* Nominated for the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2017
* Winner of the German Luchs des Jahres (Best Children and YA Book) 2016
* Winner of the Dutch Zilveren Griffel (Silver Pen) 2015
* Selected as Top 10 Teacher's Choice by China Education Newspaper 2015
* Winner of the Nordic Council's Literary Prize for Children and Young Adults 2014
* Winner of the Ministry of Culture's Literature Prize 2013 (Best Children's and Young Adults Book)
* Winner of the Trollkrittet Prize 2013 (Norwegian Children's/YA book Writers' debut prize)
* Nominated for the Brage Prize for Children and Young Adults 2013

As long as the sun is up, Rune is merely Rune, but come night he transforms himself into Brown – a totally fearless super hero. Armed to the hilt with brushes and brown paint he sneaks out of the house. Rune can hardly be blamed if Brown chooses to paint the big bullies’ bikes brown, can he?

Brown is a book about friendship, courage and retaliation. It is also a book about missing one’s grandfather and just how wrong things can go when your super hero powers run out.

Foreign Sales:
Azerbaijan, Qanun
Brazil, Nova Alexandria
Bulgaria, Fiut
China, New Buds Publishing
Denmark, Carlsen
Estonia, Varrak
Faroe Islands, Bokadeild
France, Joie de Lire
Germany, Carl Hanser
Greece, Pyramida
Hungary, Scolar
Iceland, Forlagid
Iran, Houpaa
Israel, Tal May Publishers
Italy, Giunti
Japan, Goblin Shobo
Korea, Wisdom House
Latvia, SIA P?tergailis
Lithuania, Tikra Knyga
Macedonia, Gavroche Books
The Netherlands, Querido
Palestina, Tamer Institute for Community Education
Romania, Rao Distributie
Slovakia, Iron Libri
Slovenia, Založba Zala
Spain, Barbara Fiore
Sweden, Raben & Sjögren
Switzerland, Joie de Lire (French)
Turkey, Epsilon
USA, Enchanted Lion Books (World English Rights)
Poland, Dwie Siostry

Movie rights:
The Netherlands, Column film

Critical acclaim:

«The book has both suspense, good dialogues as well as hints of magic. Rune’s conversations with his dead grandfather are lovely, and all his characters have bucketloads of charm … Bursting with attitude and humour, the pictures are as expressive as they are simple … recommended for anyone. The book is a highly charming tale of growing up, superheroes and the struggle for survival.»
Dagbladet

«In this enourmously charming book we meet three little superheroes, each equipped with a bucket of paint … Øyvind Torseter’s beautiful drawings show us what it’s like to feel small and out of place in a big world. They also evoke the warmth of the friendship between the children … Warmly recommended!»
Aftenposten

«The jury has rarely agreed so strongly about a decision as this one ... [Øvreås] writes so well for kids that you would think he has never done anything else ... a warm and bittersweet super hero story, which is also an excellent book to read together for kids and adults»
From the jury statement, Trollkrittet Prize (Norwegian Children's and YA Book Writers' debut prize)

«Brown is a warm and powerful story of friendship and courage, full of creativity and everyday magic.»
From the jury statement, Nordic Council Children's and Young People's Literature Prize
(Read the full statement here)

About the author and illustrator

Håkon Øvreås (b. 1974) has previously published two books of poetry. Brown is his first children’s book.

Øyvind Torseter (b. 1972) is an award-winning writer and illustrator. He won the award for Most Beautiful Book of the Year 2013.

Øyvind Torseter

Publications