For many, winter holidays mean a cabin, skiing, board games and books. At least that’s how it was before screens made their entrance. But which books will captivate children in 2023? It is not at all certain that the books you enjoyed as a child will appeal to today’s young readers. We have therefore selected a pile of this year’s books that effectively use tools that today’s children can recognize both from TV series, films and games. Drama is a common denominator. Striking illustrations as well, or a language where literary images dominate. What’s more, the adventure is back in full force, after many years of realistic stories with serious action. So, please, here are six well-chosen reading tips among the latest children’s books – in non-prioritized order: Trigger the sense of justice Title: “Cash money” Author: Arne Svingen Publisher: Gyldendal Genre: Novel Age group: 9 – 12 years More and more books for children old enough to read on their own focus on catchy illustrations to engage the weakest readers. That’s all well and good, but stronger readers must also get their share. Arne Svingen is one of Norway’s most prolific and most widely read authors of children’s books. He writes suspense books, easy-to-read humor books, hard-hitting young adult novels and therefore really good children’s books that often thematize the differences between those who have a lot and those who have little. With “Cash Money”, he has delivered a suggestive story about the rich West End boy who becomes destitute in no time, when his financial acrobat of a father loses everything. Where the good moral that true friendship means more than bought ones and that good things are meant to be shared can mostly be made for an adult reader, I have no doubt that the message resonates with the target group. The narrative does not shy away from gross betrayal or idealistic hero drawings. It scores on topicality, excitement, sense of justice and activism. When social media is also used, the recognition becomes great. A thick book of 240 densely packed pages that draws readers “to the bitter end”. Waiting with my heart in my throat Title: “Dragon’s Eye 3” Author: Cha Sandmæl Publisher: Egmont Story House Genre: Comics Age group: 9 – 12 years The third book in the “Dragon’s Eye” series stops at such a dramatic moment that I am I’m sure many readers are waiting for the next book with their hearts in their throats. And it will come, but not until autumn. The cinder elf Kha was set to become the family’s next leader. But that was before her envious cousin Lyra stole forbidden magic and bested Kha in the competition to become the chosen one. Now Kha is hiding on the surface – the elves live underground – and Lyra has set out to kill her. Kha refers to himself as hen. Also several supporting characters are non-binary. But sexual orientation is not problematized, diversity is just something that exists, as a natural part of the universe. That’s good, as is Sandmæl’s choice to render several of the main characters as powerful and voluminous, rather than as sterile sylphs. Friendship and loyalty are put to the test in a terrific series, where the author also gives drawing tips to the readers and even publishes a small selection of the readers’ own illustrations. Perfect for reading aloud Title: “Knights take gold” Author: Bjørn F. Rørvik Illustrator: Camilla Kuhn Publisher: Cappelen Damm Genre: Picture book Age group: 6 – 9 years Goofy is the first thing I associate with Bjørn F. Rørvik. And a huge, exuberant imagination. He also gets an outlet for this in this second story about the two little knights and Princess Begonia. This time the setting is fairly well known; a jousting tournament! But the knights who will participate are the most squeamish you can imagine. And the princess, who is refused to join because she is a girl, is the only one who could really make her way in the gruel. We anticipate further attractions and games of chance before the princess gets what she wants. The dialogue is a driving force in this rather text-heavy book, which just doesn’t get heavy, since the narrative is packed with emotion in every part. Camilla Kuhn creates both caricatures and heroes with her expressive illustrations. Excellent read-aloud book, especially if the reader has a touch of acting talent. Can become a reader’s favorite Title: “Loki” Author: Louie Stowell Translator: Vibeke Ekeland Grønn Publisher: Vigmostad Bjørke Genre: Illustrated diary Age group: 9 – 12 years What if we were visited by the Norse gods? One day, Allfather Odin has had enough of the misdeeds of the villainous Loki, and as punishment he is sent to earth, in the form of an 11-year-old prudish boy. If he does not behave well for 30 days, he is sentenced to eternal torment. Every day, Loki must write down what he has done in a diary that sees through him when he lies. Will Loki pass the test? In the tradition of the books about Adrian Mole, Louie Stowell writes an uncomfortable and unreliable guy we root for. Cartoon lines and fun illustrations increase the accessibility of a story that becomes tighter and more dramatic the closer the verdict gets. Norse myths have long been a reader magnet in the fantasy genre. Pulling the mythology into our time is an original move. A little moralizing pointer from the author notwithstanding: This is the first book in a series that has the potential to become a reader’s favourite. Modern science fiction Title: “Atmosfærebarna” Author: Nicolai Houm Illustrator: Luis Guaragna Publisher: Gyldendal Genre: Comics Age group: 9 – 12 years What an intense story! Akai and Juli live in the airship Atmos that hovers above the earth. Together with a few others, they are the descendants of the people who escaped when all life died out. The only people living on Earth now are robots with artificial and malevolent intelligence. Occasionally, the spacecraft approaches Earth to search for valuable material. Akai’s dog Nova accidentally falls over the lookout platform. Akai and Juli decide to follow and find her. This is a comic that goes forward in time, not back to a mythological era where heroes and gods fight epic battles. It is effectively written and drawn, with powerful illustrations of spaceships, of a destroyed planet, of horses and riders, and not least terrifying and violent machines in search of two vulnerable children. “Vorsvrunnet på jorden” offers shivering excitement and is the first story in what will probably be a super-current and captivating series for readers of the drinking age. Is there hope for the troll? Title: “The three goats Bruse” Author: Mac Barnett Illustrator: Jon Klassen Translator: Vibeke Saugestad Publisher: Mangschou Genre: Picture book Age group: 3 – 6 years We have read the story of The Three Goats Bruse in several versions, the last one was Bjørn F .Rørvik and Gry Moursund’s Elleville expansion of the story about the goats and the troll. Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s version is closer to the original folk tale, but it is told from the troll’s perspective, which of course gives a completely different impression of the challenges. The troll licks his mouth and gets the most delicious dishes on the retina, creatively rendered in verse form by Vibeke Saugestad. He won’t be full this time either. Visually, the adventure is kept in muted brown tones – there is no green, enticing grass here, but a high sky and languishing sunset. In the simple expression, the details stand out all the better. It is enough to notice for a small observer and listener. This is a good read-aloud book for the little ones.
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