The aerobics master Magnús Scheving with the book and the album, Áfram Latibær:
Men with titles should deliver something
– says Magnús, who does not rule out a continuation in writing book.
“I have been giving lectures for kids for 10 years and going to almost most schools in the country from kindergarten to high school. I get a lot of letters and phone calls to my house about these and other issues. I decided to put all this material together in one book and write a fun story with a clear message. In the book there are many fun characters that we should all know among us, e.g. Sigga sælgætisstrák, who eats 70 caramels, Halla hrekkjusvín and Solla stirða. I’m also proud to end the year as Athlete of the Year and deliver something like this from me. Men with titles should deliver something.” said Magnús Scheving, aerobics champion and Athlete of the Year 1994, in a conversation with DV, now that Æskun has published a book by him called Áfram Latibær.
The book comes with a CD of the same name with music by Máni Svavarsson. Halldór Baldursson illustrated the book. On the album, training exercises are presented in a fun way. Magnús said that there was little material available for children who would allow them to exercise more. He emphasized that this was not a play album. He said that the album has gained good experience in preschools and primary schools, as it was known that the best prevention against drug use and disease was exercise.
The book tells the story of life in Latibær (LazyTown), which has been given a name where the townspeople do not bother to move. A sports festival is held all over the country and the mayor of Latibær, who is the only one who bothers to move, does not know how to get the children to take part in the festival. Then the “sports elf” comes into play and gives healthy and good advice.
Wrote the first story at 14 years old
Is the aerobics master calling out the writer in himself? “I wrote my first story when I was 14 and have put together a whole series of cartoon series. I also wrote a play when I was in school in Norway. Since then, I was so busy with sports that I had not any time for writing. The book is more intended as a message to children and teenagers, presented in a fun way, rather than a well-crafted literary work. The story is written for children aged 2-11 years and is thought of as e.g. that kids understand what happens if they get too much sugar in their body. In my lectures, I have also tried to explain to the kids the difference between play and violence. If it is presented correctly, the children will understand what it is all about. “
Magnús said that he had read from the book to a number of children and was well received, so good that some children have sent Magnús handwritten original books. “Kids are clearly well on their way to receiving this material. They have sat down and written me a book with a cover and everything. I find this very fun.” said Magnús.
When asked, Magnús said it was impossible to say whether he would write more books in the future. “Like I said before, I enjoy writing stories. It may well be that I will continue to do so. “
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Latibær is the winter project of the Sólheimar Theater Company and rehearsals began in October under the direction of Edda Björgvinsdóttir. This method was chosen to have more than one actor wrestling with each role. The guiding principle was that everyone would get their dream role. The cast is diverse and about 40 actors take part in the show. Almost all the members of the theater company ha...
Leikfélag Sauðárkrókur Theater premiered the children's play Latibær in Bifröst on Thursday 19 November 1998. The work is based on a best-selling book by Magnús Scheving and the play is made by Sigurgeir Scheving, who is the director of the production of Lei...
"It's all going well with us. Since I was here five years ago, it can be said that a new generation has come into the picture. The acting group is very harmonious and good and I expect this to be a very fun and lively show" says director Sigurgeir Scheving. "Rehear...
"There is no question that it is possible to change children's physical activity. There are now a few children who work on prevention but many are in treatment" says Magnús Scheving. In recent years, Magnús has struggled to get children to exercise more. He says ...