English presentation of Heivolls children's book

Translation of the publisher's release notes:

Heaven behind the House

Jon's mum has passed away. Nonetheless, she always comes by to say goodnight to him when Jon goes to bed. Then one evening she does not come. Jon becomes frightened and cannot sleep. Fortunately Jon's dad has a clever idea. He ties a long red piece of string around his big toe and gives the end to Jon, so that he can just give it a tug if he gets frightened. Later during the night Jon suddenly wakes up. He carefully tugs on the string. But no one comes.

Cautiously Jon gets out of bed, follows the red string out of the house, across the field and into the forest to the small hut Dad had made for them. And unexpected things start to happen.

A warm, moving and unusually powerful book about death and a child's grieving. Evocatively illustrated.

Excerpt from review in norwegian newspaper:

". . . and thus proves to be something as rare as an insightful, yet simple book about the emotional lives of a child and a man following the death of mother and wife. [. . . ] I believe this is a book that children will be drawn to, the kind of book about which they say: Can't we read it again right now? It's been at least three days since we read it last." (Fædrelandsvennen)

Text: GauteHeivoll.no/Cappelen Damm
Publisert: 12.07.08

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