Szwedzkie i norweskie dzieci w świecie książki. Wspieranie czytelnictwa – inicjatywy państwowe i oddolne

Abstract

Scandinavian children literature is very extensive and popular both within these countries and abroad. Among the most well-known authors or titles one can mention Astrid Lindgren or contemporary Swedish authors of the series about Lasse and Maja, Karl Martin Widmark and Helena Willis, or Norwegian Jo Nesbø. Scandinavia has a long history of high level of literacy. In the result of the Swedish king’s campaign for literacy and reading of the Bible and religious literature in the seventeenth century, 80% of the Swedes could write and read in the nineteenth century (the literacy level was similar in the whole region, for comparison in Poland it was 20-30%). High literacy indicator can be observed in high press reading indicators nowadays. Book readership is also relatively high in Sweden and Norway. It is a result of the state’s financial support for projects aiming at increased readership among children and youth, as well as many civic projects resulting from the citizens’ engagement in the countries’ problems. The purpose of this text is to discuss examples of the most interesting reading project for children, youth and parents of small children in Sweden and Norway, for example the Swedish Reading Ambassador nominated by the Ministry of Culture or reading promotion among children who train sports in Norway.