Kirsten Langbo

Kirsten Langbo (1909–1996) was a Norwegian children's writer, singer-songwriter, and entertainer. Born in Gran to farmer Iver Paulsen Jorstad and Dagny Franziska Aleksandra Pedersen, she grew up as one of thirteen siblings. She moved to Vancouver, Canada, where she married papermaster Georg Gulbrandsen Langbo around 1930, eventually settling in Drammen. Langbo began her career after raising her children, writing humorous articles for the newspaper *Drammens Tidende*. She gained prominence through her appearances on the radio show *Barnetimen for de minste* from the mid-1950s, where she performed songs and shared stories from her rural childhood. Her signature was a vocal imitation of a trombone solo, often performing "Bavarian polka." She also appeared on television as a ventriloquist with hand puppets. Langbo made her literary debut in 1957 with the anthology *Morn igjen*. She authored several children's books, including *Berte fra Barnetimen* (1958), *Mirisak* (1967), *Pappa Tusenbein* (1969), and *Ola på Rundtomgard* (1977). A revised version of her first children's book was published as *Barna på Mikkelsplassen* in 1977, illustrated by Borghild Rud. She also wrote the memoir *Heme hos oss* in 1978. As a popular entertainer, Langbo toured Norway with her puppet shows and songs. Over eighty of her compositions were registered, including her first EP from 1956, which featured songs like "Jenta som ikke ville ha mat" and "Mamma-e-a-e-a." She released several other records, such as the EP *Berte fra Barnetimen* in 1960, and collaborated with notable artists on projects like *Trafikk-ABC* (1961). Her album *Barnetime for store og små* ...