The White Ravens Database

Presented by   Internationale Jugendbibliothek / International Youth Library

Danish / Denmark

Ud og stjæle erantis

(Being outside and stealing winter aconites)

Hegnhøj, Mette (text)
Espersen, Klara (illus.)
Frederiksberg: Dansklærerforeningens Forlag, 2020. – 55 p.
(Series: Min historie)
ISBN 978-87-7211-162-9

Childhood memories  | Growing up  | Autobiography

Reading age: 10+

White Ravens issue: 2021

OPAC

For many years, Dansklærerforeningen, the publishing house of the Danish Teachers’ Association, has been developing innovative book formats, always collaborating with high-class artists. Besides the great “Billedroman” series, there is the “Min historie” series: autobiographical memories of childhood and youth. In “Ud og stjæle erantis” Mette Hegnhøj, whose poetic voice has been enriching Danish children’s literature for more than ten years now, describes growing up in Thisted or digging up winter aconites, she talks about her family holidays, and her first trip alone to Copenhagen. In an associative way, she depicts her childhood as a cosy and safe time, yet also a time that held disappointments, experiences of loss, and feelings of estrangement – especially on the threshold to adulthood. The outstanding book has great aesthetic appeal with a very personal note by using photos, snippets, and drawings. At the same time, it offers a journey back in time to the 1980s, and reflects universal childhood experiences. [IG]