When I first started to think about writing a children’s book, I decided quickly that I wanted to write verse. I have always loved rhyme and there aren’t that many Norwegian children’s books telling stories using verse. One of my greatest sources of inspiration in this process was and is Julia Donaldson’s books. Many of them are translated into Norwegian, but seeing that we are speaking both English and Norwegian with our boys at home, I have bought her books in the original language. The rhyming is just incredible. She makes it seem so easy, so natural and uncomplicated. (I realized quickly, however, that even though writing verse is a lot of fun, it is sometimes very difficult to make the sentences flow well and find the right kind of words).
Some rhymes seem so basic, like mouse and house in “The Gruffalo”, and yet as the story unfolds the quality of the verse is just striking. The sentences flow well and the repetitive language works great for kids. At the same time, there is enough variation in the language for grown ups to be both entertained and impressed. Her books are funny and cute and my oldest boy, Joel, has loved them since I read Gruffalo for the first time when he was less that I year old. He has learned a lot of the sentences by heart (The rhyming makes it a lot easier to remember), and I am so excited that we have found good English books for him. Seeing that he speaks Norwegian in nursery now, he has been less willing to speak English at home, but he loves Julia Donaldson’s books so much that he still wants to read those.
If any of you are looking for good children’s books, I will absolutely recommend Julia Donaldson!