Our Neighbour Is a Witch (Innbundet)

Author:

Bjørn Arild Ersland

Norwegian title: Naboen er en heks
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2015
Pages: 40
Illustrator: Ask, Lene
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Bokmål
ISBN/EAN: 9788202454791
Age: 4 - 8
Overview Naboen er en heks

Our neighbour is over one hundred years old and resembles a dried grape. She is called Miss Pollestad and works as a witch. She does magic on her way along the street. Makes cars stop. Makes leaves fly from branches.

I am the only person who knows that our neighbour is a witch, and that is why I have to spy on her using my binoculars while wearing my invisibility cloak. The witch is always looking for things to put in her soup. It has been cooking for over one hundred years now. It smells like boiled tiger in our stairwell. Whoever drinks that soup will surely die. Something terrible will happen, I just know it. It must never, never happen.

Naboen er en heks has a classic feel to it, sensing and seeing through a child's eyes and perceiving something that adults cannot.

‘… Ersland’s inventiveness calls forth smile after smile. The superb interaction between Ersland and Ask envelops the reader and leads to a highly dramatic and liberating conclusion. I won’t say any more.’
AFTENPOSTEN

‘This is a lovely little book that author Bjørn Arild Ersland has written for children between the ages of four and eight. It was designed to arouse wonder in young readers. What is the witch up to? Will she catch her young neighbour spying? Is the old lady dangerous? The story has a wonderful and naïve streak to it. It looks through a child’s eyes and knows something the adults don’t. This makes it even more exciting. … Ersland and Ask deserve praise for the book’s clever conclusion.’

DEMOKRATEN

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Reviews Naboen er en heks

Barneblikk på eldrebølgen

"Det er illustratøren Lene Ask som tar tak i interessen min fra første side i Naboen er en heks. Jeg-personen står og titter gjennom kikkhullet i døren og ser på oldingen av en nabo som med stort besvær beveger seg ned trappen. […] Ask har følsomt sanset seg inn i barnets blikk for alderdom, og hvordan det trigger fantasien. Hun er en lett-å-like-illustratør som arbeider meget bevisst med detaljer og perspektiv […] Erslands oppfinnsomhet kaller frem smil på smil. Dette suverene samspillet mellom Ersland og Ask omslutter leseren, og leder frem til en høydramatisk og befriende avslutning. Jeg sier ikke mer."

Mette Hofsødegård, Aftenposten

"Det er en fin liten bok forfatter Bjørn Arild Ersland har skrevet for barn i alderen 4-8 år. Den er skapt for å vekke undring hos de unge leserne. Hva er det heksa pønsker på? Vil hun oppdage nabojenta som spionerer? Er den gamle dama farlig? Historien har en herlig og naiv nerve. Den ser gjennom barnets øyne og vet noe de voksne ikke vet. Det gjør den ekstra spennende. […] Erland og Ask fortjener ros for bokens fiffige avslutning."

Anders Holstad Lilleng, Demokraten

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Author Bjørn Arild Ersland

Bjørn Arild Ersland (b. 1965) has written a series of critically acclaimed children’s books, among them Sageren (2006). Ersland is best known for his picture books and non-fiction books. In 2009, he received an award from the School Librarian Association for his work.

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