Line Halsnes - Selected Title Author

Cool Rescue Rides is one of NORLA​’​s Selected Titles for autumn 2023. Here, author and illustrator Line Halsnes speaks about the book, what inspired her to write it and where and when she works best.​​

What is your book about?​​

It​’​s about the seven coolest vehicles in the whole world: the fire truck, the ambulance, the police car, the rescue helicopter, the police motorcycle, the rescue boat, and the tow truck. We learn what these vehicles look like ​– outside and inside ​– and what they​’​re used for. Two children named Hans and Ida are the narrators of the book. They address the young reader directly and share everything they know.​​

What inspired you to write this book?​​

I saw a need to write and illustrate accurate depictions of various emergency vehicles, especially the less well-known ones such as the police motorcycle and the rescue helicopter. This is the third book in a series. Like the other books, this one also contains spreads teeming with seek-and-find activities. I​’​ve learned that children find such activities exciting and educational. Since emergency vehicles have a lot of details, I think they​’​re incredibly well-suited for such seek-and-find spreads.​​

Who is this book for?​​

Children three and up, but I think adults can also enjoy and benefit from it. A child and an adult together ​– that​’​s the ideal scenario.​​

Where and/or when do you work best?​​

I work best in my home office, with my email turned off and my phone on silent. That​’​s when I create new books. Otherwise, I often have teaching and outreach jobs, either for libraries or The Cultural Schoolbag (Den kulturelle skolesekken). After a longer school tour, I usually miss my office even more. I think I work best when my hours in the office are limited.​​

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See full presentation of the book here

See all NORLA​’​s Selected Titles for autumn 2023 here