Maria Parr and Åshild Irgens - Selected Title Authors

Maria Parr

What is your book about?

This is a book that portrays the everyday life of a small, ordinary family in a way I hope feels universal. It’s the story of big sister Ida, nine years old, and her little brother Oskar, six, and their joys and conflicts. Oskar is the kind of kid who charges ahead and rarely thinks about the consequences of his actions. Ida, on the other hand, can overthink things a bit too much. Their differences lead to both anger and frustration, but when life gets tough, the loyalty and love between the two siblings become their greatest strength.

The book is a standalone sequel to Oskar and Me: All the Places We Are. However, where each chapter in the previous book about the siblings focused on a place, this time, it is an object that takes center stage in each story: a bicycle, a diplodocus, a class teddy bear, a locket. And as in all everyday lives, there is both laughter and tears – and everything in between.

What inspired you to write this book?

This is a book for children who are around the same age as Oskar and Ida. I wrote the book specifically for this age group, and I hope that children who read these stories can truly recognize that I was thinking about them. But I must also admit that I’m constantly picturing a “read-aloud” situation when I write. The spreads feature illustrations on each page, and the fact that each chapter is a small, self-contained story, make this way of sharing literature possible. I hope that adults and children can enjoy this book together, and that the books about Oskar and Ida can help encourage read-aloud time. Because being read to is one of the best things there is!

Åshild Irgens

What inspired you to illustrate this book?

Inspiration can come from all kinds of places. That kind of thing is hard to describe, because often it’s just there. Much of it comes from memories and associations the text stirs up. When I read Maria Parr’s manuscript, it almost feels like stepping into a state where I’m reliving childhood all over again. In my work, I’m not only drawn to scenes that are lively, funny, and dramatic, but also to the small, subtle moments and tender episodes that can be just as powerful. The little things that are emotional and important. I always try to draw from the perspective of the characters in the book, to “step into their roles” in a way, almost like an actor who’s performing through images. The characters themselves are therefore a massive source of inspiration. I get caught up in descriptions of people with quirks and personality, and in events and details that feel genuine and lived. If I can bring the characters to life inside myself and really sense what they’re feeling and thinking, it becomes much easier to bring them to life on the page.

Who is this book for?

The book is primarily aimed at children who are being read to, adults who read to children, and children who read on their own. It’s all the more special if adults and children can share positive experiences from the book together!

Read more

See full presentation of the book here

Read more about Maria Parr here
And more about Åshild Irgens here

See all NORLA’s Selected Titles for the autumn 2025 here