Thorbjørn Egner | zh

Thorbjørn Egner (12 December 1912 – 24 December 1990) was a Norwegian playwright, songwriter and illustrator known for his books, plays and musicals for children.

He grew up in the working class neighbourhood Kampen in Oslo and his breakthrough was on the nationally broadcast children's radio show "Barnetimen for de minste" in the beginning of the 1950s. He received the Cappelen award in 1979 and also won three Spellemann awards: in 1975 for "Ole Brumm og vennene hans", in 1977 for the album "Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by" and in 1982 for "Beste Egnerviser", a collection of his songs.

Egner is particularly known for his books Karius og Baktus (1949), Thorbjørn Egners lesebøker (1950–1972), Klatremus og de andre dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen (1953) and Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by (1955, translated 1976). The latter two were made into successful musicals, with music by the author. He also illustrated his own books. .