Bridget the Butterfly had the blues
Birte den sørgmodige sommerfugl

Excerpt from Bridget the Butterfly had the blues

English Version

Far far north down the deep dark fjord,
on a sandy beach on an island shore,
there once lived a butterfly with beautiful wings. 
Bridget the butterfly who loved to sing.
Bridget the butterfly had the blues.
She’s got ‘em bad; she’s oh so sad.
All the other butterflies played around,
but Bridget the butterfly was very down. 
“Your wings are very strange”, they said,
“black and white with a little red”.
She thought and she thought, and chewed and chewed.
She ate and she ate and she grew and grew.
The more she thought, the more she ate
Juicy blossoms and nectar shakes.
Bridget the butterfly had the blues.
She’s got ‘em bad; she’s oh so sad.

Norwegian Version

Ved en strand langs en mørk dyp fjord
På en vakker øy veldig langt mot nord
Blåvinge Birte med vakre vinger
over havet hennes toner klinger
Blåvinge sang melankolske sanger
Hun er så fylt av sorgfulle klanger
De andre sommerfuglene lekte så bra
men Blåvinge Birte var ikke gla´
«En sommerfugl som deg har vi aldri møtt
svart og hvit og med prikker i rødt»
Hun tenkte så det riktig braket
Hun spiste og vokste slik at grenen knaket
Hun knasket løv og barkebillelus
nektarshake og blomsterjuice
Blåvinge sang sorgfulle låter
Hun er trist og gråter salte dråper

About the people behind the book:

Marlene Smith has a weakness for the blues.  Living on an island in Telemark, she is fulfilling her dream of writing bilingual picture books.  The stories come fluttering out to land among the butterflies and flowers of Sandøya.
Karine Jørgensen, great-granddaughter of Harald Sohlberg, a painter second only to Edvard Munch, has inherited a love of spectacular colors and expressive art.
Nina Odegard, teacher and jazz singer, loves to play with words.  Her Norwegian translation rhymes and can be sung to the English melody – quite an accomplishment.
Vidar Løvstad, a well-know professional blues guitarist from “Hjerteknekt” recorded and produced the music.  Jon Rørmark, a talented musician from Bø played all sorts of instruments on the CD. 
Actor Øyvind B. Lyse and director Nils-Arne Øvergård read the Norwegian story on the CD.

Reviews

“While the story is beautiful, the illustrations are spectacular.  Every picture of Bridget’s adventure is a work of art.”  “This English/Norwegian children’s book is truly a literary treasure for young and old.”
—Marianne Onsrud Jawanda.  Book Review Norway Times September 5th 2006, New York USA.

Bilingual blues.  Cedarburg native Marlene Smith combines her love of music with her adopted home country’s language in her first children’s book.  Marlene Smith is on a mission.  Spending time with her parents and travelling throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota to promote her first book ”Bridget the Butterfly had the blues.”
—Renira Pachuta.  News Graphic September 14th 2006, Ozaukee county USA.

“Tegningene passer veldig godt til den litt sørgmodige tonen i boken og gir bildene et lett melankolsk uttrykk.”
(The exhibition of illustrations suits the blue tone of the book and give a light feeling of melancholy).
Ida Svelmmo Nilsen .  Porsgrunns Dagblad 30. juni 2006, Porsgrunn Norge.
 
Flying start for Kulturøya.  Fikk 150 000 kroner av Sparebankstiftelsen DnB Nor.  Det blir en mengde forskjellige aktiviteter. (Four women receive $24000 grant for cultural project/theatre based upon butterfly book).
—Tom B. Hansen.  Breviksposten 12. mai 2006.  Brevik Norge.

Øyboer som tør å tenke stort.  På Sandøya utenfor Brevik har hun etablert hovedkontoret for et nettbasert mediehus for barn.  Hittil har kvinnene bak konseptet fått 200 000 kroner i utviklingsstipend fra Innovasjon Norge.  Vekst i Grenland har bidratt med 25 000 korner.  Telemark fylkeskommune har bevilget 135 000 kroner til kulturformidling som har sitt utspring på Sandøya. (Island woman dares to think big.  Project receives over $59 000 to establish a web based publishing house for children on Sandøya.)
—Stine Solbakken.  Telemarksavisa Lørdag 11. februar 2006.  Skien Norge.