The Magic Chalk

by Zinken Hopp, Gian Berto Vanni (Illustrator)

Wonderful story of a young boy who finds a piece of magic chalk and the wonderful adventures he takes.

Genres: Childrens, Read For School

63 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Zinken Hopp (January 9, 1905, Ullensvang — September 3, 1987, Bergen, Norway), born Signe Marie Brochmann (Zinken was her nickname from childhood), was a Norwegian author, nonsense poet and playwright . She is best known for translating Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland into Norwegian. Her own books, which were mostly for children, include The Magic Chalk, Jon and Sofus and over a dozen others. Zinken Hopp is a known person in the Norwegian literature society. She is best known for writing children's books, and for her cheerful poems. She was also writing biographies.

Reviews

[Amalie Midtigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75? Stars.

This is apparently one of the most famous Norwegian children’s books, yet I haven’t heard about it before. I read it as part of a Norwegian literature class at university.

It was published in 1948, so granted some of the words and phrases are a bit outdated, but I find that very charming. Unfortunately because it is an older book, there’s also a pretty racist paragraph in there… You can tell it’s not with direct ill intent, but rather a reflection of the time and words that were normal to use back then.

Other than that, I found it pretty humorous and extremely creative. It was a bit silly and didn’t make a lot of sense at times, but it’s a children’s book! It has poems, drawings, and song lyrics. Zinken Hopp plays around with words and rhyme in a way I haven’t seen before! I’m curious what it would look like translated to English or any other language, because I fear A LOT of the charm and word play would get lost in translation .

[Suesaroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my finest memories of my first trip to the library as an elementary school student. I loved this book so much that I hunted down a copy to have as my own after all these years.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favorite book from childhood...I must have taken it out of the library dozens of times!

[Vilde · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for school as a part of the nonsense literature; in Norwegian children literature, it is definitely weird as nonsense. Not my thing, but okay enough.

[Magnus Meling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Til tider ganske humre-verdig morsom. Men fy søren som den var utdatert til tider.

[Dodo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is for children, but it surely is good for grown-ups too!

I stumbled upon it by chance, while rummaging my bookcases for something else. It`s been years and years since I read it last, and reading the half-forgotten book anew has been a treat.

It`s about two boys, just a boy and another boy drawn in chalk. The two of them wander around and have lots of funny adventures, and meet lots of funny beings, like, say, a dancing troll who wants to be a publisher, or a whimsy guileful Princess, or somebody / something different again. There is no plot as such, but that`s perfectly OK. It`s fun anyway!

What I like best about the book is the special mild irony. Also, there are some funny verses, good to sing or chant at your own pleasure, which does not necessarily mean those around you would be pleased with you singing and chanting, yet that`s OK as long as you are happy about it but not overdo...

Scandinavian ladies are very good at writing for children, and Zinken Hopp is no exception. The Magic Chalk is, to my mind at least, not quite as good as the best written by Lindgren or Jansson, still it is a wonderful book, wholesome and interesting and well worth reading. I do recommend it!

While at that (and with Season`s Greetings!), I do believe it would make a beautiful New Year present for any reader.

[Dina-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's part Lewis Carroll, part Edward Lear and part Norwegian folktales, which means it's a spectacle of absurd nonsense. A boy named Jon finds a magic chalk, and whatever he draws with it becomes real. And so he draws himself a friend named Sofus, and then a gate which leads to adventure.

For the rest of the book Jon and Sofus wander from one absurdity to the next; they meet wild animals who are dangerous because they want to eat them... they meet wild animals who are dangerous because they're HORRIBLY BORING... they meet a kind grandmother who tells them stories... they meet a friendly troll who wants to be a publisher... and lots of other weird and wonderful things. And they spend a good deal of the time bickering and bantering, drawing strange things, making clever wishes, and playing the violin.

Zinken Hopp wrote a sequel too, called "Jon and Sofus," where the two boys are a little older, and end up in Sleeping Beauty's castle, which they turn into a tourist attraction. It's just as absurd, but much more episodic.

Definitely a classic. Well, there are a couple of part that really reminds you that the book was written in 1948... but for the most part it holds up really well.

[Sissel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Except for one very racist paragraph I thought this was pretty fun to read. Can't believe I have never heard of this book before, as it is apparently one of the most famous Norwegian childrens books. None of my friends have heard of it, but if I mention it nearby someone who's a generation or two older than me they light up and get very excited.

[Sia Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought of this book recently, and remembered loving it as a young teen. It was written for younger children, but I was in junior high school, I think, when I came across it. It became something of a cult classic in my circle of friends.