Ragnar Aalbu
About Ragnar Aalbu
Ragnar Aalbu (b. 1966) is a Norwegian author and illustrator who has won many awards for his minimalist, stylized picture books. He studied at the National College of Art and Design in Oslo, and splits his time between picture books and comissioned illustration work.
Aalbu primarily uses digital brushes. His stylized visual expression is characterised by simplified shapes and characters drawn without excessive detail. The surfaces have a particular materiality. The illustrations clearly reference older styles, while remaining original and modern.
Awards and Nominations
Aalbu is featured in PLAY Pen – New Children’s Book Illustration by Martin Salisbury (2007), and in the Gestalten Verlag anthology Little Big Books – Illustrations for Children’s Picture Books (2012).
2025 Nominated for The Brage Prize for Storkfulle Høyder
2024 Selected for The White Ravens (the International Youth Library catalogue) – Kalde Klover
2023 Nominated for The Brage Prize for Kalde Klover
2022 Nominated for The Norwegian Literary Critics’ Prize and Visual Award (by Grafill) – Gold for Det suser i Sivert
2022 Nominated for The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize, Visual Award (by Grafill) – Gold, Selected for The White Ravens, The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – Silver for Georg er borte
2020 Visual Award (by Grafill) – Diplom for Paisommer
2019 The Ministry of Culture’s awards for children’s and young adult literature
2019 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – 2 Diplomas forHakk o ve
2018 Best Picture Book Award for Hakk o ve
2016 Nominated for The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize for Krokodille i treet
2015 Best non-fiction book in the Ministry of Culture’s awards for children’s and young adult literature for Dra krakken bortåt glaset (Text: Stein Erik Lunde)
2014 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – Diplom for Purriot og den forsvunne bronsehesten (Text: Bjørn F. Rørvik)
2013 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – Gold for Uka etter (Text: Stein Erik Lunde)
2013 Nominated for The Ministry of Culture’s awards for children’s and young adult literature for Anda i ødemarka
2013 Nominated for The Ministry of Culture’s awards for children’s and young adult literature for Purriot og den forsvunne bronsehesten (Text: Bjørn F. Rørvik)
2010 Nominated for Visual Award (by Grafill) for Harry og Rogger på tur
2008 Nominated for Visual Award (by Grafill) and nominated for The Ministry of Culture’s awards for children’s and young adult literature for Harry og Rogger
2007 Visual Award (by Grafill) – Gold for Perler for svin (Text: Helene Uri)
2007 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – Diplom for Sau i sentrum
2006 Visual Award (by Grafill) – Silver for Det regner bare på Bastian (Text: Petter Gulli)
2006 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – Silver for Grundig om gris
2005 The Ministry of Culture’s awards for children’s and young adult literature, The Debutant Prize and Visual Award (by Grafill) – Silver for Fokus på ku
2002 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year (awarded by Grafill) – Silver for Romhunden Odin (Text: Brit Bildøen)