The Danish Bookstart Program is the national program that encourages all parents in Denmark to share books with children from as early an age as possible. It offers Bookstart packs of free books and guidance materials. Librarians deliver the packages to families in their homes and explain the benefits of book sharing.

Originally published by Random House/Dou bleday Great Britain, in 2005.

"My brother stood up so quickly he almost knocked Mama over. 'Why aren't you doing something? Do you know what the British are calling us? Hitler's canary! I've heard it on the radio, on the BBC. They say he has us in a cage and we just sit and sing any tune he wants.'"

Bamse's family are theater people. They don't get involved in politics. "it had nothing to do with us," Bamse tells us. Yet now he must decide: should he take his father's advice and not stir up trouble? Or should he follow his brother into the Resistance and take part in the most demanding role of his life?