“In my experience, children find it fascinating and exciting to read about a time when things were different. For example, they find it completely strange that the characters in Anne-Cath. Vestly's books don’t have phones but have to queue to make a call from a phone booth.”
This is the observation of Agnes-Margrethe Bjorvand, an associate professor at the University of Agder (UiA).
Alongside UiA researchers Siv-Terese Omland and Cecilie Takle, she has edited a new textbook on Vestly's work titled Anne-Cath. Vestly: Nye lesninger av forfatterskapet [Anne-Cath. Vestly: New readings of her work].
The book presents 12 analyses of Vestly’s work, with most of the articles written by researchers at UiA.
One article focuses on how her experience as an actor influenced her writing, while another explores how her radio appearances and short story writing influenced her writing style. Several of the articles emphasise what the researchers consider innovative features of her work, such as:
- the child is portrayed as a fully developed individual and an independent agent
- the stories take place in suburban and urban settings
- the value placed on children's play and its significance
- the value placed on children's imagination and ability to cope with life
50 books with children in the lead role
Anne-Cath. Vestly made her debut in 1946 on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) radio programme, Lørdagsbarnetimen [The Saturday Children’s Hour], with a radio play. Her breakthrough came with the publication of the book Ole Aleksander Filibom-bom-bom in 1953.
Through the NRK series Barnetimen for de minste [Children’s Hour for the Younger Ones] and the release of about 50 books until 2004, she introduced fresh perspectives on children, childhood, family, and community life.
In addition to this year's textbook on Vestly, Agnes-Margrethe Bjorvand has previously written biographies of both Astrid Lindgren and Anne-Cath. Vestly.
Bjorvand believes that Anne-Cath. Vestly is still relevant today.
“Vestly's child characters live in a time where you have to save up for the things you want. They live modest lives. And the polarisation in today's society, where the gap between children who can’t afford much and those who get everything they want is widening, has given the books renewed relevance,” says Bjorvand.
Which age groups do Vestly's books target?
“Primarily, the books are best suited for children aged four to seven. It varies a bit depending on the series and the age of the main character since children prefer to read about someone their age or slightly older than themselves,” says Bjorvand.
What is new about Anne-Cath. Vestly's views on children and childhood?
“When Anne-Cath. Vestly started telling stories on the radio, the prevailing view of children was that they should be seen but not heard. Vestly did not share that view.
In her books, children are taken seriously. Children are an important part of society and democracy. They are respected just like adults. They are given responsibilities, listened to, and acknowledged. Children are seen as equal to adults.
Therefore, they are also allowed to contribute to the community and help in their own way. An example is when Aurora and her dad visit the health centre with little Sokrates. Here, father and daughter are equals. Dad asks Aurora for advice, and Aurora understands that dad is afraid of needles.”
What themes, ideas, and values characterise the books?
"All the books are about being a human being, someone who learns to interact with those around them. The stories are based on values such as community, respect for others, equality, and the idea that everyone deserves a second chance.
Vestly was convinced that we, as adults, must be honest with children. We must have the courage to tell them the truth, but in a way they can understand. Children become frightened if they don’t understand the choices we adults make. This was something Vestly experienced firsthand. Her family moved frequently when she was a child, and when the adults failed to explain why they were moving, it became something deeply unsettling."
Would you say that Anne-Cath. Vestly is trying to educate her readers about a new attitude towards children, play, imagination, and cooperation between children and adults?
"I certainly think that Vestly wanted to educate adults through her books. For example, most parents in the books are far more patient than real-life parents tend to be. In that respect, adults are portrayed as role models for how we should treat and talk to children."
What was more important for Vestly, the message or the entertainment factor?
“I think that Vestly aimed both to entertain and comfort children with her books. She wrote in a book from 1995 that her books contained ‘a little reality, a little dream and longing, a little despair, and a lot of joy.’ She probably wanted to entertain and give children positive experiences.”
You write that Vestly is the ‘queen of Norwegian children's literature,’ what does this actually mean?
“It is both about the quantity and variety of themes she wrote about. She told stories for children for over 50 years and helped to boost children's literature following the Second World War. Anne-Cath. Vestly was also more than just an author, she was a cultural figure, an authority to listen to. She was expected to have opinions on all sorts of things.
It is difficult to point out individual writers that have been influenced by her, but there is no doubt that she’s been an important role model for many writers. Both in terms of how to portray children and what one can write about for children.
Vestly believed, like the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, that one can write about anything and all topics for children, but you have to use words that children can understand. And I’m quite certain that Vestly has contributed to both writers and others having a better understanding of children’s way of being in the world.”
If parents or grandparents today want to read Vestly's books to their children, where should they start?
“Start with books you yourself enjoyed. Adults become better communicators if we like the book we read aloud. In addition, it may be a good idea to select a series where the main character is about the same age as the child you are reading to.
If the child is 4-5, choose Ole Aleksander or Lillebror, and choose Guro or Aurora for the 6-7 year-old. Every Norwegian child should get to know Lillebror og Knerten, and Mormor og de åtte ungene.
The researchers who contributed to this collection of articles agree that her authorship offers a wealth of interesting material also for future articles, bachelor or master theses.”
What are the most important new perspectives that emerge about Anne-Cath. Vestly's books in your anthology?
“Surprisingly little research has been done on Vestly's writings until now, in that regard this anthology is an important contribution. We bring in current perspectives such as diversity, sustainability and life skills. These are currently central perspectives for work both in kindergartens and schools,” says Bjorvand.
Reference:
Agnes-Margrethe Bjorvand, Siv-Terese Omland, and Cecilie Takle (ed): Anne-Cath. Vestly: Nye lesninger av forfatterskapet.