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  • Illustrator Nominee:Sweden

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Eva Eriksson
Sweden, Illustrator

I think that if you can draw the human body, then you can draw virtually anything.

- Eva Eriksson

Eva Eriksson was born in Halmstad, on the southwest coast of Sweden in 1949. She studied textiles at the University College of Arts, Craft and Design in Stockholm, and following that gained a teaching degree in art. She now lives near Stockholm, where she has her studio.

In 1977 her first book was published. This was Bläsjöbarna i vilda västern, with text by Björn Nordström and Jonas Sima. Throughout her career she varies between writing her own text and illustrating the text of other writers. She has done some of her most significant work with Barbro Lindgren, Ulf Stark and Ulf Nilsson, and has also worked with other acclaimed authors. With Lindgren she has created the character of the 'Wild Baby' (Vilda bebin), an anarchic little character who has become well known and well loved in many countries where the 'Wild Baby' books are available in translation. Eriksson's line, gentle yet firm, has given the baby character and determination, and no matter how bizarre the situation, she leaves the reader in no doubt that this could really happen.

She also worked with Barbro Lindgren to produce the 'Max' books, seemingly simple stories of family life which again are invested with an appeal which has ensured them enduring success. In partnership with Ulf Nilsson, she worked on a series of books about a bunny, Lila syster Kanin [Little bunny], and her big brother. In general she prefers to work with other authors, but in the acclaimed Malla handlar she recounts an incident from her own childhood when at the age of four she was asked to go shopping but forgot everything she was supposed to buy.

Mostly she works in pen or pencil line and water-colours, but recently uses crayons to a greater extent, and has employed pens and grey paper for some of her most recent books with Danish author Kim Fupz Aakeson.

Her ability to capture the ridiculous in a sympathetic manner is perhaps the most significant factor in Eriksson's career as a children's book illustrator. Her work has been recognised with many awards and in 2001 she was awarded the Astrid Lindgren prize.


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Selected bibliography

Mamman och den vilda bebin [Mama and the Wild Baby] (text by Barbro Lindgren) 1980 Stockholm: Rabén & Sjögren
Älskade lilla gris [Runtle the pig] (text by Ulf Nilsson) 1982 Stockholm: Bonniers Juniorförl
Max potta [Sam's potty] (text by Barbro Lindgren) 1986 Stockholm: Rabén & Sjögren
Malla handlar [Molly goes shopping] 1998 Stockholm: Eriksson & Lindgren
Alla döda små djur [All the dead little animals] (text by Ulf Nilsson) 2006 Stockholm: Bonnier Carlsen [End Page 58]

Reproduction of articles in Bookbird requires permission in writing from the editor.

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