Samlaget Agency autumn news 2022

SAMLAGET

Samlaget Agency is an independent in-house literary agency for children’s books published by Det Norske Samlaget. Det Norske Samlaget is one of the oldest publishing houses in Norway, still remaining inde pendent. It was established in 1868 with the purpose of publishing high quality literature in neo-Norwe gian. Det Norske Samlaget has always taken great pride in their children’s books, and Samlaget Agency pays credit to a long-standing tradition of developing the best books for the most important audience – the children and young adults.

Samlaget Agency consists of Elen Betanzo and Merete Pharo . Betanzo also works as editor of children’s books in Det Norske Samlaget, and has a degree in journalism and Nordic literature. Pharo has worked for several years in the book trade, and has a degree in history.

Elen BetanzoMerete Pharo

ILLUSTRATED

Alf Kjetil Walgermo and Anna Fiske

The Children’s Bible Barnebibelen

A new Bible for children with selected stories about women and girls

The stories in the Bible have been told for hundreds of years. They are the foundation of the Christian faith, an integral part of Western culture, and not the least: Bible stories are exciting! This lovely children’s Bible introduces readers to the most important characters in the Bible. Central chapters are retold by author Alf Kjetil Walgermo, bringing girls and women more to the forefront than in previous children’s Bibles. In this book you will hear not only the famous story of Daniel in the lion’s den and Jonah and the whale, but also about clever queens like Esther, strong leaders like Deborah and key eyewitnesses like Mary Magdalene.

The Children’s Bible is illustrated throughout by Anna Fiske. Her distinctive style gives a fresh, new spin on the old stories, respectful, yet with a humorous twist. This book is well suited both for reading aloud to small children and as an introduction to the Bible for children who can read themselves. And why not, a great alternative for adult readers who want a quick overview of the basics of the Bible.

Format: 21,1 cm × 28,5 cm, 205 pages.

Alf Kjetil Walgermo (b. 1977) has written several critically acclaimed books for children, young people and adults, and his works have been translated into a number of languages. His books include Women of the Bible (Bibelens kvinner) (2020).

Anna Fiske (b. 1964) is a popular illustrator, author and creator of graphic novels. Both her own books and books illustrated by her have been translated into several lan guages. She has won numerous prizes for her work.

Ida Eva Neverdahl

FLOKE 3: World’s end

Floke 3: Verdas ende

The last book in the Floke saga

Floke is a different sort of Viking, a serene kid in a vicious Viking world. One day he is given an important task: he must save the world from ragnarok, the apocalypse! To do so he must set out on a long journey. In this last instalment in the saga, Floke and his friends finally arrive in Asgard, the home of the Gods. Among the gods they meet is Odin, but not even he believes that the world is about to end. Floke must take matters into his own hands, but how can such a good-natured lad prevent the end of the world?

In Floke 3: World’s End, creator Ida Eva Never dahl concludes the wild and wonderful story of Floke Skrufson. As in the previous two books, she plays with traditional Norse mythology and stereotypical Viking clichés. The first book about Floke is already available in English. World’s end offers absurd situations, hilarious characters and surprising twists and turns right to the end.

Format: 17 cm × 24 cm, 151 pages.

Ida Eva Neverdahl (b. 1993) is an illustrator and comic book artist. She has made series for the web and comic strips, as well as several books for chil dren and young people, including Samlaget’s picture series Jojo and the first two Floke books.

marit o kaldhol

On a Staircase in the Universe

På ei trapp i universet

How far out does the universe go?

Where does life come from?

How can the Earth be as small as a fly’s egg?

Who will keep us warm when the Sun is no more?

A cat and two children sit on the steps of a house on the edge of the forest. They philosophise about the universe, about the big things and the small, and about what they can’t see. Very importantly, they realize the tremendous variety in the types of eggs. On explora tions into the forest and to the fjord, both past and future, imagination and knowledge come thrillingly to life.

This poetry collection is beautifully illustrated by Susanna Kajermo.

“The aim of the poems is to stir curiosity about questions I have asked myself,” says the author.

Format: 17 cm × 23 cm, 60 pages.

marit o kaldhol (b. 1955) has, since her debut in 1983, written a number of award-winning books for children, young people and adults. Kaldhol is a trained teacher and has taught in both primary and secondary schools. Her works are rich and varied, and include picture books for small children, easy readers, drama, books for older children and young adults, as well as poetry and novels for adults.

Susanna Kajermo (b. 1978) works as a visual artist and illus trator. Her realistic pencil drawings are done with precision and finesse. Her art has been included in several exhibitions both in Norway and abroad.

Thoralf Fagertun

The Gnork Family

Familien Gnork

Jungle medicine, smart boys and the most important football match in the world!

Tom misses his best friend Martin, who is half-dead in hospital. Together they would have won the incredibly important football match against their abominable arch-enemy Preben and his team, but without Martin all will surely be lost. When the Gnork family moves from the jungle to Tom’s boring small town, a spark of hope is lit. If Tom does the Gnork family a favour, they will make him a natural miracle cure that will restore Martin’s health and make him fit for the match. As they attempt to make the medicine, crocodiles, cats and whales are all roped in as guinea pigs, with unexpected con sequences, and all the while Preben and his evil plans lurk in the shadows…

The Gnork Family is a wacky and cheerful tale about friends, enemies, spider hunts, flying crocodiles and home-made medicines with unbelievable side effects. And football, of course.

The book features charming and funny illus trations by Line Halsnes.

Format: 14,8 cm × 19,9 cm, 182 pages.

Thoralf Fagertun (b. 1980) works in research dis semination. He is literary scholar and studied writing at the Norwegian Children’s Book Institute. The Gnork Family is his first book.

Line Halsnes (b. 1981) is an illustrator and author. She has created her own picture books, as well as illustrating others’.

Ørjan Zazzera Johansen

The Erling Braut Haaland story

Historia om Erling Braut Haaland

A Norwegian football phenomenon

Erling Braut Haaland might be the world’s most famous Norwegian right now. After hammering in goal after goal for the Norwegian national team and the major German club Borussia Dortmund, the world’s biggest clubs all want to sign him, which Manchester City recently did. Erling is the golden boy who smiles a lot, trains a lot and scores a lot.

Norway may have never produced such an enormous talent. How did Erling Braut Haaland get so good? How did a slip of a boy from the small town of Bryne in southern Norway become one of the biggest stars in the world’s biggest sport?

This wonderfully illustrated book takes the reader on a journey of ups, downs and an unstoppable desire to improve. The book will inspire all children who are interested in football and dream of becoming professional footballers.

The book is illustrated by Thomas Kirkeberg. Format: 18 cm × 25 cm, 157 pages.

Ørjan Zazzera Johansen (b. 1974) is an author and literary scholar. He stopped playing football twenty years ago but still dreams of going pro.

Helene Guåker

A friend like me

Ein venn som meg

New novel from award-nominated author

Sofie is in ninth grade. She is frozen out by everyone in class and hasn’t had a single friend since Emilie deserted her in the summer before eighth grade. Now Sofie is counting down the 340 school days left until she can move away from the island and start high school. Then a new girl arrives in class. Carla. Dripping with confidence and seemingly without a care in the world. Can Sofie find a new friend in Carla?

But it turns out that Carla is hiding a secret. A secret that puts their whole friendship at risk. Can Sofie manage to be a good friend?

Format:12,8 cm × 20,5 cm, 190 pages.

Helene Guåker (b. 1983) has written a number of books for young people and adults in various genres. In 2017, she was nominated for the Brage Prize for the young adult novel Arc Radiation (Sveiseblink), in 2020, she was nominated for both the Brage Prize and the Critics’ Prize for the young adult novel High Voltage. Danger. (Høgspenning. Livsfare).

Ann Helen Kolås Ingebrigtsen

I’m staying here

Eg blir her

A story about falling in love, things getting complicated and having a dad who’s a little bit different

Oda is 16 and lives with her father and grand parents in a small town in Western Norway. She’s looking forward to spending the summer hanging out with her boyfriend, Sondre, and showing him the beautiful landscape around her home. But when Daniel comes to town, the summer turns into something completely dif ferent from what she had imagined. Why does he always pop up where she is and get on her nerves? And why is he insisting that she move away from the town?

At the same time, Oda has to deal with a dad who drinks too much and has opened a pub for tourists in his living room. Can’t he be more present for her instead of living in the past?

We follow Oda through some dramatic days during which she struggles to accept her father’s uniqueness, while trying to untangle her feel ings for Daniel and her boyfriend Sondre.

Format: 12,8 cm × 20,5 cm, 157 pages.

Ann Helen Kolås Ingebrigtsen (b. 1980) works as a Norwegian teacher in secondary school. Ingebrigtsen made her debut with the children’s book Anger (Sinne) in 2020, winning the Book Blogger Prize and the The Year’s Unread Prize..

Trude Tjensvold

Red Volvo

Raud Volvo

Powerful graphic novel about losing yourself

Jenny lives with her mum and her halfbrother Odd. Her best friend Ann-Sofi has started smoking and hanging out with older boys. Jenny feels most at home when she’s birdwatching in the woods. When Ann-Sofi starts to reject her, Jenny makes one foolish decision after another. Finally she ends up in a situation with an older boy that she can’t find a way out of. Who is she after that? And how can she find herself again?

Through her writing and illustrations, Trude Tjensvold has created a powerful and challeng ing novel about assault and setting boundaries.

Red Volvo is an artistic graphic novel. It is aimed at both confident readers and those who need a little more time to read.

Format: 23 cm × 19 cm, 160 pages.

Trude Tjensvold (b. 1964) has significant experience as both an illustrator and a visual artist. In 2016, she made her debut as a writer with the picture book Bo Moves Out (Bo flyttar ut), which was nominated for the Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s first book award for children’s and young adult literature, and won gold at Visuelt, the National Norwegian Design Awards. The book was translated into Danish. In 2020, her picture book The Fire (Bålet) was published.