Everyone should have a grandfather in their life, sings Odd Nordstoga. You should search thoroughly for a more heartwarming song. The heat comes, I dare say, from Maria Parr and her debut book, “Vaffelhjarte”, which also became a popular TV series. Nordstoga wrote the song for the TV series and the rest is history. Everyone who loves “Waffelhjarte” can now rejoice. Photo: Åshild Irgens / Samlaget Familien We are not going back to the cozy village of Knert-Mathilde where best friends Trille and Lena tumble around. This time it is Ida, aged eight, who owns the story. Oskar is the weasel brother, he is five. Together with her parents, they fill their lives with small and large things in the red house on the top of the hill: Maria Parr needs neither fantasy elements nor capital letters to create exciting stories. It is everyday life that she depicts: small, cozy events that together fill real life. Sibling quarrels about who should sleep in the top bunk or the mystery of who is actually Santa Claus can create enough drama. I write pleasantly, because there is something safe and constructive in Maria Parr’s lyrics. She believes in people, that we want each other well. Photo: Åshild Irgens / Samlaget Laughter and crying go hand in hand In addition, she picks up the laughter that lies behind every turn when you are eight or five, and has so much to discover. Just when I note that it is good to read a realistic children’s book where the parents are not divorced, are not poor or drunk – and they are not going to die either – then death actually sneaks in. It is uncle Øyvind, the generous and funny fellow who is married to uncle Bulle, who falls ill and dies. Grief can also be handled in Parr’s soger, where it is allowed to be sad whether one is young or old. Natural representation That Øyvind and Bulle were married is as it should be. At Maria Parr, various groups in society are represented, whether it is about cohabitation or ethnicity. Parr does not become pedagogically or politically correct, she only depicts rural society as it is. Mastering something, even the smallest task, jumps like the shuttle through the web of text. With support, the children can put the adult in place. Loyalty always lies with the kids. Having said that, the adults in Parr’s universe are also sociable figures who do their best. Photo: Åshild Irgens / Samlaget Høgtlesing The story of Ida is divided into chapters that are individually just enough interesting and just enough long to be a bedtime story. The titles of the chapters refer to a specific place: It could be the wardrobe, the living room, the sledding hill or the uncle’s house. The use of specific places that are linked to the children’s lives reinforces the feeling of belonging. Each chapter also has its own subtitle, which arouses anticipation and gives readers a hint of what will happen. I like that the author invites the children into the poem in this way. The book is illustrated throughout by Åshild Irgens. She has collaborated with Parr over several years. Her relaxed drawings speak well to Parr’s low-key nature. It is nuances that give life. Irgens tends to focus on the facial expressions of the main characters and makes room for anger, joy, sadness, fear or wonder. Interest in ordinary life and wonder are key words for Maria Parr’s business. She takes an interest in the lives of ordinary people. Ida does the same, where she goes and collects candy on Halloween: “Oskar og me” serves little bits of life wisdom formulated by little people. They spring from an upbringing where trust, consideration and security are core values. Will it be too much of a wait? Nostalgic, maybe? Not all children grow up in a safe, small rural environment like the children at Maria Parr do. There are bigger challenges in life than having to share a room with a weasel. But then it is precisely having a weasel brother that makes life the wonder it is. Such insights are expressed by Maria Parr in her warm, inclusive way. So my wish remains: Everyone should have a Parr book in their lives! news reports Photo: Samlaget Title: “Oskar og eg” Author: Maria Parr Illustrator: Åshild Irgens Genre: Children’s book Publisher: Samlaget Number of pages: 197 Hi! I am a literary critic at news, and I write about books for both children and adults. Other good children’s books I have read recently are “Jakob and Neikob and the Time Machine” by Kari Stai or “The Heir” by Anne Gunn Halvorsen and Randi Fuglehaug. Tips for even more good children’s books can be found here. We are updating all our reading tips in this matter.
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“Oskar and I” by Maria Parr – news Culture and entertainment
