On the outskirts of a little village stand two houses, one painted blue and surrounded by a thick grove of trees, the other one gray and run-down. Right by the houses is the marsh, vast and dangerous. No one has lived in the gray house for years, but suddenly a family appears there, a dad with triplets. They quickly realize that another family lives in the blue house, a boy with three moms. There are also some people skulking around in the marsh, maybe they don’t know about the monster!

The Marsh Monster is a mysterious and exciting story by Sigrun Eldjarn, who has received much recognition for her work, most recently the Honorary Award of Sogur, the Icelandic Children’s Awards. The story is adorned with plenty of pictures.

Nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize 2022, in the Children‘s and YA category

“A very entertaining story, full of suspense, mysticism and mirth. The Icelandic legends are used in an unusual way. The text refers both to the past and the present, to classic works and popular culture, and the result is a clever and delightful mixture. The illustrations are abundant and charming, and they add a touch of magic to the story.”
THE JURY‘S VERDICT