Kari Stai
About Kari Stai
At the start of her career, Stai worked with editorial illustration (newspapers, magazines). She also illustrated book covers and children’s books for other authors. This inspired her to start writing herself. The picture books about Jakob and Neikob/Yesper and Noper (seven books, 2008–2022) are both written and illustrated by Stai. The visual style of the books is described as colourful and graphic. In general, her work is quite graphic, but with anatomy and volume. She keeps her use of colour toned down. And she also draws with black pen, as in the Juri books.
Awards and Nominations
2025 Nominated for The Brage Prize for Flokken
2023 The Mrs. Pepperpot Award (Teskjekjerringprisen)
2021 The Ministry of Culture’s award for children’s and young adult literature – Illustration
2016 North-Trøndelag County Culture Award
2014 Inderøy Culture Award
2012 Norwegian Literary Critics’ Prize for Jakob og Neikob – Tjuven slår tilbake
2012 The Brage Prize for Jakob og Neikob – Tjuven slår tilbake
2010 Visual Award – In editorial illustration for cover illustration for Vinduet magazine
2009 The Ministry of Culture’s award for children’s and young adult literature – Debutant Prize
2008 Målprisen (New Norwegian/Nynorsk Language Award)