Marit Törnqvist (born January 19, 1964) is a Swedish-

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

author, artist and illustrator. She was best known for her illustrations in the books of Astrid Lindgren.

Life and career

Marit Törnqvist is the daughter of

Egil Törnqvist Per Egil Törnqvist (19 December 1932, Uppsala – 9 March 2015, Amsterdam) was Professor of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Amsterdam and an academic literary critic. Earlier (1961) he was in charge of the drama division in the comparat ...

, a professor of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Amsterdam and an academic literary critic. Her mother is author and translator Rita Törnqvist Verschuur. Törnqvist moved to the Netherlands at the age of five, where she still lives today. Her mother translated the books of

Astrid Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (; ; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is best known for several children's book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil i Lönneberga, Emil of Lönneberga, ...

into Dutch. Thus, Törnqvist grew up with Lindgren's literature. From 1982 to 1987 Törnqvist went to the

Gerrit Rietveld Academy The Gerrit Rietveld Academie, also known as Rietveld School of Art & Design and Rietveld Academy, is an art academy in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded in 1924 and offers programs in fine arts and design. History The Instituut voor Kuns ...

in Amsterdam. In 1989 Marit Törnqvist illustrated her first book The Christmas Carp (Swedish: Julkarpen) with her mother. They created it after a visit to Prague during the Christmas season. At the same time Törnqvist applied in Sweden as an illustrator and the publishing house Raben & Sjögren in Stockholm asked her not only to make the illustrations to the Christmas Carp but also to make a picturebook with Astrid Lindgren. Her first Lindgren book was published in 1989 '' När Bäckhultarn for till stan''. She soon worked closely with the Swedish author and made several books with her. In 1995, Törnqvist wrote and illustrated the book A Small story about Love (Swedish: Liten berättelse om kärlek). In 1996, it was awarded with the Dutch literary prize Zilveren Griffel. Törnqvist has two daughters. She professionally and privately supports refugees.

Works (selection)

As an illustrator

Illustrated Astrid Lindgren books

* '' A Calf for Christmas'' (När Bäckhultarn for till stan, 1989) * ''

The Day Adam Got Mad ''The Day Adam Got Mad'', also ''Goran's Great Escape'' (original title: ''Småländsk tjurfäktare'', also ''När Adam Engelbrekt blev tvärarg'' or ''Kalle - den lille tjurfäktaren'') is a children's book written by Astrid Lindgren. Plot Ad ...

'' (När Adam Engelbrekt blev tvärarg, 1991) * ''

In the Land of Twilight ''In the Land of Twilight'' (original title: ''I Skymningslandet'') is a children's book written by Astrid Lindgren. Plot Göran has a sick leg. Since a year, he has to stay in bed. One night he hears that his parents say that he will never be ...

'' (I skymningslandet, 1994) * '' The Red Bird'' (Sunnanäng, 2003) * ''The Story Journey From Junedale to Nangilima'' (Sagoresan, 2006) * ''Alla ska sova'' (2019)

Further works

* ''The Christmas Carp'' (Julkarpen, 1989, together with her mother Rita Törnqvist Verschuur) * ''Bigger than a dream'' (Större än en dröm, 2013, author: Jef Aerts) * ''Jij bent de herrste'' (2014, authors: Hans Hagen and Monique Hagen) * ''Helden op sokken'' (1988, author: Annie Keuper-Makkink) * ''Een verhaal voor Hizzel'' (1994, author: Klaas van Assen)

As an author

* Small Story about love (Liten berättelse om kärlek, 1995) * Blowing bubbles in Burundi (Bellen blazen in Burundi, 2007) * What nobody expected (Wat niemand had verwacht, 2009) * Charlie's Magical Carnival (2014) * The island of happiness (Het gelukkige eiland, 2016)

Awards and nominations

Awards

Zilveren Griffel * 1996: Small Story about love * 2018: Het gelukkige eiland Gouden Penseel * 2006: Pikkuhenki Boekenpauw * 2018: Het gelukkige eiland

Nominations

Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...

* 2016: short list

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award () is an international children's literary award established by the Swedish government in 2002 to honour the Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002). The prize is five million SEK, making it ...

* 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Törnqvist, Marit Swedish children's book illustrators Swedish women children's book illustrators 1964 births Living people Writers from Uppsala 20th-century Swedish illustrators 21st-century Swedish illustrators Artists from Amsterdam Swedish emigrants to the Netherlands Swedish fantasy artists Dutch fantasy artists Swedish fantasy illustrators 20th-century Dutch women artists 21st-century Dutch women artists 20th-century Swedish women artists 21st-century Swedish women artists Boekenpauw winners Gouden Penseel winners Artists from Uppsala