Karius and Baktus

Karius and Baktus
by Thorbjørn Egner
translated by Mike Sevig and Turi Olderheim
Minneapolis: Skandisk, Inc.
41 pages, 1994

White-capped mountainsides or slime-coated rubble heaps? What have you got in your teeth? Is your mouth landscaped with popcorn seeds and candied nuts, slivers of caramelized wafers and a fine grating of sugared jelly? Between your cheek and gum, is there a dried-up riverbed of coca-cola thirsting for the spring renewal? Are there potato -chip ridges and cherry pie lattices bridging the gaps between your teeth? And does the lining of your tongue harbor not-so-distant ghosts of milk chocolate nougat? If so, you may be eligible as a host for Thorbjørn Egner’s famous duo of decay, Karius and Baktus. Click here to apply or read on for more information.

Karius and Baktus, the sweet-toothed creations of Norwegian dentist and storyteller Thorbjørn Egner, had been busy at work building their home in the mouth of Erik when tragedy struck their lives. They didn’t see the warning signs when Erik began complaining of a toothache and were nearly dislodged from his mouth when the first rumblings of the toothbrush began. The flood that followed could have destroyed their lives in an instant, had it not been for Karius’ ingenious strategy of burrowing into a lower level root.

This incident marked only the first strike against the rotten rascals. Anticipating a delicious carmel roll, Karius and Baktus were ambushed at the dentist’s office. They fled the terrible tirade of the dentist drill that ravaged their new homes. Screaming and terrorized, however, they could not escape the savage rinse that followed. Struggling against the tremendous force of the tidal wave was no use, and the dynamic duo of decay were ousted from their home in the saccharine warmth of Erik’s mouth.

Today the pair floats on the desolate wreckage that remained, searching for a loving home to provide for them. Theirs is a sad story, but you can make a difference in their lives. If you love sweets and your mouth is filled with the flotsam and jetsam of vending machine gook and soda pop syrup, you might be able to give Karius and Baktus the home they so desperately need. The change in your pocket could give them the security and comfort that Erik’s dentist obliterated that fateful day.

If you’re interested in hosting Karius and Baktus, fill out the application below and deliver it to your local dentist. For more information, order a copy of Thorbjørn Egner’s Karius and Baktus from your favorite book-handler.

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