Bryndís Björginsdóttir received the 2011 Icelandic Children’s Literary Award for her book Flugan sem stödvadi strídid (“The Fly That Stopped the War”) on Tuesday, which was also published at the occasion.
The book, which is described in a press release as both humorous and serious, features Kolkex, Hermann Súkker and Flugan (The Fly), which is just an ordinary house fly.
One day The Fly decides to run away from home to the monks of Nepal, who never harm a fly. A chain of events is set off which leads to a war coming to an end and The Fly making it to newspaper covers.
Flugan sem stödvadi strídid was selected from a number of scripts sent in for a competition under a pseudonym.
The jury concluded that the story intertwines an important message with a humorous narrative, while the characters are unusual and provide readers with a new angle on everyday things.
The book is Björgvinsdóttir’s second; she wrote her first, Ordabelgur Ormars ofurmennis with her friend at age 15. She is an ethnologist by education and works in research and teaching.
The illustrations are by Thórarinn Már Baldursson.
Click here to read about last year’s winner of the Children’s Book Award.
ESA
