll and the Raven Gilitrutt og hrafninn, 2013
Newlyweds Jon and Freyja love each other dearly. Jon is a respectable farmer who works hard from dawn until dusk, but Freyja likes to sleep late and do as little as possible. Freyja is delighted when a mysterious old woman appears and offers to weave wool into cloth for her, but she soon starts to worry about the price she might have to pay. Fortunately Jon always remembers to feed the raven, and the raven rewards Jon’s kindness.
The story of the troll Gilitrutt and the young couple on a farm in the shadow of Mount Eyja- fjallajökull is an old Icelandic folktale. This HARDCOVER 41pp, 24x27 cm version is based on the popular puppet show by English and German translations available Bernd Ogrodnik, which received Griman, the Icelandic Theatre Award, for best children’s show YEARS 4–10 in 2011. Kristin Maria Ingimarsdottir created the illustrations derived from the original play.
· 32 · · 33 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
BRIAN PILKINGTON ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 16) GUDRUN H ELGADOTTIR TEXT (author information on page 46)
A Giant Love Story Ástarsaga úr fjöllunum, 1999
One of Iceland’s most popular children’s books. It was first published in 1981 and has since been translated into several other languages. The story gives the reader an unforgettable insight into the magic world of Icelandic legend and folklore. It is an exciting story – filled with love, compassion, and humour which appeals to children over the world. HARDCOVER 32 pp, 21 x 29 cm Published in English, German, Danish, Norwegian and French by Mal og menning. Sold to: Norway (Cappelen); Denmark (Sesam); Sweden (Opal); Faroe Islands (Nylendi); USA (Charolrhoda); Japan (Kaisei-Sha); Korea (BIR Publishing); Italy (RCS Libri/Fabbri Editori); Estonia (Valgus); Slovenia (ProAndy); Mainland China (Beijing YEARS Science and Technology Press) · 33 · 3–7 Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
BRIAN PILKINGTON TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS(see author information on page 16) Dynkur Dynkur, 2004
Dynkur the troll boy is afraid of the daylight and all the curious people who wander by his cave from time to time. But his mother convinces him that there is nothing to fear, and together they venture forth into HARDCOVER the wilderness to gather plants and mushrooms. The 24 pp, 21 x 26,5 cm Sold to: YEARS world outside is nothing like Dynkur expected it to France/Canada (Broquet) 3–7 English translation available be – and neither are the people, who appear little and harmless. Brian Pilkington’s stories of Icelandic trolls have long been well known and respected nationwide, as well as abroad, and deserve a place at every child’s bedside.
Stumble Hlunkur, 2000
An enchanting tale of a troll who wakes up from a long, deep sleep, in the middle of nowhere. He HARDCOVER YEARS doesn’t know who he is, or what to do. Only two 24 pp, 21 x 26,5 cm 3–7 Sold to: ravens take an interest in him. He follows them, Brazil (Caixote); Denmark (Gad); Korea (Yeo Myung Media); and gradually things become clearer in his mind. France/Canada (Broquet); Slovenia (ProAndy); Russia (Ripol) In the end he discovers that everybody is welcome Published in English, by Mal og menning somewhere – even trolls!
Icelandic Trolls Allt um tröll, 1999
In this stunningly beautiful book, Brian Pilkington brings the amazing world of the trolls to life in an amusing and original fashion. The Icelandic folk legends have been used as a background, but a great deal of new and surprising information has been HARDCOVER YEARS 24 pp, 21 x 26,5 cm 6+ added concerning the living conditions, traditions, Sold to: France/Canada (Broquet); and customs of these ancient creatures. Denmark (Gad); Italy (RCS Libri/ FabbriEditori); Estonia (Ilo); Russia (Ripol) Published in English, German and · 34 · · 35 · French by Mal og menning Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
A Fortnight Before Christmas Þrettán dagar til jóla, 2014
A charming Icelandic Christmas tale about the troll Gryla and her sons, the 13 Yule Lads. Aimed at children from 2 to 7 years old, and anyone who is still a child at heart. A wonderfully warm story despite all the snow.
Also includes an introduction to the Icelandic HARDCOVER 32 pp, 23 x 24 cm Christmas Family and the unique customs that Published in Icelandic and English by Mal og occur during the holiday season in Iceland. menning
The 13 Christmas Lads Jólasveinarnir 13, 2009
In Iceland there isn’t just one Father Christmas, there are thirteen Christmas brothers! Before Christmas they visit Icelandic children and sneak something nice into their shoe. Here you can read all about these lads, what each of them likes to do and their favourite foods. Yet again, Brian Pilkington produces an oiginal and YEARS entertaining work based on traditional PAPERBACK 4–8 36 pp, 23 x 23 cm Icelandic tales and folk beliefs. Published in Icelandic, German and English, by Mal og menning
· 35 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
BRYNHILDUR BJORNSDOTTIR, KRISTIN EVA THORHALLSDOTTIR TEXT
BRYNHILDUR BJORNSDOTTIR and KRISTIN EVA THORHALLSDOTTIR have years of experience in producing popular kids’ entertainment for radio and television.
Come Outside! - The Secret Traveling Society Komdu út, 2017
Do you want to play outside, but don’t know exactly what to do? Do you want to watch birds? Examine bugs? Go hunting for trolls? Or change into a mud monster? Then this is the book for you!
Come Outside! is full of fun ideas for things to do outside in nature, whether you’re down by the beach, up on a mountain, or just out in the yard.
SOFTCOVER 48 pp, 21 x 29,7 cm
5+ YEARS
· 36 · · 37 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
MARGRET TRYGGVADOTTIR TE X T LINDA OLAFSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS MARGRET TRYGGVADOTTIR (b.1972) is a freelance literary editor, translator and writer of children‘s books.
LINDA OLAFSDOTTIR (b.1978) has a BFA degree from the Icelandic Academy of Arts and an MFA degree in Illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She received the IBBY Iceland Spring Breeze award in 2014. lindaolafsdottir.com
Here is Iceland! Íslandsbók barnanna, 2017
Every spring, over fifty species of migratory birds come to Iceland and lay their eggs in the mild and bright Arctic summer. In the winter snow covers the ground and Northern Lights light up the sky. In Here is Iceland you can read all about this volcanic island: its birds and mammals, mountains and shores, hot springs and geysers, people and culture – through spring, summer, fall and winter.
Here is Iceland! by Margret Tryggvadottir and Linda Olafsdottir was welcomed by Icelandic read- ers of all ages. The book was nominated for the Icelandic Literary Award and received the Women’s Literary Award, the Reykjavik City Literary Award for illustrations, and the award of the Association
SOFTCOVER of Icelandic Graphic Designers. 96 pp YEARS 25 x 30 cm 5–12 Sold to: Italy (Il giogo di leggere editioni) Available in English
· 37 · Index ┘
PICTURE BOOKS
AEVAR THOR BENEDIKTSSON TEXT EVANA KISA ILLUSTR ATIONS
AEVAR THOR BENEDIKTSSON (b.1984) has become popular for his entertaining children’s books and programmes, on the television and radio. He has won awards for scripts and stage plays as well as a recognition for his work in science and education. His book Your Very Own Fable won the Icelandic Bookseller Prize and the Children‘s Book Prize as the best children‘s book of the year. aevarwritesbooks.com
EVANA KISA is a much sought after Icelandic Cartoonist who is perhaps most known for her work on Lazytown. She has also pub- lished an artbook in the US and Europe. She is the illustrator behind all the „Your Very Own“ titles. evana.deviantart.com
The Magical Tail Búkolla, 2018
The Magical Tail is about a clever cow, a rushing river, some frenzied she-trolls, a crazy bull, a blazing bon- fire, a massive drill – and YOU. Because you decide what happens!
Just remember, if you don’t like how the story ends, you can always try again – there are more than ten different endings!
The Monster Children Börn Loka, 2018
The Monster Children is about a deep, dark cave, three terrifying monster children, gods and goddesses – and YOU. Because you decide what happens!
Just remember, if you don’t like how the story ends, you can always try again – there are more than ten different endings!
SOFTCOVER 5+ 72 pp 14 x 21 cm · 38 · · 39 · English translation available Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
ARNDIS THORARINSDOTTIR TEXT
ARNDIS THORARINSDOTTIR’S (b.1982) previous novel for children, Confessions of a Milk Poet, was critically acclaimend and nominated to the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.
The Underpants Factory Nærbuxnaverksmiðjan, 2018
Life in Boxerville revolves around underwear. The underwear factory has loomed over the neighborhood since the dawn of the loincloth, which is why the world seems to turn upside down when it closes.
Gutti and Olina aren’t exactly friends. Still, they set out together on that fateful day – Gutti to discover what’s happened to his grandmother, and Olina be- cause she can’t resist anything dangerous or forbidden.
The Underpants Factory will make children laugh so much that the adults in their lives won’t be able to resist reading it too!
HARDCOVER 90 pp 14 x 21 cm Chapters in English available
· 39 · 6+ YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
ANDRI SNAER MAGNASON TEXT ASLAUG JONSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (author information on page 4)
ANDRI SNAER MAGNASON (b.1973) has won the Icelandic Literary Prize for both fiction, children´s book and non fiction, his work has been published or performed in over 30 countries and received numerous international awards, amongst them the Janusz Korczak Honorary Award, the West Nordic Children’s Book Prize and the Alfred Toep- fer Kairos Prize in 2010. Magnason has been active in the fight against the destruction of the Icelandic Highlands. andrimagnason.c0m The Story of the Blue Planet Sagan af bláa hnettinum, 1999
On a blue planet far out in space there are no adults, only children, who play when they want to and go to sleep when they are tired. Then a mysterious man lands on the planet, and teaches them how to fly when the sun shines, by flicking the dust off butterflies’ wings. A perilous adventure ensues, taking the children through dark forests and skies of blue. Their friendship and ingenuity are put to the test as never before. A captivating and subtle adven-
HARDCOVER ture that has all the ingredients of a classic. YEARS 95 pp, 21,5 x 26,5 cm 6+ A play based on the book premiered in The Sold to: France (Gallimard); Denmark (Gads Forlag); Sweden Icelandic National Theatre in 2001 and has (Kabusa); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); Greenland (Atuakkiorfik); Estonia (Eesti Raamat); Spain (Omega); since travelled around the world in theatres in Italy (RCS Libri/Fabbri Editori); Yugoslavia (Izdavacka Kuca Draganic); Thailand (Image Publishing); Greece Sweden, Pakistan, Greece, Bucharest, London, (Patakis); Korea (Tin Drum Publishing); Japan (Gakken); Berlin, Chicago and Toronto, to name a few. China (Beijing Yuanliu Classic Culture, Ltd.); Romania and Hungary (Koinónia); Lithuania (Zara); Germany • The West-Nordic Children’s Literature Prize 2002 (Leipziger Kinderbuchverlag); Finland (Pieni Karhu); Russia (OM Books); Turkey (Pegasus Yayinlari); Norway • The Janusz Korczak Honorary Awards (Commentum/audiobook: Karviland); US/UK/Australia/ • The Icelandic Literary Prize Canada (Seven Stories Press); Brazil/Portugal (Hedra); • Nomination for the Nordic Council Children and Taiwan (Commonwealth Publishing ); Lebanon (Arab Young People’s Literary Prize Scientific Publishing); Poland (EneDueRabe); Romania • Nomination for the IBBY Iceland’s Children (Paralela 45); Bulgaria (Ergon); Macedonia (Antolog); Literature Prize Latvia (Liels un mazs), Croatia (Znanje d.o.o.); Israel (Aryeh Nir) • The National Theatre Prize for New Plays Translation available in English • Nomination for Reykjavik Children’s Literary Prize The play in German, English and Romanian. • Nominated to the IBBY International Honour List · 40 · 2001 for Illustrations · 41 · • UKLA (UK Literacy Association) Book award 2014 • Green Earth Book Honor Award 2013, USA Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
GERDUR KRISTNY TEXT HALLDOR BALDURSSON ILLUSTRATIONS
GERDUR KRISTNY (b.1970) proved herself as one of Iceland’s most interesting poets with her first book, and has since then published several books of poetry, as well as short stories, novels, and children’s books. She received the Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize for Smart Marta, The Halldor Laxness Award for her novel A Boat with Sails and All, and the Icelandic Literary Award for her book of poetry, Bloodhoof. HALLDOR BALDURSSON (b.1965) has illustrated numerous books for children and is also well known for his caricatures.
The President, the Princess and the Sleeping Palace Forsetinn, prinsessan og höllin sem svaf, 2011
The president is going abroad! The princess’s mother is to be crowned queen and her father is to be crowned king and the president has been invited to the party. But there is something myste- rious going on at the palace.
HARDCOVER The President, the Princess and the Sleeping 96 pp, 14 x 22 cm YEARS 6–10 Palace is Gerdur Kristny’s third book about these lively characters, who have enjoyed great popular- ity both in books and on the stage of the National Theatre of Iceland. The story is richly illustrated by Halldor Baldursson.
· 41 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
The Princess at Bessastadir Prinsessan á Bessastöðum, 2009
The President has some important guests at his residence, Bessastadir: a king, a queen, and a prin- cess! Independence Day approaches, when lots of hard-working people are supposed to be awarded the Falcon Medal. But before the Falcon Order Party can start, all kinds of things happen, involv- ing waterfalls, old, hard doughnuts, an aggressive chicken, a bride and groom, and a marzipan ring cake that keeps shrinking… 6–10 YEARS
The Ball at Bessastadir
HARDCOVER Ball á Bessastöðum, 2007 96 pp, 14 x 22 cm The Ball at Bessastadir is about a president who GERDUR KRISTNY is bored at work. He is also lonely – because even though he gets many letters every day he is the TEXT only president in the country and can’t speak to THOREY MJALLHVIT any other president about presidential stuff. For instance: is it better to wave to children with your ILLUSTR ATIONS right hand or your left? He has no idea! THOREY MJALLHVIT (b.1980) is specialized in 2D animation and design, educated from the University of Wales, The Land of Lost Socks Newport, Department of Animation. Land hinna týndu sokka, 2006
Thorgeir is dying for a dog. But because of the yellow dog who disappeared long ago, his dream is unlikely to become true – until one day he discov- ers the Land of Lost Socks. This is the place where old lost things end up, so maybe his dog as well! A mysterious and exciting story by an award- winning author.
6–10 YEARS
HARDCOVER 140 pp, 14,5 x 21,5 cm Chapters in English available · 42 · · 43 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
KRISTIN HELGA GUNNARSDOTTIR TE X T LINDA OLAFSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 37)
KRISTIN HELGA GUNNARSDOTTIR (b.1963) has in the past years established herself as one of the most popular writers in Iceland. Her title Be Invisible - the Story of Ishmael’s Escape was nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Award. Gunnarsdottir has received and been nominated for Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize and four of her books have been chosen Book of the Year by library visitors of 6 to 12 years.
Moe the Prankster – National Prankster Convention Landsmót hrekkjusvína, 2015
HARDCOVER – Misunderstood Genius 117 pp, 15 x 21 cm Misskilinn snillingur, 2014
– Cowboy in Arizona Kúreki í Arisóna, 2013
This hilarious series chronicles the 9-year old Moe‘s various escapades, along with his best friend and a long dead cowboy from the wild west, called Gun Joe. Moe is kind at heart but
HARDCOVER HARDCOVER gets crazy ideas that sometimes get him into trouble. 120 pp, 15 x 21 cm 96 pp, 15 x 21 cm
All books sold to: Germany/Austria/Switzerland (Muekenschwein) Excerpts in English available German translation available
· 43 · 6+ YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
Grimm’s Tale An Authorized Biography of a Dog Grímsævintýri, 2012
Here is a biography of the happy-go-lucky family dog, Grimm Dandelion, that never hunted birds but would hurt a fly once in a while. Grimm Dandelion went to Dog Acad- emy. It didn’t do him much good but he did however teach Her Greatness and Grumpy a thing or two, and so much more than they ever managed to teach him. Good friends don’t necessary all walk on two feet. This is a story of the faithful dog who was sometimes dog-tired and bored, but mostly happy as a hound. A book for all animal lovers!
HARDCOVER 6+ • Nominated for The Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize 117 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm
Granddad Gissi’s Gallstones Gallsteinar afa Gissa, 2002
Torfi and Grima live in a stressed modern home. To make matters worse, Ulfur, their teenager monster of a big brother, does everything to annoy and terrify them. They therefore set off to see their granddad Gissi who is lying in hospital after a gallstone operation. As usual granddad has a solution to their problems - but is it a solution that works? Are gallstones suitable wishing stones? Are they really fortune stones? This is what the siblings will have to find out before they make some very problematic decisions. A frolicsome and entertaining story about incredible events.
HARDCOVER 6+ 15x21 cm 137 pages
English chapters available · 44 · · 45 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION Fiasol Never Gives Up Fíasól gefst aldrei upp, 2018
When Fiasol is unhappy about something, she tries to change it, whether it’s the rules of soccer or the ideas that her cheapskate parents have about what she should do with her own summer earnings. If neces- sary, she might have to seek advice from the Ombuds- man for Children.
Few Icelandic books have enjoyed as much popularity as Kristin Helga Gunnarsdottir’s stories about Fiasol, which have been brought to life on stage at the Na- tional Theatre of Iceland.
HARDCOVER • The 2019 Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize for Children 14 x 21,5 cm and Young People’s Books 150 pp English translation available
The Fiasol series 4–10 YEARS Fíasól 2004-2010 Fiasol is a seven-year old girl with a mind of her own who gets into all sorts of exciting adventures and sometimes into trouble. Would you: ...steal a fishing boat? …eat sugar with pirates? …camp in your living room? …argue with
Santa? …leave home to explore the world and return in a police car? Well, if picture book, HARDCOVER you are Fiasol you would! We were going to keep quiet about her adventures, 29 pp, 21,8 x 24 cm but now it’s time to let the cat out of the bag! English, Russian and German translations available
HARDCOVER HARDCOVER HARDCOVER HARDCOVER 146 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm 110 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm 110 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm 110 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm
• Children´s Choice • Children´s Choice • Children´s Choice Sold to: Serbia (Bestseler doo) Book Prize 2009 Book Prize 2007 Book Prize 2006 · 45 · Russian and English transla- tions available Index ┘
GUDRUN HELGADOTTIR TEXT
GUDRUN HELGADOTTIR (b.1935) published her first book in 1974 and has since been one of Iceland’s most popular and respected children’s authors. From that date onwards she has published over two dozen books. Helgadottir has received several prizes and recognitions for her work. In 1992 she received the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize for the book From Beneath the Weeds, in 1994 she received the Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize for Poor Little Things, in 2005 the book Different Family received The Children’ s Choice Book Prize and later that year she recived The Jonas Hallgrimsson award for her contribu- tion to the Icelandic language. She received the DV Cultural Prize Honour Award in 2014 for her lifetime achievements.
Plain Fun Bara gaman, 2008
Life in Bakkabaer is exactly as it should be. A part from the fact that Tumi is worried that mum doesn’t have a boyfriend, and his sister Vildis would really want her to have a bit more money. But little Vala has no worries and neither has mum. She works like mad in her workshop and has no idea that they need a man about the house.
Plain Fun is a riotous family story by one of Iceland’s most popular children’s authors. The readers are invited to spend the summer with the family in Bakkabaer and it’s just plain fun! HARDCOVER 137 pp, 16 x 22 cm • Selected one of the 7 best books for young readers 2013 Sold to: Germany/Austria/Switzerland by Deutschland Radio and Focus Magazine (Dressler Verlag)
6+ YEARS · 46 · · 47 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
GUDRUN HELGADOTTIR TEXT (see author information on page 46)
SIGRUN ELDJARN ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 29)
May Angels Watch Me Through the Night Wake Me in the Morning Light Sitji guðs englar Saman í hring Sænginni yfir minni, 2015
In a tiny house in a tiny village lives a large family: a sail- or and his wife, seven playful children, their god-fearing grandmother, and their foulmouthed grandfather. There’s a war going on in the outside world and it’s not long until the conflict stretches itself all the way to Iceland — with good and bad consequences.
Gudrun Helgadottir’s trilogy about this colourful family has enjoyed immense popularity since the first install- ment was originally published. Here all of the stories have HARDCOVER been collected into one splendid collection. 290 pp, 15,3 x 23 cm
7+ YEARS
· 47 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
Pleasure’s Mine! Ekkert að þakka! 1995 Eva and Ari Sveinn find a bag containing lots and lots of money, which was thrown from a speeding car by some shady characters fleeing from the police. They start giving the money to people who need it very badly, like their parents, without letting anyone know who the Hardcover donor is! A great mixture of suspense and humour. 125 pp, 16,5 x 21,5 cm Sold to: Denmark (Klim); Faroe • Book of the month in Lindhardt & Ringhof‘s Children‘s Book Islands (Bókadeildin) Available in English Club, Denmark, 2002
Don’t You Believe It! Ekkert að marka! 1996 We meet again the delightful characters from the best- selling Pleasure‘s Mine! Who find themselves in another adventure. Something strange is happening at Lina’s house at dead of night. Even though they find out the truth, nothing is what it seems, and there are various obstacles in their path...
Hardcover 112 pp, 16,5 x 21,5 cm Sold to: Denmark (Klim); Faroe You Never Know! Islands (Bókadeildin) Aldrei að vita! 1998 You Never Know! has all the qualities of a good story: an exciting plot, humorous episodes, and well-rounded characters. The children are on a visit out in the country when they notice strange goings-on at a sea-rescue cabin. Before they know it, they are caught up in midnight adventures.
Hardcover 120 pp, 16,5 x 21,5 cm Sold to: Denmark (Klim); Faroe YEARS Islands (Bókadeildin) 7–12 · 48 · · 49 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
STEINUNN JOHANNESDOTTIR TE X T ANNA CYNTHIA LEPLAR ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 17)
STEINUNN JOHANNESDOTTIR (b.1948) studied drama in Stockholm and worked as an actress for some years. She has written highly acclaimed historical novels about both Hallgrimur Petursson and his wife Gudridur.
Hallgrimur’s Christmas Jólin hans Hallgríms, 2014
It is almost Christmas. Hallgrimur is looking forward to the festivities but is kept busy while he waits. The farm animals need taking care of, the house must be cleaned and the food must be prepared, and Hall- grimur also has to learn a beautiful Christmas carol and teach it to his brothers. Amidst all these chores, an unexpected event takes place – a miracle of sorts.
Hallgrimur‘s Christmas tells of advent on the farm Grof in Hofdastrond in northern Iceland, in the year 1621 when Hallgrimur Petursson, later a prolific poet, was seven years old. Although much has changed over the past four centuries, there are many familiar aspects to the celebrations of the household at Grof, and then, just like now, the hearts of men grow lighter although darkness looms.
HARDCOVER Extract of the work is included in Verlag Friedrich Oet- 48 pp, 19 x 26 cm inger‘s bestseller, Scandinavian Christmas Stories.
· 49 · 6+ YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
AEVAR THOR BENEDIKTSSON TEXT RAN FLYGENRING ILLUSTR ATIONS
AEVAR THOR BENEDIKTSSON (see author information on page 38)
RAN FLYGENRING (b.1987) is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer. She has published books both in Iceland and Germany, where she has received the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, the German-French Youth literature prize and the Jahres-Luchs prize, besides being nominated for the German Academy of Children’s and Youth Literature Illustration prize Serafina and the ALMA prize (Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award). 5 Attack of the Superheroes
BOOK Ofurhetjuvíddin, 2018
SERIES Warning! This book contains courageous heroes, but also shadowy villains!
When twelve-year-old Aevar is sucked into another world where everyone is a superhero, he will have to rise to the occasion if he’s going to make it home. But does he really want to go home? And why are the heroes starting to disappear?
This series about The Adventures of Aevar the Sci- entist has received rave reviews, and has been nomi- nated for both the Icelandic Literature awards and was finalist and first International Selection of the DeBary Outstanding Children’s Book Awards 2016. The series uses a special font designed to make reading easier for people with dislexia and reading problems.
SOFTCOVER 224 pp 14 x 21 cm
· 50 · 7+ YEARS · 51 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION Attack of the Aliens Gestir utan úr geimnum, 2017
When Aevar the Scientist was almost twelve years old, something ter- rible happened: his cat, Einstein, disappeared without a trace. It soon turned out that it wasn’t only Einstein who was missing, but all of the pets in the city! And to make matters worse, a giant spaceship crash- landed in the neighbourhood, and it was full of dangerous aliens! Or is that what really happened?
SOFTCOVER 194 pp 14 x 22 cm Attack of the Robots Vélmennaárásin, 2015
WARNING! CONTAINS CRAZY ROBOTS!
Do you know someone whose favourite pastime is playing with the com- puter all day long? Aevar was just like that before he became a scientist. He even enrolled in summer school so that he didn‘t have to play out in the sun. But this turned out to be a dangerous decision because this was no ordinary school...
SOFTCOVER 194 pp 14 x 22 cm
• Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and YA Books 2016 Attack of the Dinosaurs Risaeðlur í Reykjavík, 2015
CONTAINS MAN-EATING DINOSAURS!
Aevar was just an ordinary boy ... well, maybe not completely ordi- nary. For example, he didn’t want any friends and would rather not talk to anyone, except his cat Einstein. But on his eleventh birthday everything changed! This is a book about seven ravening dinosaurs, a highly dangerous teenager, the usefulness of dodgeball, a bus driv-
SOFTCOVER er in peril and the best companion in the world. A thrilling story for 208 pp readers of all ages. The series uses a special font designed to make 14 x 22 cm Chapters in English available reading easier for people with dislexia and reading problems. Sold to: Abu Dhabi (AlFulk)
• Finalist and first International · 51 · Selection of the DeBary Outstanding Children’s Book Awards 2016 Index ┘
FICTION
THORGRIMUR THRAINSSON TEXT
THORGRIMUR THRAINSSON (b.1959) is an award- winning author and free-lance journalist. His books for teen- agers have been extremely popular in Iceland. He received the Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize in 1997. Thrainsson was awarded the position of city artist in Reykjavik 2013 for his contribution to children and young people’s culture and the IBBY Icelandic Spring Breeze award for his contribution to children’s culture in Iceland.
Henri – Kidnapped in Russia Henrí rænt í Rússlandi, 2018
What is lurking in the dark forests of Russia?
The Icelandic national soccer team is getting ready for another game – this time going up against Argentina and Lionel Messi himself at the World Cup in Moscow – and once again, team mascot Henri has been invited to watch them play. But the journey to Moscow is fraught with dan- ger, and Henri and his friend Mia must repeatedly fight for their lives.
For nearly three decades, Thorgrimur Thrainsson has been one of Iceland’s most popular authors for children and young adults. His previous books about Henri, Henri HARDCOVER 14 x 21 cm and the Heroes and Henri Hits the Mark, were huge hits, 140 pp and this latest installment in the series is a thrilling tale that readers will hardly be able to put down.
7+ YEARS · 52 · · 53 · Index ┘
FICTION
Henri Scores a Goal Henri hittir í mark, 2017
Henri’s life changed forever when he became the Ice- landic men’s football team’s lucky charm at the UEFA Euro 2016 Championship in France. Once orphaned and homeless, he’s now safely living with his foster mother and brother in Annecy. One day, he receives an invitation to a football match in Reykjavik! But this short trip to Iceland turns into a much bigger adventure than ever expected. The first story about Henri‘s adventures was a huge hit and here the fun continues.
HARDCOVER 144 pp 13,7 x 21 cm
Henri and the Heroes Henri og hetjurnar, 2016
How can Henri affect the fate of the Icelandic na- tional football team at the European Championship in France? He’s the team’s porter at the hotel and mocks them, lies to them, and steals from them, but even so, he still seems to be their lucky charm. Henri wants to meet Cristiano Ronaldo, and so smuggles himself along with the team when they head to their game against Portugal. That’s when the police step in. When the Icelandic players find out that Henri is at risk of being sent to an orphanage, they take matters into their own hands. But by then, Henri’s life is in danger. Thorgrimur Thrainsson is a former Icelandic footballer and a beloved member of the 2016 Icelan- HARDCOVER dic National Team’s staff. 200 pp 13,7 x 21 cm Chapters in English available
7+ YEARS · 53 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
KRISTIN STEINSDOTTIR TEXT (author information on page 21) HALLA S. T HORGEIRSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (author information on page 21)
An Angel in the Neighbourhood Engill í vesturbænum, 2002
Askur lives with his mother in a block in the west of Reykjavik. Everyone thinks only very ordinary people live there – but he knows bet- ter. A werewolf is on the loose, as well as Pippi Longstockings, silverfish, and an angel, to men- tion but a few. A fascinating and original story in which a boy’s speculations about life conjure up countless images, and imagination runs rampant. Each page is beautifully illustrated in colour, adding a magical touch to the story.
• The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize 2003
• IBBY Iceland’s Children Literature Prize • The Icelandic Illustration Award 2002 • Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2003 • The West-Nordic Children’s Literary Prize 2004 • Tower of Babel Honour Diploma, IBBY Estonia • Chosen one of the 100 best children‘s books of Ice- land by Icelandic librarians
HARDCOVER 98 pp, 20,5 x 21,5 cm Sold to: Sweden (Kabusa); Finland (Idun); Faroe Islands (Bokadeildin); Greenland (Milik); Denmark (Milik); Lithuania (Zara); Estonia (Nynorden); Slovenia (Malinc); Hungary (Pongrác Kiadó) German translation available Chapters in English available 7+ YEARS
· 54 · · 55 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
GUDNI LINDAL BENEDIKTSSON TE X T GUDNI LINDAL BENEDIKTSSON (b.1987) studied screen- writing and directing. He has worked as a scriptwriter for television and worked on films. He received the Icelandic Children’s Book Prize in 2014 for his book The Search for Blood Island.
The Incredible Adventures of Grandpa – THE MYSTERY OF THE HEIR Ótrúleg ævintýri afa – Leyndardómur erfingjans, 2015
Kristjan hadn’t been sitting in the cold hospital cor- ridor for long when his grandpa appeared with a brand new story in tow. It was all about a terribly dangerous journey that his grandfather took when he himself had to seek help at a remote hospital. On the way, he encountered all kinds of fearful creatures. Through it all, it takes every ounce of his energy to continue and unravel the mystery of the mysterious heir. Illustra- HARDCOVER 198 pp, 14 x 21 cm tions by Ivan Cappelli.
The Incredible Adventures of Grandpa – THE SEARCH FOR BLOOD ISLAND Ótrúleg ævintýri afa – Leitin að Blóðey, 2014
When Kristjan is sent off to bed early, Grandpa tells him a hair-raising tale. It’s a rollicking adventure from his younger days. It’s a tale of wizards, ninjas, dragons, trolls – and a mysterious island found on no map. Although Grandpa insists that it’s all true, the story is more incredible than anything Kristjan has heard
HARDCOVER before. Illustrations by Ivan Cappelli. 198 pp, 14 x 21 cm
7+ YEARS • The Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize 2014 · 55 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
GERDUR KRISTNY TEXT (see author information on page 41) LINDA OLAFSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 37)
“The Icelandic book market is very fortunate indeed to have such a talented writer as Gerdur Kristny writing children´s literature.” KILJAN, NATIONAL TV
Doll Dúkka, 2015
“Aren’t you too old for a doll?” asked my mom, looking away from me.
“Nuh-uh!” I said, shocked. “All the girls my age go crazy about dolls. They aren’t for little girls, either.”
“Why not?”
“These aren’t normal dolls. You have to take really good care of them.”
After her tenth birthday, Kristin Katla could finally buy herself the doll that all the girls were totally obsessed with. She doesn’t care that Petur Uni, her twin brother, makes fun of her — it’s a doll for older girls. She mur- murs and giggles when she likes something and her hair
HARDCOVER smells wonderful. But why does Petur Uni think the doll 108 pp, 14 x 22 cm is creepy? Could it be that she can do more than the girls Chapters in English available ever imagined?
Doll is a thrilling story for readers aged eight and older which will make the hair on your neck stand on end.
· 56 · 8+ YEARS · 57 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
SIGRUN ELDJARN TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 29)
The Silver Key Silfurlykillinn, 2018
Sumarlidi and Soldis just moved into a strange house called Bus Number Seven with their dad. He claims that it used to drive around the city streets, but the children can hardly believe it. Dad says so many curi- ous things about life in the old days, back when every- one had a phone and books still existed – long before Mom disappeared.
The Silver Key is a thrilling story about resourceful siblings, a mysterious girl searching for something of great importance, and a journey into the unknown.
• Nominated for The Nordic Council Children and Young HARDCOVER People’s Literature Prize 2019 230 pp 13 x 17,5 cm • The Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and Young People’s Books 2018 Film rights sold to: Bergmyndir • Nominated for Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2019 Chapters in English available Danish translation available
9-13 YEARS · 57 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
The Secret Tower at Shadowskerry Leyniturninn á Skuggaskeri, 2015
Everything’s gone haywire on Shadowskerry, where a furious woman is directing the search for her daughter, boats are getting lost in thick fog, and something spooky is underway that no one knows anything about. Meanwhile, in Fairdale people are unable to sail out to the skerry any longer.
HARDCOVER 206 pp, 14 x 21 cm
The Haunting of Shadowskerry Draugagangur á Skuggaskeri, 2014
Summer is coming and Shadowskerry is the best place in the whole world. Or is it? Is there something dangerous afoot? The children come across mysterious men and a spooky little girl! Are they living people – or ghosts?
HARDCOVER 206 pp, 14x21 cm The Runaways on Shadowskerry Strokubörnin á Skuggaskeri, 2013
A war has started between the villages of Austurhlid and Vesturhlid and the adults are all behaving very strangely. That’s why Lina and Hringur decide to run away from home on Happadisin, their homemade boat. Their destination is Shadowskerry – the creepy island out by the horizon.
HARDCOVER • Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and Young 193 pp, 14x21 cm People´s books Chapters in English available • Nominated for the Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize
YEARS · 58 · 9+ · 58 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION The Art Museum Listasafnið, 2012
The setting up of The Natural History Museum and The Antiques Museum went well. All that’s left is the top floor where the Art Museum is supposed to be. But the space is a mess and very little to put on display aside from insignificant paintings and ugly statues. Runar’s dad is offered a job abroad and gets his mother to come and finish the job. She recruits help from various places – from unusual friends from near and far, the children in Asgardur, and mysterious natural
HARDCOVER forces. 201 pp, 13,5 x 28 cm The Natural History Mu- seum Náttúrugripasafnið, 2011
In a dusty shop in New York, Runar is given a mysterious package and asked to take it to Iceland. At the same time his friends receive a strange delivery from a woman they didn’t even know existed. At home in Asgardur preparations for the opening of the Natural History Museum HARDCOVER are under way; a stuffed polar bear will be on 204 pp, 13,5 x 28 cm show, but something exciting is lacking. Some- thing quite unique!
The Antiques Museum Forngripasafnið, 2010
Runar has just moved to a small village where his father has taken up the post of museum curator. Along with the kids from next door, Runar helps his dad to organise the museum, but then myste- rious things begin to come to light.
HARDCOVER 198 pp, 13,5 x 28 cm Chapters in English available
8–12 YEARS · 59 · · 60 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION Heart of Stone Steinhjartað, 2005
Siblings Stina and Jonni are expecting a visit from their friend Skafti. But as soon as he steps onto the plane that is supposed to be taking him to the city, a mysterious chain of events is set in motion, and the kids will have to do every- thing they can to save themselves – and indeed the whole world – from imminent disaster. A breath-takingly exciting book with lively and colourful illustrations.
HARDCOVER • Nominated for the Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize as the best children’s 208 pp, 13,5 x 18 cm book of 2005 English translation available 6–12 YEARS The Frozen Toes Frosnu tærnar, 2004
Everything’s changed at High Hillock now that the curse of the Fog Queen has been lifted. But there is still something strange going on in the country, and so Stina and Jonni head out again on a dangerous mission, now accompanied by young Stevie. Among the magical items they carry with them are three small bottles containing potions of various colors. HARDCOVER 240 pp, 13,5 x 18 cm • Nominated for the West-Nordic Literary Award Greenlandish and Faeroese translations available The Lost Eyes 6–12 YEARS Týndu augun, 2003
Mist and darkness hover over the landscape Stina and Jonni find themselves trapped in. And when they escape, the wild lava fields and creepy woods do little to cheer them up. It turns out to be a perilous journey and countless questions arise. The Lost Eyes is a breath-taking book for both boys and girls, packed with colourful pictures by one of Iceland’s most loved children’s writers.
• The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize as the best children’s book of 2003 • Nominated for the Nordic Council Children’ and Young People´s Literature Prize 2003
HARDCOVER 230 pp, 13,5 x 18 cm Sold to: Hungary (People Team Millenium) English translation available
· 60 · 6–12 YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
GUNNAR HELGASON TEXT
GUNNAR HELGASON (b.1965) is a popular actor and well known for all kinds of entertaining material for children which has enjoyed great popularity for some years. Amongst other things he has directed a popular children’s program on Icelandic State TV. He received the IBBY Spring Winds award 2013 for his contribution to children’s culture in Iceland. All the books in Great Football Adventure series are Series: written with advice from Reykjavik Child Services as well as the Icelandic Football Association. Stories about the football- The Great er Jon Jonsson have been mainstays on Icelandic bestseller Football lists for the past years. gunnarhelgason.co.uk Adventure Goal Kick in Gothenburg Gula spjaldið í Gautaborg, 2014
I had no choice but to concentrate on the game and forget all my troubles. Forget the girls, Toti and everything else on my list, for one moment. Easier said than done. You’ll un- derstand if you read the list. Number three on it was: make sure no one dies.
The Great Football Adventure… CONTINUES!
Jon Jonsson and friends are off to the world’s biggest youth championship in football – the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden. Teeming crowds of footballers – guys and girls – are flocking to the city, each and all dead-set on returning home with a gold medal around their neck.
But in Gothenburg, life isn’t just about football. What is the meaning of that bull in Jon’s dreams, and will everyone re- HARDCOVER turn home alive? How will things turn out with Ivar and his 341 pp, 14 x 21 cm dad? And how to tackle romance, when you have hormones rushing through your veins and zits spreading like wildfire?
· 61 · YEARS FROM 8 Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
Offside in Reykjavík Rangstæður í Reykjavík, 2013
Jon Jonsson and his mates from Throttur Football Club have arrived at ReyCup along with boys and girls in third and fourth divisions from all over the country and even from abroad! The tension is incredible, both on the field and off, and the boys discover that the offside rules are complicated, both in football and in life itself.
• Children´s Choice Book Prize, 2014
HARDCOVER 315 pp, 14 x 22 cm Free Kick Fantasy Aukaspyrna á Akureyri, 2012
The great football adventure continues in this thrilling story. Jon Jonsson and his friends continue to fight for victory, both on and off the field. As they say: you lose some, you win some.
• Children´s Choice Book Prize, 2013
HARDCOVER 295 pp, 14 x 22 cm Football Fury on Volcano Island Víti í Vestmannaeyjum, 2011
A thrilling story about great goal-keepers, doughty de- fenders, wily wingers, fleet-footed forwards, and glorious goals...but also about other things such as a surly skipper, a corrupt cop, fire-breathing mountains, and other even more serious problems that need dealing with in spite of the fact that there is a football tournament going on.
• The number one bestselling children’s novel in Iceland in 2011!
HARDCOVER 264 pp, 14 x 22 cm Chapters in English available Film rights sold to Saga film A television series is in production YEARS · 62 · FROM 8 · 63 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION Series: Stella’s Bonkers Family
My Bonkers Mum! Mamma klikk, 2015
Dear reader,
Do you think that you have a nutty mother? Wait just a sec until you read about mine! Once upon a time, she was fun and great and cheerful but lately, she’s completely fallen apart. Everyone thinks so! ... But no worries. I have a plan. Plan: Let’s Change Mum! She can’t go nuts. And if you have a nutty mother, you can learn how to fix yours just like me. Just open up the book and see how I’m doing!
Regards, Stella, age 12 (aaaaaalllllmost 13)
• IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities Selection HARDCOVER • The Icelandic Literary Prize 2015 for Children and Young People 192 pp, 14 x 21 cm Books Sold to Denmark (Turbine); Korea (Woorischool); Macedonia (Antolog) • The Children’s Choice Book Prize 2015 English translation available Film rights sold: Saga Film • Nominated for The West Nordic Council’s Children and Youth Theatrical rights sold to the Literature Prize 2015 National Theatre of Iceland • The Icelandic Bookseller‘s Prize for Children‘s Books
Professor Dad Pabbi prófessor, 2016 Christmas is coming and Stella is looking forward to it like crazy—just like she always does. But then things start get- ting complicated. Her mom gets a bizarre offer from abroad and just like that, completely disappears. Then Stella agrees to sing in the Christmas pageant at school, even though she’s never done something like that before. And then eve- ryone around her suddenly gets a crush on someone—even Stella’s brother Palli and Skinny Hanni the cheapskate. Which leads Stella wonder whether someone could get a crush on a perfectly average girl in a wheelchair who hap- pens to have the weirdest family on the planet?
• Children‘s Choice Book Prize 2016
HARDCOVER · 63 · 9+ YEARS 250 pp, 14 x 21 cm Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
Grandma is Best Amma best, 2017
Dear reader,
Stella here! If you’ve read My Bonkers Mum and Profes- sor Dad, you know who I am. You can’t even imagine what happened in the weeks before my confirmation. It was so amazing that I had to write another book! I don’t want to say too much, but we’re talking about a contest between life and death, and DEATH itself (I’m not kidding!), and finally my grandma in Copenhagen – the best grandma. Have fun! Regards,
Stella (alive and kicking).
• Nominated for The Icelandic Booksellers‘ Prize 2017 HARDCOVER 250 pp, 14 x 21 cm
Siggi the Sourpuss Siggi sítróna, 2018
About to undergo a major operation, Stella is fearful. Either the pain in her back will disappear, or she’ll be in even worse shape than before. As if that’s not enough, Mom is pregnant with twins and crazier than ever. She and Dad plan to finally get married, but now they have to postpone the wedding, and the way things are going, maybe it’ll never happen. It’s a good thing Siggi’s walking around singing “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King. But Siggi might ac- tually be more worried than anyone else in the family. Will he continue to be Siggi Sweet-As-Pie after the babies are born? Or will he turn into a sourpuss?
HARDCOVER 250 pp 14 x 21 cm · 64 · 9+ YEARS · 65 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
AEVAR THOR BENEDIKTSSON TEXT (see author information on page 38) Your very own Series
Your Very Own Time Travel Þitt eigið tímaferðalag, 2018
A BOOK THAT WORKS LIKE A COMPUTER GAME — YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
Your Very Own Time Travel is the fifth book in the ever-popular Your own-series, which has won both a Children’s Book Prize and a Bookseller’s Prize.
Your Very Own Time Travel is different than other books. Here, you are the hero and you control the ac- tion. The setting is the present, the past and the future – all depending on what you decide. Do you want to meet Vikings, visit Ancient Rome or even dinosaurs? Do you dare check out what is happening on Planet Earth in a hundred years? What about in a thousand? Just make sure not to loose your time machine so you will make it back home.
HARDCOVER 14 x 22 cm 420 pp • Over 60 different endings
• The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2018 • Endings include everything from eternal (3rd place) for the Best Children´s happiness to sudden death Book of the Year • Adventurous fun for all children · 65 · 9+ YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
Your Very Own Fairytale Þitt eigið ævintýri, 2017
YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
The fourth book in the ever-popular Your own- series. Here, you are the hero and you control the action. The setting is a very dangerous fairytale forest, packed full of strange creatures and monsters. Will you end up in the stomach of a wolf, or do you let yourself be tricked by a delicious gingerbread house? Will the thorn bush entangle you, or would you rather climb up a giant beanstalk? It’s your choice!
HARDCOVER • Nominated for The Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and 309 pp Young People‘s Books 2017 14 x 22 cm Sold to: Russia (Meshcheryakov) • Nominated for Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize 2018 • The Icelandic Booksellers‘ Prize 2017 (2nd place)
Your Very Own Spooky Story Þín eigin hrollvekja, 2016
YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
Have you ever wanted to get back at someone? Well, in this book, you’ll get your chance. Here’s the story: you have a babysitter. And she’s really grouchy and impa- tient. But then you find this website where you can actu- ally buy a monster. The prospect is way too tempting to pass up. But will you end up regretting your decision? In this book, terrifying monsters are a dime a dozen and it’s up to YOU to decide what’s the best way to stay alive. Good luck!
HARDCOVER • The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2016 (2nd place) for the Best 282 pp Children’s Book of the Year 14 x 22 cm Sold to: Russia (Meshcheryakov) 9+ YEARS · 66 · · 67 · Index ┘
FICTION
Your Very Own Nordic Mythology Þín eigin goðsaga, 2015
YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS
Norse mythology is full of giants and monsters, gods and heroes. But what would you do if you were to meet these creatures? Here you are the hero and you decide what happens. It is set in the world of Norse mythology, with dangers lurking at every step. Take part in adven- tures with Thor the god of thunder, climb the Yggdrasil Ash tree, or try to survive Ragnarök itself – all depend- ing on the choices you make. Enjoy – and good luck! More than fifty different endings, from eternal happi- HARDCOVER 482 pp ness to sudden death. 14 x 22 cm Sold to: Russia (Meshcheryakov) • The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2015 (3rd place) for the Best Children’s Book of the Year
Your Very Own Fable Þín eigin þjóðsaga, 2014
YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS
Icelandic folktales are full of trolls and monsters, elves and the undead, ghosts and the Christmas lads. But what would you do if you met these creatures? In Your Very Own Fable – you are the hero and you decide what happens. You might run into treacherous Icelandic mer- maids, wrestle with a giant dragon or save people from the most horrible trolls ever seen in Iceland!
• The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2014 • The Children’s Choice Book Prize 2014 (the only children’s book prize voted for by children them- HARDCOVER selves) 305 pp • TV rights optioned by Icelandic State Television 14 x 22 cm Sold to: Russia (Meshcheryakov)
· 67 · 9+ YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
KRISTJANA FRIDBJORNSDOTTIR TEXT KRISTJANA FRIDBJORNSDOTTIR (b.1976) has a degree from The Teachers University of Iceland. She has worked as primary school teacher in Reykjavik, besides organizing social activities for children and young people. She received the IBBY Spring Breeze award 2013 for her contribution to children’s culture in Iceland. Her title The Travel Log of Olafia Arndis was selected for the 2014 IBBY Honour List.
“Having read all three books, I now rate Olafia Arndis as one of my favourite fictional characters. A lively, clever girl who truly springs to life on the page.” MORGUNBLADID DAILY
“Now just go and read my blog, it’ll change your life. I mean it!” OLAFIA ARNDIS Olafia Arndis’s Rules of Life Lífsreglur Ólafíu Arndísar, 2013
Olafia Arndis has started blogging. It wasn’t her decision, it was part of a dead boring self-image support project she was ordered to do. But now that she has started she will do it properly, of course! In her blog she writes about all the incred- ible things she experiences, the extraordinary people she meets (even at the risk of offending some of them), and, last but not least, all sorts of strange rules of life that are sometimes difficult to put into practice.
Olafia Arndis’s Rules of Life is a hilarious story about a rebellious girl whom readers will know HARDCOVER 127 pp, 14 x 22 cm from previous titles in the series.
YEARS 7–12 • Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2010
· 68 · · 69 · Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
The Travel Log of Olafia Arndis Reisubók Ólafíu Arndísar, 2012
Two days into the summer vacation, Olafia Arndis’ grandmother appears out of the blue and invites her to come with her on a trip. She says she’s going to travel around in an ancient camper van and visit old friends. At first Olafia is not too keen, but decides to tag along when she is told she can have a brand new tablet computer to keep a travel log. And here we have her travel log, which is not ex- actly the one her grandmother was expecting!
HARDCOVER 120 pp, 14 x 22 cm Olafia Arndis’s Diary Selected for the 2014 IBBY Honour List Dagbók Ólafíu Arndísar, 2011
Olafia Arndis is an extremely unlucky girl. No sooner has she escaped from Flatey island (which actually turned out to be more fun than she had expected and in the end not really bad at all) than her parents up sticks and move to Dalvik. Here she starts to write a diary and also to look for work so she can save enough money to pay for the fare to Reykjavik. This very entertaining story is a sequel to Letters from Flatey Island. Letters from Flatey Island Flateyjarbréfin, 2010
School is over and all children are happy that the summer holidays have started. Olafia Arndis will stay in Flatey island for the summer, which means she will have to send the home assignments by post to her teacher back in Reykjavik. However, in her letters Olafia Arndis tends to dwell on almost anything rather than the curriculum, as so many
HARDCOVER things happen to her on the island, even though it 120 pp, 14 x 22 cm has very few houses and hardly any inhabitants.
• Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2010 · 69 · FROM 9 YEARS Index ┘
ILLUSTRATED FICTION
THORARINN LEIFSSON
THORARINN LEIFSSON (b.1966) studied at the Icelandic Academy of Arts. In the same period he worked as a street painter in Western Europe. After graduation from art school he worked as an illustrator, billboard painter, and graphic designer. He has illustrated several books and newspaper articles. totil.com
“The Roald Dahl of Iceland!” KILJAN, NATIONAL TELEVISION
Grandmother’s Library Bókasafn ömmu Huldar, 2009
Albertina lives in a peculiar world. There are no books and the special educational machines in school only teach about loan interest rates. The Internet has been prohibited for years and the terrible Gold Bank has gained control of most of the world. Finally grownups start to disappear one by one. That’s when grandmother Huld turns up with an enormous library of HARDCOVER 128 pp, 13,5 x 21 cm books and dangerous knowledge. From now on Sold to: Denmark (Torgard); Finland (Idun); nothing stays the same. Norway (Orkana); Estonia (Nynorden); Italy (Salani); Brazil (Cereija); Norway (Orkana) grandmotherslibrary.com
Chapters in English and German available
• Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2009 YEARS • Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and 9–99 Young People’s Literature Prize
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ILLUSTRATED FICTION
The Man Who Hated Children Maðurinn sem hataði börn, 2014
Sylvek lives with his grandmother, who complains about the monotony of daily life in Reykjavik. Then everything changes. Someone starts to murder young boys in Reykjavik. Simultane- ously a mysterious lodger with an obnoxious dog moves into their house. The lodger says he hates children. Woven into the story is a famous children’s books author, a quick-witted jour- nalist, a detective who is afraid of the sight of blood, and last but not least: the TV station Sta- simon, which is mapping the life of Reykjavik Paperback with flaps for a TV reality show that is truly one of a kind. 250 pp, 14 x 21 cm
Sold to: Denmark (Torgard) • Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize Film rights sold: The Icelandic Film Company for Children and Young People’s books • Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People‘s Literature Prize
Father’s Big Secret Leyndarmálið hans pabba, 2007
How long can you keep a terrible secret? This is the question that two siblings ponder in this book, but when their father tries to eat their best friend he goes too far and they decide to tell the police the truth – their father is a cannibal. Father’s Big Secret is a story about normal chil- dren dealing with a very abnormal problem with unforeseen consequences. At the same time the story tackles a very real problem that many chil- dren face – when do you have to tell and when should you keep quiet?
HARDCOVER 128 pp, 13,5 x 21 cm Sold to: Germany/Austria/Switzerland (LEIV); Den- mark (Torgard); Finland (Idun); Faroe Islands (Bókadeildin); YEARS Norway (Orkana) 10+ English translation available · 71 · Index ┘
FICTION
INGA MEKKIN BECK TEXT
INGA BECK (b.1988) holds a degree in creative writing from the University of Iceland. The School Ghost is her first book.
The School Ghost Skóladraugurinn, 2016
On her first day at her new school, Gunnvor hears about the school ghost—a story that all the kids already know by heart and have stopped listening to. But Gunnvor lis- tens. It would help, of course, to know if ghosts actually exist. Do they?
The School Ghost is an exciting story that inter- weaves stories about mysterious events in the past with the exhausting demands of everyday life in a small seaside village. The book won the Icelandic Children’s Book Award in 2016.
• The Icelandic Children´s Literature Prize 2016
HARDCOVER 173 pp 14 x 20 cm
10+ YEARS
· 72 · · 73 · Index ┘
FICTION
THORGRIMUR THRAINSSON TEXT (see author information on page 52) HALLA S. THORGEIRSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (author information on page 21)
The Kid Who Disappeared Krakkinn sem hvarf, 2012
What is it like to have an insane inventor for a father? Kari usually finds it just fine but the day that the frozen-pipe- experiment goes out of hand, and millions of people laugh at him on YouTube, Kari is hardly the happiest eleven year old on the planet. However, he doesn’t know that his dad is considering considerably more dangerous things in his lab when no-one is looking.
The Kid Who Disappeared is a lively and humorous story set in a small village where ghosts run amok, it’s highly dangerous to steal shampoo at the swimming pool, cars drive into the sea in the middle of the night, and it’s best to beware of the unknown.
HARDCOVER 198 pp, 14 x 22 cm
9+ YEARS · 73 · Index ┘
FICTION I Love Seagulls
Þorgrímur Þráinsson Ég elska máva, 2015
Anton is amazed when a snow-white dove with a letter tied to its leg flies in through his window—and pretty frustrated when Ég elska she flies right back out into the night. After this, a number of surprising things start happening to máva Anton and Pandora, his best friend. Could it be that Hallfredur the janitor is sending people letters and books even though he’s long been dead? Could miraculous stories from the past be true? Is it possible to go on a journey at night at the same time that you’re sleeping? Why mightn’t you encounter a rat at the school? How can you listen to the voice of your heart?
Over the last 25 years, Thorgrimur Thrainsson has published many books for children and teens, all of which have enjoyed immense popularity. Here he introduces two unusual charac- ters in a fascinating narrative that will appeal to both children HARDCOVER and their parents. 198 pp, 14 x 22 cm 9+ YEARS Tears, Smiles and Football Boots Tár, bros og takkaskór, 2015
The friends Kiddi and Tryggvi are back in school after a vibrant football summer. There‘s a new guy in class, Skapti, who be- comes their friend despite being more interested in ballet and poetry than football. There is also a new girl, Agnes, that immediately catches Kiddi‘s eye. It will be an eventful autumn, with the school tournament in football and work with the na- tional youth football team, as well as a ski vacation in Kerlinga- fjoll mountains where a mysterious thing happens that will have serious consequences.
Tears, Smiles and Football Boots was first published in 1990 and became an immediate success with the readers.
• Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize 1991 • The VISA Cultural Prize 1992 SOFTCOVER 188 pp, 14 x 22 cm 11+ YEARS
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FICTION
ARMANN JAKOBSSON TE X T BERGRUN IRIS SAEVARSDOTTIR ILLUSTR ATIONS
ARMANN JAKOBSSON (b.1970) is professor of medieval literature at the University of Iceland. He has written articles about social and cultural issues in newspapers and maga- zines for decades, as well as in-depth pieces on Icelandic literature. He is the author of diverse books of fiction, non- fiction, and poetry.
BERGRUN IRIS SAEVARSDOTTIR (author information on page 10)
The Last Wizard Síðasti galdrameistarinn, 2014
When the final member of the Dragon Task Force fails to kill the country’s last remaining dragon, Kari is summoned. He is to be the King’s wizard, but has first to tackle three tasks to prove his ability. The problem is that he has no idea how to do magic. Meanwhile, an inva- sion by Queen Skuld, said to be both cruel and skilled in sorcery, is imminent.
The Last Wizard is an exciting fairy-tale about bravery and friendship, deceit and betrayal, for readers nine years and older. In this, his first children’s book, Armann Jakobsson draws on the inexhaustible fountain of stories from medi- eval Norse literature. HARDCOVER 204 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm • Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Chil- dren and Young People’s Books • Selected for the IBBY Honour List 2016
10+
· 75 · Index ┘
FICTION
BRYNDIS BJORGVINSDOTTIR TE X T
BRYNDIS BJORGVINSDOTTIR (b.1982) is an award winning author, folklorist and adjunct professor at Iceland Academy of Arts. In 2015 Bjorgvinsdottir gained extensive media attention both in Iceland and abroad by organizing a social media event in an effort to convince the government to accept more refugees, which immediately garnered the support of over 12.000 Icelanders pledging help and support for Syrian refugees.
The Local Joke Hafnfirðingabrandarinn, 2014
“My name is Klara, and I live in a pigsty in Hafnarfjordur. Every day, I’m committed to an institution with the other teenagers in the neighborhood. The institution is called Vidi- staðir School, and it stands in a secluded spot in the middle of a lava field. And that’s where I stay, along with the other fifteen-year-old maniacs in the tenth grade.”
In December 1999, Klara is left with her grandmoth- er while her parents go on a holiday to the Canary Islands. The school’s Christmas ball looms on the horizon, as well as a popularity contest and a string of bizarre dates at the town’s only café. As if that isn’t trying enough for Klara, she also learns of her elderly relatives’ curious and compelling past which has come back to hunt her. The Local Joke is an uproari- hardcover ous story for teens and young adults of all ages. 432 pp, 14 x 21 cm Chapters in English available
• Nominated for The Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize 2017 • The Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and Young People’s books • The Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize 2014
14+ YEARS • The Icelandic Booksellers‘ Prize
· 76 · · 77 · Index ┘
FICTION
The Fly that Ended the War Flugan sem stöðvaði stríðið, 2011
The houseflies glanced back and forth between the fly on the front page and the commotion of the people. They were all thinking the same thing. No-one in the whole world would be able to explain the goings-on during the night as well as they could. They were the only ones who had seen what happened, with their sophis- ticated and perceptive housefly eyes. That is why they felt they should try and explain what brought about the end of the war and a housefly ending up on the front pages of all the world’s biggest newspapers.
Kolkex, Hermann Sukker, and The Fly are just ordinary houseflies. The sort of flies very few people notice and which hardly ever do anything significant. Until the day they decide to run away from home and seek out the good monks of Nepal. hardcover 108 pp, 14 x 22 cm The Fly that Ended the War is an unusual story, Sold to: France (Bayard Jeunesse) both hilarious and deadly serious at the same United Arab Emirates (AlFulk) Korea (Hanmadang Publishing Co.) time; it is about flies, people, and war. Turkey (Can Publishing) English translation available It was chosen from a large number of scripts that competed for the 2011 Icelandic Children´s Literature Prize.
• Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize 2011
9+ YEARS · 77 · Index ┘
FICTION
BRYNHILDUR THORARINSDOTTIR TE X T BERGRUN IRIS SAEVARSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS (author information on page 10)
BRYNHILDUR THORARINSDOTTIR (f.1970) has written many children’s books, both modern stories as well as popular transcriptions of the Icelandic sagas, for which she won the Nordic Council Children and Young People‘s Literature Prize in 2007. She received the Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize for the mystery story The Lion’s Secret in 2004. She lectures at the University of Akureyri.
Gulbrandur Snati and the Sweet-Tooth Spies Gulbrandur Snati og nammisjúku njósnararnir, 2017
Would you like to spend the whole summer in a deserted village, miles away from anyone else and without even a single piece of candy? “No, thank you!” declare siblings Gunnar and Gyda. But no one asked them. The one bright spot, however, is their encounter with a mysterious creature named Gul- brandur Snati. Good thing, too, that they brought their CB radios so they can eavesdrop on their mom and aliens. Then a letter arrives from Captain HARDCOVER Black Beard and suddenly, the brother and sister 187 pp, 13,5 x 21 cm have plenty to keep them busy.
A fun story for bookworms aged 7-12 and anyone else who enjoys exciting spy tales.
• Nominated for The Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize 2017
· 78 · 7-12 YEARS · 79 · Index ┘
FICTION
GERDUR KRISTNY TEXT (author information on page 41)
The Garden Garðurinn, 2008 Eyja is shocked when she looks through the window in her new flat and sees an enormous cemetery full of gloomy tombs and gravestones just across the street. Talking about neighbours! Still, the situation doesn’t get critical until her father buys a brown leather chair. Her parents think the chair is excellent, but Eyja instantly feels that it has brought something unwelcome into her home – something malignant. In her new school Eyja has great fun with her new mates, but best of all is Solvi – the boy who is perhaps a friend, perhaps a boy-friend, and perhaps in 10th grade.
• The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2008
• The West-Nordic Children’s Literature Prize 2010
HARDCOVER 152 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm YEARS English chapters available 10+ Sold to: Germany/Austria/Switzerland (Saga Verlag); Norway (Bokvennen); Denmark (Vandkunsten) Film rights sold to: Pegasus Pictures
· 79 · Index ┘
FICTION
KRISTIN HELGA GUNNARSDOTTIR TEXT
KRISTIN HELGA GUNNARSDOTTIR (b.1963) has in the past years established herself as one of the most popular writers in Ice- land. Her title Be Invisible - the Story of Ishmael‘s Escape is now being nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Award. Gunnarsdottir has received and been nominated for Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize and four of her books have been chosen Book of the Year by library visitors of 6 to 12 years.
Be Invisible - the Story of Ishmael‘s Escape Vertu ósýnilegur – Flóttasaga Ishmaels, 2017
Once Ishmael lived in a lively city where merchants sold their wares in the soukh and children ran around in a fairytale world. Now he is fourteen years old and his city is a warzone. When his home is destroyed, he has no other choice than to flee and try to find shelter in a peaceful country. But the path of escape is danger- ous and he must again risk his life. In the meantime, a small family in Iceland struggles to take on the difficult task of settling into a new country, achieving small victories every day.
Kristin Helga Gunnarsdottir has written many books for children and teenagers. Be Invisible – The Story of Ishmael’s Escape is a novel built on interviews, news, and other sources about the civil war in Syria, the fate of the people, and their destiny.
• Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People‘s Literature Prize 2018 • The Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize 2018 HARDCOVER 200 pp • The Icelandic Booksellers‘ Prize 2017 13,5 x 21 cm • Nominated for Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize 2018 Danish translation available Chapters in English available • Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize 2017
· 80 · · 81 · 12+ YEARS Index ┘
FICTION
Ghost Trail Draugaslóð, 2007
In the deserted highlands two brothers have gone missing in a snowstorm, and Eyvindur Thoruson is determined to find out what’s going on.
Eyvindur, Eyvi to his friends, lives with his grandmother and their two cats in an old house by a lake. Life has been pretty much routine all of his thirteen years so, when Eyvi’s mother turns up out of the blue to invite him to spend the summer in a traveller’s lodge in the highlands, he jumps at the chance. Ghost Trail is an exciting book, abounding with colourful characters, ghost stories, mystery and suspense.
• The West-Nordic Children’s Literature Prize 2007
• Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s HARDCOVER 207 pp, 13,5 x 21 cm Literature Prize 2009 Chapters in English and German available • The Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize 2008 Full translation available in Danish • IBBY Honour List 2010 9+ YEARS
The Rhyolite Order Ríólítreglan, 2011
Hrafn has almost finished organizing the community centre’s spring trip to the mountains when he disappears without a trace. The youngsters who were planning to go on the trip are devastated – not least his four friends who hang around the community centre most days. In the meantime everything is going haywire in Noi’s home, with elf experts toiling every day to pacify the invisible folk who previously occupied the area. Suddenly the charming Trausti appears out of nowhere, offer- ing to take on Hrafn’s role.
The Rhyolite Order is a thrilling story, where legendary charac- ters roam at large.
HARDCOVER YEARS 200 pp, 14 x 22 cm 12+ Chapters in English available
· 81 · Index ┘
FANTASY
ANDRI SNAER MAGNASON TEXT (author information on page 40)
Time Casket Tímakistan, 2013
When things are looking bad and economists predict a massive financial crisis, Sigrun’s family is lucky – they can crawl into their black caskets and wait for better times. But one day, her casket opens and she is confronted by an abandoned city in ruins, with everyone stuck in black caskets waiting for things to get better.
Sigrun meets a strange old lady in a house full of children and archaeological artefacts. The old lady tells them a story of a greedy king who conquered the world but yearned to conquer time. With a magical casket, transparent like glass but made of spidersilk, with such a dense weave that even time cannot penetrate the walls, the king can spare his beautiful princess the rainy days, the normal days and the worth- HARDCOVER 296 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm less days. Sold to: Denmark (Tiderne Skifter); Hungary (Gondolat Kiado); Turkey (Domingo Yayınevi) One day a small boy opens the casket and the Brazil (Morro Branco); Japan (NHK); Mainland China (Jieli); Taiwan (Eastern); Italy (Giunti); princess discovers that 20 years have passed, Greece (Patakis); Finland (Aula & Co); Korea (Arumbooks); Romania (Paralela 45); the kingdom is crumbling and the king has World English (Restless Books); Macedonia (Antolog); gone mad. There seems to be a connexion of Czech Republic (Argo); Egypt (Mahrousa) some sort between the old woman’s story and English translation available Sigrun’s world. She and her friends must find 10+ the link, which will hopefully show them how to fix the world. • The Icelandic Literary Prize, for Children and Young People’s Books • The West-Nordic Literature Prize 2013 • Nomination for The Nordic Council Children and Young People‘s Literature Prize • Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2014 • Icelandic Booksellers‘ Prize as best teenage book of the year
· 82 · · 83 · Index ┘
FANTASY
GUNNAR THEODOR EGGERTSSON TEXT
GUNNAR THEODOR EGGERTSSON (b.1982) has a degree in literature and cinema. He received the Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize for his first book, The Stone Animals.
Devil Disa Galdra-Dísa, 2017
Disa looks like a perfectly normal high school student, but this is far from the truth. In reality, she is three hundred years old with magical powers, powers she’s used to battle monsters and demons from the past. These days, she only uses her powers for fun, but in a reckless moment, she inadvertently awakens an un- known force, sending her on a life-threatening adventure. Devil Disa is a stand-alone continu- ation of Dead Disa, which received universal critical acclaim when it came out in 2015. HARDCOVER 328 pp, 13,5 x 21 cm
• Nominated for The Icelandic Dead Disa Booksellers‘ Prize 2017 Drauga-Dísa, 2015
“The sentinel stood like he always had, stock-still with his hands stretched to the sky. She shook her head and laughed to herself for having believed that a tree could come to life.”
Disa is called a lot of names at school and Dead Disa is not the worst of them. When everything goes haywire between her and the most popular clique in the ninth grade, she flees with her parents to the country. Three hundred years earlier, a boy sits in the same valley, waiting for a Skoffin — a mythical creature with a lethal gaze — to be born, even though there’s a strict ban on raising such a monster. Neither one of them knows it, but soon Disa and Bjorn’s paths will cross and set off a course of HARDCOVER 288 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm events that will surpass all the monster stories the world has Chapters in English available ever known. • Nominated for the Icelandic · 83 · YEARS Literary Prize for Children 11+ and Young People‘s books Index ┘
FANTASY
The Stone Creatures Steinskrípin, 2012
“The land was washed-out and cold as far as the eye could see…” Berg wakes up one day and the sun is high in the sky, but everything else is unfamiliar. The world is grey and dull, ruled by the Stone Creatures – terrifying monsters with slimy arms and razor sharp claws...However, Berg is not alone in the world. A mysterious, cape-clad girl follows him at every turn. She is born into this gritty world and has never known any- thing but monsters and hardship. They set out on a dangerous journey together with a precious item in a bag – possibly man- kind’s only hope to beat the Creatures and reclaim the planet. HARDCOVER 198 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm
The Stone Animals Steindýrin, 2008
How can a dog turn into a statue? That is somewhat mysterious but exactly what happened: Ring, old Ulf’s dog turned into a statue and immediately all the grown-ups in our village be- haved as if he’d never existed. And Ring wasn’t the only animal to disappear without a trace leaving a stone statue behind. We had to get to the bottom of it. Which is why Erla, Haukur, and myself entered Dark-cave on a more adventurous quest than anyone could ever have foreseen.
According to the jury of the award this is an exciting and original adventure story inspired in folk-tales and legends, HARDCOVER 198 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm yet unique. Chapters in English available
• The Icelandic Children’s Literature Price 2008
10+ YEARS
· 84 · · 85 · Index ┘
FANTASY
HILDUR KNUTSDOTTIR TEXT
HILDUR KNUTSDOTTIR (b.1984) has garnered widespread attention and awards with her books Winter Dark and Winter Frost, which have been translated into several languages and are being turned into a television series.
Winter Frost 11+ YEARS Vetrarhörkur, 2016
Following an alien attack on Iceland, no one knows how many survivors are still in hiding. Bergljot and her father are on the Westman Islands and have just found out that her brother Bragi is still alive somewhere in the country. But can they find him? And will life ever be normal again?
• The Icelandic Bookseller‘s Prize 2016 for YA • The Icelandic Literary Prize for Best Children’s and YA Book • Nomination for the Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize
HARDCOVER • Nominated as the 2019 Best YA Book of the Year by Kniha 282 pp, 14.2 x 21,7 cm Roku, Czech Republic
Sold to: France (Thierry Magnier); Czech Republic (Práh); Winter Dark TV Rights sold to RVK Studios Vetrarfrí, 2015
What do you like to do during winter break? What if you didn’t have any choice? What if you were suddenly faced with the unthinkable?
Bergljot is looking forward to going to a party with the other tenth graders. Her brother Bragi is staying at his friend’s house and their parents have booked a romantic trip. But all these plans come to nothing when a strange epidemic breaks out. Then no one’s thinking about any- thing anymore except how to survive.
• The Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize for YA literature • Nomination for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Best Children’s HARDCOVER and YA Book 210 pp, 14.2 x 21,7 cm Chapters in English available • Nomination for the Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize
Sold to: France (Thierry Magnier); Czech • IBBY Honour List 2018 Republic (Práh); Macedonia (Publisher); • Nominated· 85 · as the 2019 Best YA Book of the Year by Kniha Roku, TV Rights sold to RVK Studios Czech Republic Index ┘
FANTASY
The Prophecy Spádómurinn, 2012
“They simply appear beside children the night after they are born and disappear the night after a person dies.“ Sigyn smiled the weariest smile Kolfinna had ever seen. “They are one of the mysteries of life. The wings and the East.”
Kolfinna is fifteen years old and life is full of questions: What is the point of having wings if you can’t use them? What is the threat her parents whisper about out in the shed, when they think she doesn’t hear? And what does it say in the prophecy, which only the adults in the village know?
The Prophecy is a gripping story from an exotic world where mysterious forces seek power and HARDCOVER 210 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm it is the fate of a teenage girl to fight back.
10+ YEARS
· 86 · · 87 · Index ┘
FANTASY KJARTAN YNGVI BJORNSSON SNAEBJORN BRYNJARSSON TE X T
KJARTAN YNGVI BJORNSSON AND SNAEBJORN BRYNJARSSON are both born in 1984 and have been friends since secondary school. Both are great fans of fan- tasy fiction. Kjartan has a degree in Literature and creative writing. Snaebjorn has studied theatre both in Iceland and Japan and is currently living in Paris, where he works as a theatremaker and writer.
“Raveneye is a timeless fairytale and classic fantasy, immensely entertaining and exciting, and tremendously Raveneye well-written.” Hrafnsauga, 2012 FRETTABLADID DAILY Almost a thousand years have passed since the Age of Darkness, when the seven sages joined forces and vanquished the Shadows. The dark times are now mostly forgotten. But though Man‘s memory is fleeting, the ancient forces never forget.
The initiation festival is coming soon, the day when the shaman will tell Ragnar, Breki, Sirja, and their peers in the village what their roles and duties are to be. The youths should be enjoying their last carefree days in the summer sun, but the future holds different things in store.
The ancient forces that once plunged the world into relentless night have stirred again and their harpies are afoot. They are seeking something in the village. It is not long before the children are drawn into events that they don’t understand, but soon they realize that their actions will decide the fate of three worlds.
Raveneye is the first book in the Three Worlds Series, a thrilling HARDCOVER 383 pp, 14 x 22 cm saga of blood-magic, hidden secrets, and forgotten fiends that Chapters in English available threaten all three worlds.
• The Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize 2012 • The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize as the best book for best young adult fiction 2012
11+ YEARS · 87 · Index ┘
FANTASY
Dreamsword Draumsverð, 2013
The seals imprisoning the Shadows are breaking. The evil wiz- ards are awakening and can once more touch the three worlds. After their pale men and harpies decimated the village Vebakki, Ragnar, Breki and Sirja have been fleeing for their lives. Ragnar has discovered that he carries within himself one of the seven seals and with it comes great and terrible magic he must learn to control.
HARDCOVER 383 pp, 14 x 22 cm Wormstongue Ormstunga, 2015
After the great explosion under Velaja, the group is scattered – Ragnar plummets to a vast glass plain where no life can survive, Sirja comes to on an unfamiliar beach and Breki wakes up in a forbidden cave full of gold and jewels. None of them know what has become of their friends, but the hope of being reunited keeps them alive. Meanwhile, the survivors of Vebakki fight for their lives, unaware of the ancient terrors that have come back to life.
• IBBY Iceland Spring Breeze Award in 2016 HARDCOVER 583 pp, 14 x 22 cm Ghost Sun Draugsól, 2018
The foundation of the worlds creaks as the seals are broken one after the other and the power of the Shadows grows. In the far north, the Janes fight to survive. In the east, the earth trembles beneath the largest army the world has ever seen, among its ranks the wolf-rider Breki. In the south, in the verdant hillsides of Verdys, Sirja learns the swordmasters’ art and discovers the secrets of clairvoyance.
Ragnar learned to harness his power from the ancient sage Kymros before turning his back on his master. Now, his tattered SOFTCOVER 623 pp remains lie beneath the ruins of the black tower, and a ghost sun 14 x 21 cm will soon rise.
· 88 · · 89 · 11+ YEARS Index ┘
FANTASY
RAGNHEIDUR EYJOLFSDOTTIR TEXT
RAGNHEIDUR EYJOLFSDOTTIR (b.1984) is an architect by profession. The Rats is her third book (see page 99). Her first, The Heir, received the Icelandic Children’s Literature Award in 2015 as well as the Booksellers’ Prize in the young adult literature category, and the sequel, The Underworld, received the Reykjavik Children’s Book Award in 2017. Shadow Saga – The Underworld Skuggasaga – Undirheimar, 2016
Saga was raised among humans and has no idea where she really comes from until the curious creature Baldur appears and takes her to Elfworld. Conflict and intrigue is rife, and evidently not everyone is pleased with her return. When Saga is accused of practicing black magic and premeditated murder she flees to Hyrnuborg with her friend Orvar and their spirit guides. The Underworld is the second instalment to Shadow Saga.
HARDCOVER 309 pp, 14 x 21 cm • The Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize for Best Children‘s and YA Book 2016
Shadow Saga – The Heir Skuggasaga – Arftakinn, 2015
Saga is the kind of girl that no one notices. She also sees things that no one else sees, but she learned long ago to keep quiet about that. When the maid in the basement vanishes and a horrifying monster takes her place, Saga gets an explanation of why she is different from others. It’s an explanation that’s hard to face, but also the beginning of an amazing adventure.
• The Icelandic Children´s Literature Prize 2015
HARDCOVER 412 pp, 14 x 21 cm · 89 · 11+ YEARS Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
ELISA JOHANNSDOTTIR TEXT
ELISA JOHANNSDOTTIR (b.1978) has a masters degree in comparative literature. This is her first book.
Are You Out of Your Mind? Er ekki í lagi með þig?, 2017
When Ragnheidur moves to the town, she’s ready to start a new life, to forget the bullying she experienced at her old school and make friends at her new one. Things get off to a good start when Hekla, the most popular girl in school, introduces her both to football and to the 10th grade boys, but before long, friend- ships are broken and there‘s no way to tell who is on whose team.
An earnest YA novel about making and losing friends, bullying, parental problems, stand- ing on your own two feet, and the intense and complicated emotions that all teenagers wrestle with.
HARDCOVER 315 pp, 13, 5 x 21 cm • The Icelandic Children’s Literature Prize 2017 Chapters in English available • Nominated for the Reykjavik Children‘s Literature Prize 2017 • The Icelandic Booksellers‘ Prize 2017 (2nd place) • Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Young People´s Books 2017
12+ YEARS · 90 · · 91 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
SIF SIGMARSDOTTIR TE X T
SIF SIGMARSDOTTIR (b.1978) is a writer and a freelance journalist. She graduated from the University of Iceland with a BA in history and later attended the University of Reading where she received a MA in children’s literature.
Freya’s Saga – Treasure Freyju Saga: Djásn, 2014
Freya has reached the beautiful city of Vana- heim. But beneath the polished surface some- thing is not right. When Freya receives a letter from a friend who she thought was dead she is faced with a decision that could spell the end for the people of Iceland, the last remaining survivors on Earth. Should she stand by her father, the President of the Continent? Or should she follow her own path and betray him?
HARDCOVER 405 pp, 14 x 21 cm Freya’s Saga: The Wall Chapters in English available Freyju Saga: Múrinn, 2013 The walled city of Donol is haunted by a deci- sion made a generation ago. When Freya is contacted by an Outsider, who has somehow slipped through the city’s defences, she starts to uncover a family secret she was never meant to learn. But as Freya sets out to discover the truth she is faced with an impossible obstacle: The entire population of Donol. When she is warned that its Leader, Zheng, has sent his Guards to look for her, she becomes a fugitive.
The Wall is the first book in a series called Freya’s Saga, a Dark Tale, based on Norse mythology. A dramatic page-turner.
• Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Chil- HARDCOVER dren and Young People’s books 365 pp, 15,5 x 23,5 cm Chapters in English available • Nominated for the Icelandic Women‘s Literature Prize · 91 · YEARS • The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize for the best chil- 11–111 dren‘s novel of 2013 Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
I’m No Drama Queen Ég er ekki dramadrottning, 2006
Embla starts blogging the day she finds out that her family is about to move to England. She thinks it’s terrible news, she doesn’t want to leave her friends and, least of all, a boy in her class that she’s had her eye on (although unfor- tunately the feeling doesn’t seem to be mutual). This stirs her to take drastic measures that will have their consequences. A vibrant and enter- taining story by a new author.
HARDCOVER 160 pp, 15,5 x 23,5 cm Sold to: France (Bayard Jeunesse) Once Upon a Time There Was a Drama Queen Einu sinni var dramadrottning í ríki sínu, 2007
When Embla learns that her boy friend plans to break up with her, she decides to take action. Determined to make sure that the adventure of her life has a happy ending, despite a temporary setback, she begins her search for a new prince charming. Unfortunately, the rules of fairy tales do not apply to Embla’s life. Not only do frogs not turn into princes, but princes do turn into frogs, and neither friendly dwarves nor helpful fairy godmothers cross her path. A terribly
HARDCOVER funny tale that made a real hit with Icelandic 160 pp, 15,5 x 23,5 cm youths.
YEARS 12–16
· 92 · · 93 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
ARNDIS THORARINSDOTTIR TE X T
ARNDIS THORARINSDOTTIR (b.1982) (author infor- mation on page 39)
Confessions of a Milk Carton Poet Játningar mjólkurfernuskálds, 2011
It is all-important to make a good first impression. Halla knows this perfectly well! Which is why on the first day at the new school she makes sure her hair is freshly washed and her clothes are carefully chosen. The problem is that the rumour got there before her: She is the drug pusher from the West- side of town and nothing can change that image. So the only thing is to play along!
• Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize
HARDCOVER 240 pp, 12 x 22 cm Chapters in English available
12+ YEARS
· 93 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
THORGRIMUR THRAINSSON TEXT (author information on page 52)
Help! Hjálp!, 2014
Five teenagers drive into the darkness, armed only with GPS coordinates and vague directions towards a natural hot spring in the wilderness. The moon casts a somber deepblue light over the landscape, and they all have an uneasy feeling as they step out of the car. Yet none has an inkling of the terror lurking in dark. Help! is a thrilling story for teenagers by Thorgrimur Thrainsson, which keeps readers gnawing their nails from start to finish.
HARDCOVER 208 pp, 14 x 22 cm
YOUNG ADULT
Double O Nine Núll núll 9, 2009
Life follows its accustomed routine for Joel and his friends until Ania turns up. She is unlike anyone Joel has ever met, and after she suddenly sits down at his table in the Blue Pot Café one weird event follows another. And her computer, which has unexpectedly been left in Joel’s hands, contains evidence of events which could affect the future of Iceland.
• The Children’s Choice Book Prize, 2010 HARDCOVER 212 pp, 14 x 22 cm
YEARS 12–16 · 94 · · 95 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
JONINA LEOSDOTTIR TE X T
JONINA LEOSDOTTIR (b.1954) has worked as a writer and journalist for decades and has had several recognitions for her work.
A Matter of Life and Death Upp á líf og dauða, 2011 “It is obvious. Whoever wrote the poem is experiencing a desperate inner struggle and might even have lost the will to live. This is an S.O.S.! But who sent it?”
Hronn finds a piece of paper with a very sad poem after a few schoolmates have been to her home to work on a class project. She sets out to find the person who wrote it and lend him, or her, a helping hand, but that is easier said than done. Five of Hronn’s classmates were at her house and she has no way of knowing which one of them left the piece of paper, deliberately or by chance.
Her twin-creep of a brother and her best friend also join the search. But their interest in the mystery soon wears thin, as they get engrossed
HARDCOVER in something totally different. 179 pp, 14 x 22 cm Chapters in English available A humorous thriller about depression and Sold to: Hungary (Pozsonyi Pagony) possible suicide.
Jonina Leosdottir’s novels for young adults 12+ YEARS have been extremely popular and she received an acknowledgement from IBBY for the trilogy that began with Kisses & Olives. A Matter of Life and Death is a lively and exciting story about a deadly serious matter that many people, sooner or later, encounter.
· 95 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
Me and You Ég og þú, 2009
Kata is going crazy without her boyfriend in Brighton. She talks about him non-stop. Anna is more reserved about her feelings, and no one knows that she, too, left her heart in England. Me and You is the third book about the teenager Anna and her first acquaintance with love. HARDCOVER 185 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm Black and White Svart & hvítt, 2008
Black & White is an independent sequel to Kisses and Olives. After an eventful summer in England Anna starts secondary school in Reykjavik. In her mind she grapples with many things after her stay in Brighton, but nothing compared to the chaos that reigns in the head of her friend, Kata. Kata can’t get Deepak, the Indian boy she met in Brighton, out of her mind, but his parents have arranged his wedding with a girl in India he doesn’t even know. It becomes clear that the girls will not get to the bot- tom of all of this, unless they go back to England and take charge HARDCOVER of the situation. 184 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm
• The IBBY-in-Iceland Spring Breezes Award
Kisses and Olives Kossar og ólífur, 2007
In Kisses & Olives we follow teen-queen Anna to Brighton, England where she works at a hotel over the summer. There she gets to know many surprising things – new situations and interesting people, but also new feelings she never had before. Kisses and Olives is an engaging story by Jonina Leosdottir that should appeal to all teenagers.
HARDCOVER 184 pp, 14 x 21,5 cm • The IBBY-in-Iceland Spring Breezes Award Chapters in English available and synopsis
12+ YEARS · 96 · · 97 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
BRYNDIS BJORGVINSDOTTIR, OLI GUNNAR GUNNARSSON AND ARNOR BJORNSSON TE X T SOLEY DUFA LEOSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS
BRYNDIS BJORGVINSDOTTIR (b. 1982) is an award winning author, folklorist and adjunct professor at Iceland Academy af Arts. OLI GUNNAR GUNNARSSON (b.1997) and A R NOR BJORNSSON (b.1998) wrote and performed the hit play The Teenager, a huge success which was later commissioned to show all the way in China! SOLEY DUFA LEOSDOTTIR (b.1999) loves to draw and goes to Hamrahlid Highschool.
The Search for the Point of Teenagers Leitin að tilgangi unglingsins, 2015
What’s the point of teenagers? And of life?
Here, with the help of expert in teenagerology and bestsell- ing author Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir, Arnor and Oli Gunnar scrutinize the teenage psyche, which they themselves know only all too well. This book is for teens, anyone who knows teens, anyone who has been a teen, and anyone else who has PLC 287 pp, 14 x 22 cm an interest in odd social behavior, bad breath, handshakes, and failure and triumph in equal measure.
· 97 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
HILDUR KNUTSDOTTIR TEXT (author information on page 85)
The Lion Ljónið, 2018
After an incident at her old school that led to her being expelled, sixteen year old Kria has moved with her parents to Reykjavik. They want her to make a fresh start, but she has zero hopes that a new school will make her life any better. But to her surprise she is befriended by the beautiful and popular Elisabet, who lives in one of the oldest houses in Reykjavik. And despite the demands of her studies, Kria starts enjoying her new school-life. When Elisabet finds an old chest in a hidden cupboard, she and Kria begin to investigate the curious case of a girl who went missing without a trace in 1938. Kria also meets the mysterious David, who sometimes vanishes for long stretches of time. Soon, Kria discovers that the girl’s disappear- ance may have an unexpected connection to her own life.
The Lion is the first book in a new trilogy, an exciting story that takes place in contemporary HARDCOVER 410 pp Reykjavik but also delves into terrifying events 14 x 21 cm from the past.
Chapters in English available
• The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2018 for YA books YEARS • Nominated for The Icelandic Literature Prize 2018 14+ for YA books • The Reykjavik Children´s Literature Prize 2019
· 98 · · 99 · Index ┘
YOUNG ADULT
RAGNHEIDUR EYJOLFSDOTTIR TEXT (author information on page 89)
The Rats Rotturnar, 2018
Is it possible to catch a disease that was eradicated long ago?
And if you did, how likely would you be to survive?
A group of young people end up in a summer job out in the countryside, though it wasn’t ex- actly their first choice. Through an apparent se- ries of coincidences, a few of them are chosen to work on a project near a run-down emergency shelter in the highlands. But when they arrive, something shadowy makes itself known. Before they know what’s happening, they must fight for their lives, and above all, cling to hope.
• Nominated for The Nordic Council Children and HARDCOVER Young People’s Literature Prize 2019 273 pp 14 x 21 cm • Nominated for Reykjavik Children’s Literature Prize 2019 Chapters in English available • The Icelandic Booksellers’ Prize 2018 for YA Books, Danish translation available 2nd place • Nominated for The Icelandic Literature Prize 2018 for YA books
· 99 · 14+ YEARS Index ┘
SAGAS AND MYTHOLOGY
INGUNN ASDISARDOTTIR TEXT KRISTIN R. GUNNARSDOTTIR ILLUSTRATIONS
INGUNN ASDISARDOTTIR (b.1952) is currently working on her PhD in Norse Mythology. She has worked as a theatre director, literary reviewer and translator, and is now working as a free-lance inves- tigator of Norse mythology as well as collaborating in an international project regarding heathen practices in the Nordic countries. KRISTIN RAGNA GUNNARSDOTTIR (b.1968) is a free-lance illustrator and artist. She has a degree in literary studies and has worked as a graphic de- signer and teacher. She received the Dimmalimm, the Icelandic Illustration Award in 2008.
Norse Mythology Örlög guðanna, 2008
Norse Mythology recounts many of the fascinat- ing myths passed down through the centuries by people in the Nordic countries. These are the most widespread tales of this Northern heritage, telling of the creation of the world, dealings between the gods and Ragnarok, the end of the world, all of them finely illustrated.
• Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize 2008 • The Icelandic Illustration Award 2008 HARDCOVER 128 pp, 21,5 x 26 cm Chapters in German available
FOR ALL AGES
· 100 · · 101 · Index ┘
SAGAS AND MYTHOLOGY
BRYNHILDUR THORARINSDOTTIR RETOLD
MARGRET E. LAXNESS ILLUSTRATOR
BRYNHILDUR THORARINSDOTTIR (author informa- tion on page 78)
MARGRET E. LAXNESS (f. 1961) is an illustrator and designer who has illustrated children’s books of all kinds.
The Saga of Njáll Njáls saga, 2017
The Saga of Njáll is an epic story of two Viking families living on the south coast of Iceland in the late 10th century. Njáll is a peaceful man who is widely respected for his wisdom, legal knowledge and accurate prophecies. These qualities are put to the test as his best friend is out- lawed, his wife wages a vendetta against the neighbours, and his sons become increasingly unpredictable and vio- lent. Njáll struggles to restore peace and order, but he is haunted by terrifying visions of evils yet to come. Indeed, the merciless witches of fortune have already chosen each of them a harsh fate.
Believed to be written in the late 13th century, The Saga of Njáll is without doubt the best-known Icelandic Saga. It is a literary treasure and an action-packed thriller that has been told and retold in Iceland for at least seven hund- Softcover red cold and dark winters. In this illustrated version, nov- 60 pp, 21 x 26 cm elist Brynhildur Thórarinsdóttir and artist Margrét E. Available in English Laxness bring the great warriors, tragic heroes and rotten scoundrels of The Saga of Njáll to life once again in a book suitable for the whole family.
· 101 · Index ┘
SCIENCE
KATIE KABOOM TEXT
Chemist KATIE KABOOM knows just how to make things fun and accessible for children, including her love of playing with slime. In this book, she uses text and photos to demonstrate how you can turn simple ingredients into your own homemade slime putty – not to mention playdough and crystals.
Katie’s Book of Slime Slímbók Kötu, 2018
Playing with slime is a fun and imaginative activity for nearly every kid. The possibilities are endless – you can create different kinds of colorful slime, roll it and shape it, stretch it and twist it, knead it and let it ooze through your fingers.
Enjoy!
SOFTCOVER 48 pp 21 x 30 cm
6+ YEARS
· 102 · · 103 · Index ┘
SCIENCE
VILHELM ANTON JONSSON TE X T
VILHELM ANTON JONSSON (b.1978) has a degree in philoso- phy from the University of Iceland. He is a visual artist and musician, and has hosted a number of popular TV programmes
Villi’s Book of Science: Extreme Experiments Truflaðar tilraunir, 2018
Villi’s Book of Science: Extreme Experiments is the fifth title in Villi’s popular science series. Covering just about everything under the sun, these books have awakened the curiosity of countless young readers and encouraged them to make all sorts of fun discoveries through science experiments. And since it’s always good for young scientists to have a little help, Villi’s experiments are a great activity for the whole family.
Villi’s Book of Science: Extreme Experiments is bursting with new and exciting experiments HARDCOVER 84 pp designed to get kids asking questions – and 30*25 discovering the answers.
Happy experimenting!
· 103 · 5–12 YEARS Index ┘
SCIENCE
Villi’s Science Book: Perception and Illusions Vísindabók Villa – Skynjun og skynvillur, 2016
The human brain is magnificent! We use our brains every day for all sorts of (clever and silly) things.
Villi’s Science Book: Perception and Illu- sions is a book about the human brain and how it can “trick” us into seeing things that aren’t actually there or make them seem different to us than they are. As usual, Villi has his unique and lively way of explaining the compelling world of science, and the book contains simple, informative, and funny experiments to perform HARDCOVER with friends and family – while enhancing our 104 pp 30 x 25 cm understanding of the brain.
Villi’s Paper Planes – 17 fun paper planes and games for all the family! Skutlubók Villa – 17 skemmti- legar skutlur og leikir fyrir alla fjölskylduna!, 2015
SOFTCOVER 48 pp 21 x 29 cm
· 104 · 5–12 YEARS · 105 · Index ┘
SCIENCE
Við búum á pínulitlum hnetti í risa-, risa-, risastórum alheimi. Stjörnurnar á himninum og tunglið blasa við okkur og geimurinn sem er svo óendanlega spennandi fyrirbæri.
En hvar byrjar og endar alheimurinn? VÍS NDABÓK VILA Hvernig varð hann til? Hvað var áður en hann varð til? Hvað er að finna á reiki- stjörnum, tunglum og stjörnum í kringum okkur? Hvernig komumst við út í geim? Hvernig getum við lent á tunglinu? Hverjir fóru fyrstir út í geim?
Þessum spurningum og mörgum öðrum er leitast við að svara í þessari bók. Auk þess er bókin stútfull af tilraunum sem einfalt er að gera heima og tilvalið fyrir alla fjölskylduna að taka þátt í. Geimur n og geimfrði
Vísindabók Villa – geimurinn og geim- ferðir er þriðja bókin í þessari vinsælu seríu. Fyrri tvær slógu rækilega í gegn og var sú fyrsta tilnefnd til Íslensku bókmenntaverðlaunanna. Nú hefur Villi fengið Sólmyrkva-Sævar í lið með sér, Sævar Helga Bragason formann Stjörnu- Villi’s Science Book 3 skoðunarfélags Seltjarnarness. Saman útskýra þeir himintunglin og geimferð- irnar á skemmtilegan og ljóslifandi hátt. VÍS NDABÓK VILA — Vísindabók Villa, 2015 geimur n og geimfrði Bragson Helgi & Sævar Anto Json Vilhem er fábæ k um alt mil him ns og eims! VÍS NDABÓK VILA Villi’s Science Book 2 Geimur n og geimfrði Vilhem Anto Json & Sævar Helgi Bragson Vísindabók Villa, 2014
HARDCOVER 96 pp 25 x 30 cm Villi’s Science Book Vísindabók Villa, 2013
The Villi’s Science Book series has been incred- ibly popular and has opened the eyes of Icelan- dic children to the wonders of the universe and science. In the third book, Villi collaborates with amateur astronomer Saevar Helgi Bra- gason and together they direct their sights to the starry sky and man’s attempts to explore and chart it. Who was the first person to travel into space? How does an astronaut prepare for a
HARDCOVER spacewalk? And where does the galaxy actually 96 pp end? 25 x 30 cm
• The number one bestselling children´s book in Iceland in 2013 • Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize for Children and Young People’s books 2013
HARDCOVER 96 pp 25 x 30 cm · 105 · YEARS Sold to: USA/Canada (Edda USA); China (Hachette- 5–12 Phoenix Cultural Development); India (Wonder House Books) Index ┘
SCIENCE
THORSTEINN VILHJALMSSON JON GUNNAR T HORSTEINSSON TEXT from The Icelandic ScienceNet website THORARINN MAR BALDURSSON ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 22)
THORSTEINN VILHJALMSSON is a physicist, professor emeritus at the University of Iceland. JON GUNNAR THORSTEINSSON has a degree in literary studies and is the director of the ScienceNet website.
Why Do Mountains Erupt? Questions and Answers About Volcanoes Af hverju gjósa fjöll?, 2011
Why Do Mountains Erupt? contains 40 questions and answers about volcanic eruptions from The Icelandic ScienceNet website. All answers are accompanied by interesting explanatory pictures, and maps display all of Earth’s main volcanoes and tectonic boundaries. The answers are presented in a simple fashion, yet with scientific pre-cision; the book is intended for those interested in acquiring knowledge, from eight years upwards.
hardcover 32 pp, 22 x 25,5 cm Sold to: Estonia (Valgus) 8+ YEARS
Why do volcanic eruptions happen? Do volcanoes always erupt? Where do most eruptions take place on Earth? Are there volcanic eruptions in space? What is so special about the Surtsey and Heimaey eruptions? What do I need to study to become a volcanologist? Find the answers in the book and become more knowledgeable about volcanoes!
· 106 · · 107 · Index ┘
SCIENCE
HELGI BJORNSSON TEXT HELGI BJORNSSON is Professor and Research Scientist in glaciology and geophysics in the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland. His ground breaking book on glaciers in Iceland received the Icelandic Literary Prize for Non- Fiction.
THORARINN MAR BALDURSSON ILLUSTRATIONS (see author information on page 22)
Glaciers and Global Warming Jöklar og hlýnun jarðar, 2015
Questions about glaciers and climate issues, drawn from the Science Web, the open Q&A website maintained by scholars at the University of Iceland.
Once glaciers covered all of Iceland and stretched far out into the sea, but today, the glaciers are receding quickly and some of them will actually disappear completely before the readers of this book get old. Glaciers and Global Warming collects 45 questions and answers about glaciers and climate issues. The answers are explained in a straightforward and simple manner, but still with scientific accuracy, and are suited to inquisitive readers aged eight and older. Each of the questions is accompa- nied with interesting and explanatory pictures and a map showing the largest glaciers in the world. How do glaciers
HARDCOVER form? Where are the largest glaciers in the world? Why is 55 pp, 20 x 26,5 cm it cold up in the mountains even though they are closer to the sun? Are there glaciers on other planets? What is the 8+ YEARS difference between glacial periods and an ice age? Why is the earth warming up now?
Find the answers in this book and get better informed about glaciers and climate issues!
· 107 · Index ┘
SCIENCE
SAEVAR HELGI BRAGASON TEXT
SAEVAR HELGI BRAGASON (b.1984) is the editor of As- tronomy Web, an Icelandic website dedicated to astronomy and astronomy education. He is also the president of the Seltjarnarnes Stargazing Society, the oldest and largest star- gazing organization in Iceland. He has spent years observing the heavens and is one of the most experienced stargazers in the country. Saevar ensured that all schoolchildren in Ice- land received a pair of viewing glasses with which to watch the solar eclipse on March 20, 2015—and he’s already started counting down to the next one. His title, Look to the Heavens was a major bestseller in Iceland. This is his third book.
Black Holes – What Happens if I Fall in? Svarthol, 2018
Black holes are one of the most curious phenomena in the universe, massive and un- believably powerful, yet completely invisible! How can that be? And if we can’t see them, how do we even know they exist? Could someone be swallowed up by a black hole without warning? And what would happen if you tumbled into one?
In this much-needed and wonderfully in- formative book, Saevar Helgi Bragason seeks to provide easy-to-understand answers to all these questions, while also explaining how black holes were discovered and how they work. They are certainly mysterious, but by no means im- HARDCOVER possible to understand! And it’s probably best 17 x 22 cm 120 pp to say it up front: there’s actually no chance that you’ll fall into one!
· 108 · 8-12 YEARS · 109 · Index ┘
S P O R T
GUNNAR HELGASON TEXT(see author information on page 61)
Iceland at the World Cup, Ísland á HM, Rússland, 2018
Gunnar Helgason has been a die-hard fan of the Icelandic national soccer team since he saw his first national match at the age of nine years old. In the book, you’ll find interviews with a few of the national team members and all sorts of fun facts about the World Cup then and now: surprising results, historic matches, and Iceland’s road to the 2018 World Cup.
Last but not least, the book contains a short sequel to The Great Football Adventure, which was released in four best-selling volumes: Football Fury on Volcano Iceland, Free Kick Fantasy, Offside in SOFTCOVER Reykjavik, and Goal Kick. What might Jon Jonsson 21 x 30 cm 56 pp be up to now?
7–14 YEARS
· 109 · THE FORLAGID RIGHTS AGENCY represents authors and titles in the field of literary fiction, crime fiction, classics, narrative non-fiction, non-fiction and children’s books from the following imprints: Forlagid, Idunn, JPV, Mál og menning and Vaka Helgafell, as well as from the Forlagid carthography division. Being part of Iceland’s largest publishing house means that we have something to offer to everyone; quality fiction and non fiction to publishers and production companies world-wide and a great expertise in handling translation rights to our authors, many of who are amongst the most successful and critically acclaimed writers in Iceland. Forlagid Rights Agency sells rights world-wide, directly and through sub-agents. www.forlagid.is