Agnes Eriksen's children's books Spøkelset (The Ghost) and Stjernegutten (The Star Boy) were the first picture books published with Norwegian and Kven texts. Eriksen was also one of the winners of the first Kven language prize..
Agnes Eriksen was born in Mårnes in Porsanger municipality. For several years she worked as a teacher at Lakselv primary school. She has previously published a collection of Kven rhymes and rules, Piu pau paukkuu (2003). She has also written textbooks in Kven. Agnes Eriksen won the first Kven Language Prize together with Eira Söderholm in 2017.
Kummitus ja Tähtipoika/Spøkelset and Stjernegutten
Kummitus ja Tähtipoika 1 and 2/The ghost and the star boy 1 and 2 were published in autumn 2011. They are the first picture books to be published with Kven and Norwegian text. The books had been written for many years, but could not be published due to a lack of funding. Lack of funding has been a problem for Kven literature in general. Finally, the books received funding in 2011.
Kummitus ja Tähtipoika/Spøkelset and Stjernegutten are children's books inspired by the barren northern Norway with its shoreline and rocks. The action takes place in a place called Steinbygda. The books' narrative follows all seasons. On the fjord, we meet a friendly ghost who is visited by his friend, Stjernegutten. The main characters and figures are rocks, stone formations, plants and ice sculptures made by nature itself. The author himself has photographed the books' images. However, the language is simple enough for children to follow the story.
Kaukana pohjaisessa, kaunhiin vuon rannala, oon Kivikylä.
Hän oon siivo kummitus, joka ei pölättele kethään.
Tähtipoika oon Kummituksen paras ystävä.
Hän oon kaukaiselta tähđeltä.
Sieltä hän tullee joka kevät.
Far to the north, by a beautiful fjord, lies Steinbygda.
Summer here is like a long day, winter like a long night.
The ghost lives in Steinbygda.
He's a friendly ghost who doesn't scare anyone.
Starboy is his best friend.
He's from a star far away.
That's where he comes from every spring.
(Kummitus ja Tähtipoika 1/Spøkelset og Stjernegutten 1)
In the summer of 2017, the third book in this series was published.
Current links
Agnes Eriksen and Eira Söderholm receive Kven language award
